INTENT

Transportation level of service "D" or better is essential to quality of life, business success, and the health, safety, welfare, order, and convenience of our inhabitants as required by Virginia Code. Level of service "D" means the ability to maneuver is severely restricted due to traffic congestion, and only minor disruptions can be absorbed without service deteriorating. Level D is the worst citizens should be expected to tolerate for major roads and intersections in the area.

This Sector Plan is designed to mitigate existing traffic and to minimize future increases in traffic within and through the Sector area.

Because it is well know that transportation requirements are magnified by more intensive land use, any change in the land use proposed in this plan must be carefully evaluated for its transportation impact within and on the Sector.

Intensive development of the Sector Area is certain to overwhelm the existing transportation network and any planned improvements in the network within or adjacent to the Sector Area.

In addition to the existing and proposed development in the Sector area, developments outside the sector affect roads within the Sector. Traffic generated by such developments must be measured in modeling, planning and in traffic impact analyses. Background traffic severely stresses the major roadways and intersections within the sector.

Both modeling and any Traffic Impact Analyses shall include but not be limited to:

• External traffic
• Nissan Pavilion traffic
• Manassas National Battlefield Park traffic
• Brentsville District and Gainesville District traffic which affect this area.

These impacts must be taken into modeling consideration as background information for all roads and intersections in the area. The funding of all transportation infrastructure, and the guaranteed date of completion of transportation projects must play a leading role in the development of the area.

GOAL: PROVIDE FOR THE FREE FLOW OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRAFFIC WITHIN THE SECTOR PLAN.

TR-POLICY 1: IMPROVE SERVICE LEVELS OF ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES WITHIN THE DESIGNATED SECTOR AREA WITHOUT IMPOSING SEVERE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ON OTHER NEARBY ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS.

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. Annual traffic modeling, and TIA's must include background traffic for a minimum of a one mile radius from the sector boundaries. Traffic generators at greater distances should be considered if deemed to impact transportation in the sector area.

2. Funding, and completion dates of transportation infrastructure must be addressed in all applications and staff reports for projects which result in traffic increases.

3. All development on Rt.29 and in the area must be phased to coincide with improvements, which bring the level of service up to Level "D". The level of service of "F" exists on Rt.29 near the I66 interchange at several times of the day,

4. Traffic impacts on historic Buckland must be taken into consideration. If deemed appropriate, a four lane Spur from Rt.29 to I66 could be constructed for through traffic. The location would be west of Beverly Road. The Spur would be approximately four miles long, and shall have no ingress or egress except at Rt.29 and I66. The Spur would require buffering. If it is constructed, all eastbound through truck traffic must be restricted and routed onto the spur rather than usine Rte. 29 through Gainesville. Similarly, westbound through truck traffic on I-66 and southbound through truck traffic on Rte. 15 should be directed to use the spur to access to access Rte. 29. Informational signs encouraging through traffic to make use of the spur should be included.

5. A VRE train track spur and train station shall be constructed in the Village Center. This will serve not only the Village Center but also the Nissan Pavilion traffic which is located about 2000 ft southwest of the Village Center. The VRE will not have parking, and will be accessed by Omni-link or walking.

6. Omni-link shuttle service must be scheduled from major neighborhoods to the Village Center.

7. Parking for Omni-link must be located near the western end of the Sector, and on Linton Hall near the southern boundary to the Sector.

8. Traffic signals on Rt 29 west of the I66 / Rt29 Interchange must be timed to allow 45 mile per hour speeds.

9. For traffic movement, new traffic signals that are not already proffered should not be considered on Rte.29.

10. Consider building parallel access roads along Rt.29 where deemed appropriate.

11. Access to the Hillwood Mobile Home Park should be consolidated to a single access on Rte. 29 opposite Virginia Oaks Drive.

NONMOTORIZED ACTION STRATIGIES:

1. HCOD's must be updated and brought up to PWC standards for Route 29, Interstate 66, and Route15, for safety and to insure against visual clutter. HCOD's should be considered for Linton Hall and Wellington south to Piney Branch Road. All HCOD's should be reviewed annually.

   Streetscapes for Heathcoate, Rt.55, Haymarket ByPass, and the East - West Connector must be incorporated into the planning process.

2. To insure against light pollution all street and highway lighting shall be kept to a minimum. This protects against glare and eye adjustment into the protected rural areas. It also protects the Observatory on the Mountain.

3. Rt.29 and Rt.15 shall have /retain a green median planted with appropriate trees. This is for safety and for aesthetics in the area.

4. Noise from I66 shall be considered in relation to residential properties. Noise barriers shall be constructed as needed. Buffers on Rt.15, Rt29, Linton Hall, and I66 shall be used as appropriate to protect residential properties.

5. To insure against smog and decreased visibility, and to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act, a monitoring station shall be located within less than one mile of the I66 / Rt.29 Interchange in the development area.

THOUROUGHFARE MAP NARRATIVE

1. MA-28, the East-West Connector between Wellington Road and Rt.29, should be constructed as soon as possible.

2. MA-31, between Wellington Road and Linton Hall, should be slated for early construction. Anything not proffered should be added to the 6 year plan, funding secured and construction expedited.

3. MC-31, as shown on the 1998 adopted Thoroughfare Plan Map, no longer has a valid use and is deleted from this Plan.

4. MA-10, between Old Carolina Road and Rt.15, should be realigned as shown on the Sector map to avoid going through a residential area and crossing a major part of a designated Environmental Resource area.

5. MC-22, Old Carolina Road between Rte. 29 and Rte. 55, should be downgraded from a major collector to a minor collector.