Mayor Bill Euille. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
As part of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) legally mandated Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, Mark Center was selected as the new home for the Washington Headquarters Service (WHS), and a number of other DoD agencies. The facility, now owned and currently under construction by the federal government, is on property located at the intersection of Seminary Road and Beauregard Street at the I-395 interchange. The facility, technically considered part of Fort Belvoir, is not subject to local land use regulation, and under Federal BRAC law, must be completed by September 2011.
The new BRAC facility will result in 6,400 new jobs in Alexandria, and will replace the nearly 7000 jobs that BRAC is moving out of the City. The new buildings will be one of the most visible landmarks on the West End. However, growth of this magnitude often brings complex transportation issues. The City is aware of these challenges; City leaders, staff, and the BRAC Advisory Group have been and continue to work with our state and federal partners on solutions.
Back in February of 2009, City Council created a community based BRAC Advisory Group to serve as a forum for developing ideas and recommendations related to transportation improvements and other issues associated with the BRAC office building. This group has served as a forum for dealing with the transportation questions related to this project.
The City has known for years that the Mark Center was going to have high-density commercial use; in fact, the original zoning called for a new Seminary Road off ramp from I-395. However, due to funding limitations and lack of federal support, the City was told by VDOT that a ramp was not a viable option. But now that BRAC is here, VDOT and the federal government brought back the Seminary Road ramp option, with the belief that federal support and funding for a new ramp is now a possibility.
The City Council has requested VDOT consider two direct Mark Center access options that provide relief to Seminary Road, but do not impact the Winkler Nature Preserve. We also asked that VDOT work with City staff to develop additional options that would further reduce traffic pressure on Seminary Road.
The City Council has requested a more comprehensive and multi model I-395 corridor analysis from VDOT including a third option in making Duke Street an exit/entrance point for high occupancy vehicle and transit use on I-395. This approach would enable public transit buses to travel up I-395, to Mark Center, into Fairfax, then over into Arlington and ultimately to the Pentagon.
This approach takes pressure off Seminary Road, and results in regional transportation improvements, not just for the Mark Center, but also for the entire corridor. This option also builds on work already underway with Arlington and Fairfax to create a system of high capacity transit throughout our region.
In addition, the Council requested VDOT to evaluate if Sanger Avenue could support a full or partial interchange without harming the Winkler Nature Preserve and evaluate neighborhood impacts. Other flyover options into the Mark Center will also be reviewed.
Over the next several months, the City and VDOT will hold several meetings and hearing seeking public input regarding transportation solutions and improvements in the Beauregard Corridor area. Visit alexandriava.gov/planning for specific dates and times.
There are no easy answers to these difficult transportation questions. Vision and regional cooperation are key to our success; broad thinking about transportation improvements and strengthening our mass transit solutions are our goals. The DoD and VDOT must consider a transportation plan that is not only good for the BRAC, but also for Alexandria and the region.
William D. Euille
Mayor of Alexandria