Great news! Last night, the Stafford Supervisors approved both the Transportation Master Plan and higher Transportation Impact Fees on developers.
The FAMPO meeting on the River Crossing meeting is tonight at FredNats Stadium (42 Jackie Robinson Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22401).
It's not a public hearing. You will be able to speak one on one with the consultants and some elected officials.
Please tell them Option B-2 is the best River Crossing Option for the following reasons:
1. Least direct impact to private property, only two landowners impacted (City of Fredericksburg and the Silver Company).
2. Least environmental impacts to Resource Protection Areas.
3. Shorter connection with the least clearing and Enviromental footprint.
4. Costs the least out of all the options, so it could be built years sooner than the other options.
5. Has no impact on the waterfall.
6. Is far enough from I-95 where the traffic noise will not impact the serenity on the bridge trail overlook. There would also be more scenic views without having to look at and hear I-95.
7. Longer bridge span that will allow more wildlife migration and more possibilities for trails to pass underneath the bridge.
8. The longer bridge span has a much smaller footprint and has much less Enviromental damage to the RPA than the many culverts of option A.
9. Option B-2 is about 1/4 mile shorter than option B-1.
The projected traffic counts for 2050 are 40,000 trips per day.
A 1/4-mile reduction in 40,000 trips is a reduction in miles driven of 10,000 miles per day, which will significantly reduce air pollution.
10. A longer bridge will allow the runoff to be controlled for greater distances to be channeled to more environmentally friendly locations for containment and treatment before it reaches the river.
11. It maximizes the use of over $100 M in existing infrastructure and will have better traffic flow than the other options. The many connections to Route 17 and the Celebrate Virginia transportation grid will diffuse traffic congestion.
12. The new Road will improve Fire and Rescue Response and Transport times in some areas of Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties. Both Stafford Hospital and Mary Washington Hospital will have better access.
From the Celebrate Virginia Del Webb Senior Community it's roughly 7.5 miles currently to transport to Mary Washington Hospital down Route 17 to Route 1. That section of road currently has 16 traffic lights.
Option B-2 will reduce the mileage to 4.5 miles to transport from the Del Webb Senior Community across the river to Mary Washington Hospital. That section of road currently has 3 traffic lights. The river crossing will shorten travel time by eleven less traffic lights and three miles less of transport time. It will allow the ambulances to get back to the station quicker and back into service, while avoiding the Falmouth Intersection.
13. Establishing a Regional Park will mitigate the impacts to the conservation easements, providing more recreational opportunities, protecting open space and historic sites.
14. The river crossing at option A would put the parking too close to the waterfall. I believe the parking should be about 2 miles away, so that people will not bring as much trash and their dogs have time to relieve themselves before they get there.
Having the parking too close would trash the area around the water