Mr. Robert McDonald
Transportation Engineer
Virginia Department of Transportation
3975 Fair Ridge Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22033

Dear Mr. McDonald

We are pleased t have the opportunity to review the technical memoranda and alternative alignment studies that have been prepared for the Western Transportation Corridor Study and be able to evaluate the effects that the selection of one of these alternatives would have on the administration and long-term management of the parks and affiliated units which are under our administrative responsibility.

Our fundamental concern is with the Purpose and Need of the Study. The data does not support the need for a regional north-south transportation facility stretching from Loudoun County to Stafford County. Furthermore, the data illustrates that ongoing projects and currently planned facilities will best address the transportation needs within the corridor. Because a new facility will have significant impacts on several National Parks in the area, the need for such a facility must clearly be demonstrated.

We have been especially concerned with the impacts that the selection of a regional transportation corridor would have on Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Parks. The Fredericksburg area is of special concern because of the current projections for increases in traffic and growth associated with the developing area. The ongoing studies by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the Fredericksburg Bypass have not been evaluated in combination with a new corridor along Route 17 serving the Dulles area. This combination of two major projects could have far reaching implications on the protection and management of he major Civil War battlefields along Route 3. Thus, we feel that no corridor should be selected until they are evaluated in concert with each other to determine the least impact under a Section 4(f) analysis.

With regard to Manassas National Battlefield Park, since 1989, when Congress authorized us to do so, we have focused our efforts on Closing Routes 234 and 29 to through traffic. This effort has been further supported by VDOT through completion of construction of the Route 234 Bypass interchange to the west of the park and the ongoing studies for the I-66 Major Investment Study (MIS).

The regional transportation concerns for protecting this nationally significant historic resource were met when I-66 was routed to the south of the historic battlefields approximately 40 years ago. Local convenience was preserved by the redundant preservation of Route 29 through the battlefields.

This local redundancy is now being reduced by the recent improvement to I-66 between Centerville and Manassas, and the construction of the Route 234 By-Pass, which we continue to support. The Route 29 study is now set to examine the relocation of Route 29 outside the park. In addition, if the studies for the relocation of Route 29 were to include the widening of I-66 between Gainsville and Manassas to three lanes, then this may serve as an alternative for the use of Route 29 thereby expediting the closing of Route 29 to through traffic along with Route 234.

In the context of the progress made in recent year to solve local transportation needs around the Manassas Battlefield Park, we firmly believe that to superimpose a regional facility over the 234 Bypass corridor will overwhelm the resources and visitation to the park. The construction of a new regional transportation corridor within the same corridor presently proposed for the Route 234 Bypass and located between the battlefield and Conway Robinson State Forest will visually encroach on the park, substantially increase noise within the park and project future adverse uses adjacent to the park. Thus, this option is unacceptable to the National Park Service. The park service would only consider an option that would be placed as far to the west as possible, and only then if the alignment and development would not impact on the vista between the park and Thoroughfare Gap.

The transportation improvements presently included within the Constrained Long Range Plan (CLRP) and additional improvement shown on local comprehensive plans for the Tri-County Connector/Route 28 Bypass and the completion of the Route 234 Bypass north of Route 29 will adequately support the region through the year 2020.

These projects will provide the opportunity to close Routes 234 and 29 to through traffic, reestablish our historic battlefield scene, develop our interpretative programs for the park and increase tourism within the County.

In addition, we also want to bring to your attention our concerns regarding the concepts that have been advanced during the public hearings concerning the extension of this corridor beyond Route 7. We believe that any extension of the Western Corridor north of Route 7 will be detrimental to our interest due to the increased pressure to cross the Potomac River and the impacts on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail. In addition while the recent suggestion to shift the alignment of of Fauquier County into the Quantico Marine Base avoids Fauquier County, the alignment shift into Quantico does of alter the potential impacts to the Fredericksburg battlefields. Further, we remain unalterably opposed to any alternative which would use the Route 619 corridor through Prince William Forest Park from Independent Hill to I-95. Any use of this corridor would devastate the fragile watershed of Quantico Creek which is protected by the U.S. Marine Corps and the National Park Service pursuant to an act of Congress.

We appreciate this opportunity to provide you with our comments and trust they will be beneficial to arriving at a solution. If we may be of further service please do not hesitate to contact me or Mr. Jeffery Knoedler of the Office of Stewardship and Partnerships at (202) 619-7106.

Sincerely,

Terry R. Carlstrom

Field Director, National Capital Area

cc:
Travesky and Associates
3900 Jermantown Road
Suite 300
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

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