This information was sent to the association on October 23, 2004 by Jason Rylander, President of the Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation

The I-66 study is on the fast track. Next week, VDOT will hold two public hearings on Oct. 26 and 27 to gauge public reaction to proposals to widen I-66. The following week, on Nov. 3, VDOT will hold a public forum presenting the results of the citizen input. Information about the study and details on the forums is below.

I am concerned that in this busy election season, word is simply not getting out that this study is happening and could be a critical first step in efforts to widen I-66. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD to your members and friends and encourage them to attend and voice their concerns.

In addition to attending the workshops, now is the time to send letters and comments to VDOT and to the local newspapers. They are accepting comments on widening and alternative proposals through Nov. 15th. E-mail letters to info@idea66.com or write Idea-66, 3900 Jermantown Road, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22030.

To learn more about the I-66 issue and alternatives to widening, please visit the Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation website www.acstnet.org. Please feel free to call me at 703-465-8519 if you have any questions.

Jason Rylander
President
Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
jasonrll@aol.com

ACTION ALERT
Mark your calendars and be sure to attend and provide input at these VDOT workshops and open house! Let VDOT know loud and clear that widening I-66 is NOT the answer to congestion problems in the corridor.

The first workshop is Tuesday, October 26, 2004, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, adjacent to the West Falls Church Metro Station and the UVA/Virginia Tech Center.

The second is Wednesday, October 27, 2004, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Washington-Lee High School, 1300 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA, on the corner of Washington Boulevard and N. Quincy Street. The nearest Metro station is Ballston-MU.

The results will be presented at a third meeting, Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Washington-Lee High School, 1300 N. Quincy Street, Arlington VA.

For more information, go to www.idea66.com and click on the Upcoming Events box on the left.

The text of the VDOT web page is pasted below:

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Federal Highway Administration are conducting a feasibility study on how best to ease congestion and keep traffic moving during emergencies on I-66 westbound for the 6.5 miles from the Rosslyn tunnel to the Dulles Airport Access Road.

As requested by Governor Mark Warner, a community-based planning process will be used in considering a realistic, affordable, and effective transportation solution that stays within the existing right of way of I-66 westbound. This open and inclusive process will involve communities, businesses and other stakeholders. The study will begin with four initial concepts:

A "No Build" option
Transit options
HOV/HOT Lane options
Roadway widening options

Come and participate in one of two public workshops to help refine and prioritize the design concepts that could help reduce congestion on I-66 westbound.

Help determine how the proposed concepts should be evaluated and what measures should be used to select a concept. The two public workshops will be identical in format. You are encouraged to attend the workshop at the location most convenient for you. Review the results of the October public workshops by attending the November 3rd open house.

Visit the study Web site: www.idea66.com or call the Toll Free INFO line (866-816-4466) for more information.

The Coalition for Sensible Transportation is holding another meeting on I-66. Their invitation is as follows:

The Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation cordially
invites all Arlingtonians to a town hall meeting entitled:

WISER OR WIDER?: THE FUTURE OF I-66 IN ARLINGTON

Monday, January 10, 2005, 7:00 to 8:30 PM

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
4301 Wilson Blvd in Ballston, Ground-Floor Conference Room CC-2
(directions and information on free parking are provided below)

Featured Speakers:
Theresa DeFore, PE, VDOT, Idea-66 Study Project Manager
Jason Rylander, Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
The Honorable Christopher Zimmerman, Arlington County Board

On July 1, 2004, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in
collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, began the
eight-month "Idea-66" study to explore diverse concepts for the future of
I-66 in Arlington, including at least one more westbound travel lane.
With this study approaching completion, VDOT project manager Theresa
DeFore will report on the specific concepts and evaluation criteria under
study and the opportunities that remain for public involvement.

Jason Rylander, president of the Arlington Coalition for Sensible
Transportation (ACST), a non-profit citizens advocacy organization, will
review how ACST has successfully redirected I-66-widening initiatives over
the past five years toward creating a much-needed comprehensive plan to
effectively manage the existing I-66 highway and Metrorail links as an
integrated and truly multimodal regional corridor. He will also outline
I-66 alternatives that would be better, smarter, and cleaner than widening
and ACST's current work to influence and improve the Idea-66 study,
particularly to ensure that public involvement is both meaningful and
adequately considered (see ACST's recent letter to the Virginia Secretary
of Transportation at http://www.acstnet.org/).

Chris Zimmerman, the lead Arlington County Board member for regional
transportation affairs, will frame the debate over I-66's future in the
context of regional, state, and federal politics and discuss how
Arlingtonians can prevail to ensure that all viable alternatives to
widening I-66 are fully and fairly evaluated.

After the speaker presentations, interested participants will engage in
brainstorming, strategy, and activity sessions to help ACST build a
vibrant citizens' movement for a "wiser, not wider" I-66 through
Arlington. The event will conclude by celebrating ACST's fifth birthday
with cake, other refreshments, and socializing.

Directions and Free Parking:
NRECA is at 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22203, at N Taylor St, across
from Ballston Common Mall, two blocks south of the Ballston Metro station,
and just east of N Glebe Rd. Parking in the underground building garage is
free; enter the garage on N Taylor Street, just north of Wilson Blvd.
Bike parking racks are on the sidewalk near the building entrances. For
directions by Metrobus or rail, use the Metro Trip Planner at
(http://www.wmata.com/).

MapQuest link:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=4301+Wilson+Blvd&city=Arlington&state=VA&zipcode=22203

For more information, please contact Bob Morgan by email
(rpmtha@mindspring.com) or telephone (703-465-1245).

Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
PO Box 5574, Arlington VA 22205-5574
E-mail: acst@postmark.net
Web: http://www.acstnet.org
V