I-66 Multimodal Transportation and Environmental Study
Covers Fairfax and Prince William counties and the cities and towns in the vicinity of I-66.
Background
VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) have initiated the I-66 Multimodal Transportation and Environmental Study for improving mobility along the I-66 Corridor from just west of the I-66/Capital Beltway (I-495) Interchange in Fairfax County to the I-66/U.S. Route 15 Interchange in Prince William County (approximately 24 miles). This Study will examine possible improvements to I-66, Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, and express bus service. Transportation improvements to this corridor are necessary to enhance safety and to provide increased capacity for current and projected future travel demands.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), acting as joint lead agencies, will work with VDOT and VDRPT to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The study team will work to identify the range of alternatives and impacts and significant issues to be addressed in the EIS.
In January 1999, a Major Investment Study (MIS) was completed for the I-66 corridor outside the Beltway, and the recommended transportation investment from that study included:
- Extend Metrorail in the corridor to the Centreville area
- Construct barrier-separated, reversible HOV lanes from the vicinity of the future Tri-County Parkway (crossing I-66 in Fairfax County near the Fairfax/Prince William border) to I-495
- Add one general purpose lane in each direction from US Route 50 to I-495
- Convert the existing, peak-period, concurrent HOV lane to a general purpose lane between the future Tri-County Parkway (or western terminus of the barrier separated HOV facility) and US Route 50
- Continue to evaluate barrier-separated HOV lanes between US Route 29 (Gainesville) to the future Tri-County Parkway
- Increase bus service in the study area
- Develop 4 to 6 transit centers/park-and-ride facilities
- Increase peak period Metrorail service frequency from Vienna to the east, and add express Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service on the Manassas line.
