Continuing Ignoring UnBuilt D.C. I-95 - 4

Creepy disregard for comprehensive transportation planning- highlighted by WTOP article & its ad juxtaposition.

The I-495 Capital Beltway has the highest accident rate on the portion with the truncation of real I-95, higher even than the curvy section to the northwest.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=654&sid=3649961&pid=0

Newly released numbers from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration show that over the last few years, the greatest number of crashes and fatal crashes on the Capital Beltway happened in Prince George's County. The counts in Virginia and Montgomery County were significantly lower.

The highest concentration of crashes was on the segment between the Interstate 95 Interchange in College Park and the U.S. 50 Interchange in Landover.

Such is the area where southbound I-95 traffic must exit onto the Capital Beltway, with "I-95" signed upon that southbound segment of the Capital Beltway.  Of that, much of that southbound traffic exits onto the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Maryland Route 50.

This is of course due to the irresponsible refusal to construct inside the Beltway I-95, despite its clear right of way almost entirely to the District line, and the low number of residences that would be need for removal to connect with the B&O Metropolitan Branch-WMATA Red Line corridor that passes alongside Catholic University of America.

That low number was about 27 late 1940s construction red brick hoses; that low number was due to the open space of the field of the Masonic Eastern Star Home property.

 That is until about 2012 with the utterly IRRESPONSIBLE perjurious approval and construction of "The Hampshires" - some 110 residences foolishly placed upon the unbuilt I-95 route - placing real estate developer profits over people - the general public be damned.

Via my previous "A Trip Within The Beltway" blog articles, people potentially buying into this real estate planning boondoggle, simply googling the name of the project, were warned

Comstock - "The Hampshires" Demolition Specials

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2011/07/eastern-star-dc-i-95-chock.html

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2013/07/eastern-star-2013-waste.html

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2013/01/constitutional-power-can-free-us.html


http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2012/04/continually-ignoring-un-built-dc-i-95-3.html

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2012/04/continually-ignoring-un-built-dc-i-95-2.html

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2012/03/continually-ignoring-un-built-dc-i-95.html

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/search/label/I-95%20PEPCO

Celebrating Socially Irresponsible Profeteering
& Contempt for the Public Welfare

Virginia Avenue Tunnel UPDATE June 2014

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) today for the proposed reconstruction of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. The FEIS incorporates feedback from the community and identifies “Alternative 3 - Two New Tunnels” as the Preferred Alternative for construction. The FEIS and a fact sheet are available at www.virginiaavenuetunnel.com.

Under the process prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the agencies considered the alternatives outlined in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), released in July 2013, and determined that Alternative 3 best meets the project’s purpose and need while addressing community concerns and minimizing impacts to the tunnel’s neighbors. 

Alternative 3 has the shortest construction timeframe of the build alternatives considered (approximately 30 to 42 months). It addresses community concerns about moving trains through an open trench during construction by operating trains in an enclosed tunnel at all times in front of residences. It also maintains access for residents and emergency responders to all homes and cross-streets during the entire construction process.

Copies of the FEIS are available for review at the following locations:

• Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th Street SE, Washington, DC   20003
• Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Place SW, Washington, DC 20024

A public meeting will also be held on July 1, 2014 at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I (Eye) Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The meeting will include a presentation on the details about construction and will include a brief time to ask questions of the project team. If you need special accommodations or language assistance services please email contact@virginiaavenuetunnel.com or leave a message at (202) 681-0646.

The FEIS will be available for review for 30 days before an official decision is released, called the Record of Decision (ROD). After the conclusion of the review period, FHWA will issue a Record of Decision, which provides the basis for the decision, summarizes mitigation measures incorporated into the project and documents any required Section 4(f) approval. Dependent upon the decision in the ROD, CSX will share additional information about timing and other specifics.

For more information about the Virginia Avenue Tunnel project, visit www.virginiaavenuetunnel.com.

The Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project Team