Environmental study on Richmond Highway widening project released

(VDOT image)

VDOT has released a study outlining the environmental impact of the Richmond Highway widening project, and it estimates that 40 housing units will need to be cleared for prior to construction.

The VDOT Environmental Assessment (EA), which is required by law, looked at a variety of factors, including how the project will impact housing, low-income communities, commercial buildings, bodies of water, noise, plant life, wetlands, air quality and wildlife. Overall, the assessment provides a favorable review of the project’s various impacts.

“The [widening project] would decrease congestion, increase safety, and provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities,” the study says. [It] would result in a beneficial cumulative effect, with beneficial impacts on local communities, community facilities, bike paths and recreational areas, and economics.”

The 40 housing units expected to be affected by the project sit on six pieces of land. With the exception of 24 apartment units at the Spring Garden Apartments in Hybla Valley, the study does not name specific residences affected. The study says the estimated housing displacements are normal given the urban area of the project, and that all residents affected can be relocated as directed by federal guidelines.

An estimated 38 commercial buildings (25 involving total parcel acquisitions) and two religious facilities — the First AME Church and Spirit of Faith Ministries — are also expected to be acquired for the project.

The estimates are subject to change during the design process, VDOT noted.

Some of the other findings in the assessment include:

• The project will not have disproportionally adverse effects for low-income or minority populations
• Noise levels will not be substantially higher than if the project is not built. The study says the impacts from any increased noise can be mitigated by constructing sound barriers where possible.
• The project will not violate any federal, state and local environmental laws
• The project will have “no adverse effect” on historical properties along the highway
• The circular driveway in front of the original Mount Vernon High School will need to be removed. OMVHS is the only historic property impacted at all by the project, according to VDOT
• Although the project will encroach on 8.6 acres of regulated floodplains, it is not expected to pose a flooding risk due to how the project will be designed.

The widening project, which is currently in the design phase, will expand Richmond Highway to three lanes in each direction along the 2.9 mile stretch between Costco and Jeff Todd Way. That area is the only section of Route 1 between the Beltway and Lorton that is still a four-lane undivided highway. Additionally, the project will included dedicated bike lanes and connected sidewalks on each side of the road.

VDOT will begin the right-of-way acquisition process next year. Construction on the $215 million project is scheduled to begin in 2023 and be completed by 2025. The widening project does not include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but will leave space in the median for it to be built in the future.

VDOT will be hosting another public hearing on the widening project on Oct. 29 at Mount Vernon High School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. VDOT officials will discuss  and answer questions bout the environmental assessment at the meeting. Community members will be able to leave comments at the meeting with a court reporter, according to VDOT.

The comment period will last until Dec. 6. The environmental assessment can be viewed online here or at the Sherwood Regional Library and Kingstowne Library, as well as at VDOT’s Fairfax office during regular business hours.