Tri-County Parkway Location Study

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Study Overview

At the request of Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties, VDOT and FHWA initiated this study to evaluate a new north/south transportation link in Northern Virginia to connect the City of Manassas with I-66 and the Loudoun County Parkway in the Dulles area. The study and proposed corridor extends north from VA 234 (Sudley Road) in the City of Manassas through Fairfax County to Route 50 (John Mosby Highway) in Loudoun County where it could tie-in with the Loudoun County Parkway. It is approximately 10 miles long and traverses portions of the counties of Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudoun along with the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. The concept for a Tri-County Parkway is identified in the Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan and in the comprehensive plans for Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties.

Alternatives Considered

View Candidate Build Alternatives Map (as of 2/22/05)

The identification and evaluation of the alternatives was an important step of the study. Alternatives that met the study’s purpose and need were given consideration. After collecting and analyzing detailed information, the wide range of corridors were narrowed to a list of Build Alternatives. The mass transit and transportation system management options which included bus and rail transit improves and minor roadway enhancements were considered and rejected. After preliminary analyses, three of the alternatives were selected for further consideration.

The Comprehensive Plan
This alternative closely follows the locations identified in the comprehensive plan of each county and is east of the Manassas National Battlefield and consists of Segments F', F, and E.

The Comprehensive Plan CBA starts at US 50, John S. Mosby Highway and extends in a southerly direction through South Riding and eventually passing through the eastern portion of the Bull Run Regional Park. This alignment ends at the VA 234 and VA 28 interchange south of the City of Manassas.

The length of the alignment is 11.68 miles.

The West Two
(Selected by the Commonwealth Transportation Board November 2005)
This alternative is west of the Manassas National Battlefield and consists of Segments D and C.

The West Two CBA starts at US 50, John S. Mosby Highway and extends in a southerly direction ending at the 234/I-66 interchange, near the western boundary of the Manassas National Battlefield Park.

The length of the alignment is 10.46 miles.

The West Four
This alternative is west of the Manassas National Battlefield and consists of Segments F', G, and C.

The West Four CBA starts at US 50, John S. Mosby Highway and extends in a southerly direction through South Riding. The alignment then proceeds in a south-western direction connecting to the West Two alignment and ending at the 234/I-66 interchange, near the western boundary of the Manassas National Battlefield Park.

The length of the alignment is 9.21 miles.

No-Build Alternative
Under the No-Build Alternative, the Tri-County Parkway would not be constructed. Only improvements already listed in the Constrained Long Range Plan for the region would be built. The No-Build Alternative may result in worsened conditions for safe, efficient, and economical (time and money) traffic movement.

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Study Schedule

This study is scheduled for completion by Winter 2007-2008. Refer to the schedule below for an outline of major tasks and dates. Please note this study's timing shifted to await the outcome of the Virginia Transportation Referendum in November 2002 and also as a result of further review of several alternatives at the request of the TCP Advisory Task Force and federal regulatory and resource agencies.

Scoping / Public Participation: March 2002
Preliminary Alternatives Meeting: December 2002
Begin Environmental, Engineering and Field Work: Fall 2003
Draft EIS Released to Public: April 1, 2005
Public Hearings: May 9, 10, 11, 2005
Commonwealth Transportation Board Decision: Nov. 17, 2005
Final EIS for FHWA: Winter 2007-2008
FHWA Record of Decision: Spring 2008

Purpose & Need -- Why Study a Tri-County Parkway?

The Purpose and Need Report serves a vital function in an environmental study. By defining problems, it guides the identification of possible solutions or alternatives, allowing for comparison of different solutions in terms of their ability to solve transportation problems. The Purpose and Need report is reflective of local government comprehensive plans, the Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan, the regional Constrained Long Range Plan, and the Transportation Improvement Plan. The need for this project is defined by a problem statement containing several key elements. These elements reflect the overall transportation problems identified in the communities being served under the proposed action. Key elements include:

1. Improve transportation mobility and capacity and by doing so, improve north/south access within the study area and reduce congestion.

2. Enhance the linkage of communities and the transportation system that serves those communities. This linkage includes the modal interrelationships between the various transportation systems in the region.

3. Improve safety and by doing so, reduce accidents on the roadway network.

Other Transportation Studies in the Region -- Sharing Data

As Northern Virginia looks for solutions to the region’s growing traffic congestion and road safety problems, several transportation projects are underway. Since there is some amount of overlap in the study areas, the key project members from each team meet regularly to share information and data. The Manassas National Battlefield Park Bypass study is managed by the FHWA for the National Park Service and all other listed studies are managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. For more about related studies, click here.

Project was completed in Nov. 2003

Manassas National Battlefield Park Bypass EIS (Routes 29 & 234)
Web site
battlefieldbypass@parsons.com

Route 28 Corridor Improvements
Web site
Information line: (703) 668-0288
28_freeway@28freeway.com
Project is currently under construction

I-66 Corridor Study (Outside the Capital Beltway)

Related Download
Map of projects in Northern Virginia

Regional planning documents that relate to the Tri-County Parkway Location Study:

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Page last modified: June 11, 2007