Local Politicians Can Change the Plan, But Not the Facts
Transportation progress in Northern Virginia is seldom easy or quick. It’s not by accident that today, travelers in this area waste more time in traffic than in any other part of the nation.
Tuesday evening, four Prince William County Supervisors (Ruth Anderson, Maureen Caddigan, Peter Candland and Jeanine Lawson) took advantage of the absence of Chairman Corey Stewart and removed the Bi-County Parkway (BCP) from the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The BCP has been in the plan for more than three decades. This action came despite the County’s staff repeated documentation of the need for the Parkway and that congestion will worsen significantly if is not built.
Our region has a long history of local government opposition to projects of great regional significance T that includes: the Wilson Bridge, Fairfax County Parkway, Route 28, I-66 inside the Beltway and Maryland’s Intercounty Connector.
The ultimate construction of a new parkway is not in question. The biggest unknown is the price Prince William residents will pay in the meantime. Western Prince William residents already experience some of the nation’s most time-consuming, quality of life devaluing, commutes. Thanks to four County Supervisors, for many residents those commutes will get even longer.
The job of those trying to attract high paying jobs to Prince William County also just become more difficult.
Four Supervisors were able to change the County’s plan, but they cannot change the facts that clearly show the Bi-County Parkway has been on the plan for decades for good reason.
The Parkway may go away for now, but the problems it intends to address will only get worse. Those Supervisors who voted to remove the road on the basis that there is a “better route” have an obligation to identify that route before taking to remove. Now is not too soon.
As with the many other projects of great regional significance, the Alliance remains committed to building a Loudoun-Prince William parkway that best serves the residents of both communities and the region. However —