February 12, 2019
The Honorable Christian Dorsey, Chairman
The Honorable Libby Garvey, Vice Chair
The Honorable Eric Gutshall, Member
The Honorable Katie Cristol, Member
The Honorable Matt de Ferranti, Member
Arlington County Board
Ellen M. Bozman Government Center
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201r
Re: I-66
Widening Project Impacts on Four Mile Run and the W&OD Trail
Dear Members of the County Board:
As
residents of the Madison Manor Civic Association (MMCA) and members of the
Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation (ACST), we write today to
express our concern about excess stormwater runoff associated with the I-66
Inside the Beltway widening project that is causing serious damage to Four Mile
Run, the W&OD Trail, and negatively impacting the community.
Over the
past two years, MMCA has had several meetings with the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) regarding the I-66 widening project. In addition to concerns about noise and
increased emissions associated with the project, MMCA, ACST, and a number of
residents have expressed concerns about stormwater runoff and the impact on
Four Mile Run and other neighborhood facilities. Specifically, the MMCA and ACST have noted
that current VDOT stormwater facilities do not meet current building
specifications, are currently underperforming due to inadequate and frequently
clogged intake facilities, and will be negatively impacted by the widening
project.
The County
Board has also expressed similar concerns to VDOT. In a January 28, 2017, Board Resolution
regarding the I-66 widening project, the Board specifically requested that VDOT
ensure that “any new stormwater management facilities proposed with this
project be adequately maintained, specifically that erosion and sediment
controls should be outlined and contain information on inspection and
enforcement actions.”
Unfortunately,
our concerns about damage due to increased runoff have recently manifested
themselves in erosion on Four Mile Run that is threatening a portion of the
W&OD Trail between Ohio Street and George Mason Drive with imminent
collapse. It is our understanding that
the County intends to close a portion of the W&OD Trail on or about
February 18, 2019, for an emergency repair project. While we appreciate the County taking rapid
action to fix the Trail, we are concerned about the impact the detour will have
on adjoining neighborhoods (and especially children who use the Trail to get to
schools) and the fact this appears to be a temporary fix paid for by Arlington
taxpayers that will not involve any action by VDOT to prevent the excess runoff
that is causing this problem in the first place.
Accordingly,
we urge the County Board to demand that VDOT take immediate action to fix its
current underperforming stormwater system along the I-66 corridor and stop the
degradation of Four Mile Run, the W&OD Trail, and other Arlington
neighborhood assets in the Four Mile Run watershed.
Sincerely,
President
Madison Manor Civic Association
Christopher Day
President
Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
cc: Virginia
Department of Transportation
