Delegate Charniele Herring Cautiously Optimistic About Announced BRAC Plans
Delegate Charniele Herring responds to VDOT plans to build a single reversible lane to BRAC-133 at Mark Center. As well, 395 HOT Lanes are on hold because of the Arlington County lawsuit.
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced plans to build a HOV ramp for direct access to the BRAC-133 at Mark Center. A one lane reversible HOV ramp will be built for HOV/Transit only that will give direct access to Seminary Road and the Mark Center Site. Previous plans for Hot Lanes in the Alexandria/Arlington area have been placed on hold due to a lawsuit filed by Arlington County.
“I am cautiously optimistic that VDOT is being responsive to the needs of my constituents and citizens of the Commonwealth plagued by chronic and severe traffic congestion. BRAC-133 at Mark Center represents over 6,400 new drivers in my district, and we are already plagued by severe congestion,” says Delegate Charniele Herring.
Herring says, “My constituents have repeatedly expressed the importance of our green spaces here in the city, and in my conversations with representatives from VDOT assurances could not be made that this ramp would not be run through the Winkler Preserve or have a significant impact. I plan to continue to investigate and monitor this project and all matters related to the BRAC-133 at Mark Center”
Herring did speak with representatives from VDOT before the public announcement this morning, and in preliminary review they said that there should not be an impact to the Winkler Preserve; however, without being able to see the full plans, Delegate Herring reserving celebration in favor of cautious optimism until the full plans are available and a long-term plan for the region is finalized to not include HOT Lanes in the area.
Herring has filed a budget amendment for $17 million for needed road improvements in the area around BRAC-133 at Mark Center to assist with the gridlock expected in the wake of the facility opening.
Herring represents the 46th District which includes the West End of Alexandria and parts of Falls Church. She serves on the Science and Technology Committee and the Courts of Justice Committee where she serves as the Democratic Committee Whip.
