Federal Highway Administration Potomac River Northern Crossing Feasibility Study

Posted on May 24, 2001 in: Status Update

This study was authorized by the FY2000 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act (H.R. 4475) and detailed in an October 10, 2000 letter from Representative Frank Wolf to Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater.

 Its objective was to provide an independent, analytically based and unbiased assessment of the feasibility of constructing a bridge across the Potomac between the American Legion and Point of Rocks Bridges.

Regrettably, on May 24, 2001 Congressman Wolf requested Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to terminate this study before the Study Team had the opportunity to collect significant data or conduct any meaningful analysis.

More Details

  • Mission: Provide an independent, analytically based and unbiased assessment of the feasibility of constructing a bridge across the Potomac between the American Legion and Point of Rocks Bridges
  • Scope: Evaluate possible multi-modal options between the American Legion and Point of Rocks Bridges in terms of costs and benefits including transportation, economic, social, environmental and land use. Interchanges (number/location), tolls, ITS, truck prohibitions and safety also will be considered. Local/regional land use and travel inventories, forecasts and models will be used. The study would make no recommendations, would endorse no specific alternative or corridors and would not supplant or replace the state/regional/local decision-making process.
  • State/Local Government Involvement: A group of state and local officials consisting of representatives of VDOT, MDOT, the District of Columbia, Fairfax, Frederick, Loudoun, and Montgomery Counties was assembled to provide input to the process. However, these officials would not have dictated policy and no attempt was made to develop consensus among this group on any findings.
  • Technical Committee: A Technical Committee of state, regional and local transportation staff was formed and was scheduled to meet monthly.
  • Consultants: The project management team was led by AECOM Consulting Group and Parsons Brinckerhoff.
  • Basic Tasks: Key areas of the study were to include: Alternative Development, Environmental Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Travel Demand Forecasting, Land Use Analysis, Economic Impact Analysis, Data Collection and Analysis and Public Involvement.
  • Public Outreach/Input: The Study’s objective was to identify and gather facts, not opinions. Public briefings were conducted for interested organizations and informational meetings were scheduled in September-October. A website was established to inform and provide public input opportunities.
  • The Buck Stops at DOT: The U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Secretary of Transportation had ultimate responsibility for this report. It would be separate and apart from any TPB, VDOT or MDOT analysis.
  • Study Cost: $2 million
  • Scheduled Completion Date: December 2001