VDOT Mowing Blitz Underway Through July 2

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will carry out a statewide mowing blitz through Tuesday, July 2 to make traveling on Virginia roadways as safe and inviting as possible over the Fourth of July holiday.

VDOT state and contractor forces have coordinated their work schedules to mow as many state maintained roads as possible before Independence Day. Leading up to the holiday, motorists will observe crews collecting litter and conducting mobile mowing operations on medians and shoulders.

VDOT will always mow an area where a sight distance hazard is reported or observed, regardless of the mowing schedule.

Reporting Potential Hazards

Motorists are encouraged to contact VDOT's 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) to report sight distance hazards on interstates or roadways. Potential safety hazards may include grass, trees or other vegetation blocking highway signs, or blocking a motorist's view of oncoming traffic.

Keeping Crews Safe

VDOT's maintenance crews and contractors mow in a slow-moving mobile operation, with tractors and workers on foot. To protect workers, motorists are asked to:

• Watch for posted work zone signs, slow-moving equipment and crews along roadsides and in medians
• Reduce their speed
• If possible, move over to the adjacent travel lane when approaching a work zone

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Video: Gov. Bob McDonald Talks About His 'Virginia's Road To The Future' Plan

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Governor Still Needs Convincing On Silver Line Funding

If Virginia lawmakers want to approve more state funding for the $6 billion Silver Line rail project to Dulles Airport, they still have to convince one of the most powerful politicians in the state, that according to a WAMU report.

Governor Bob McDonnell will not commit to asking the legislature when it convenes next month to approve more dollars for the Silver Line. Tolls on the Dulles Toll Road may rise dramatically over the next three decades partly because the state has committed only $150 million so far toward the financing of the Silver Line.

McDonnell blames the agency overseeing the Silver Line, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, for his hesitance to seek additional state funding.

Read the complete WAMU article. 

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Virginia Has New Legislation to Crack Down on Drunk Driving

Joined by firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers, and numerous transportation safety groups yesterday (Aug. 7), Governor Bob McDonnell signed House Bill 279 (Iaquinto) and its companion Senate Bill 378 (McEachin) to require all individuals convicted of driving under the influence, including first-time offenders, to operate only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device when driving on a restricted license.

Ignition interlock devices will be installed and monitored at the expense of the offender.

Prior to this legislation, Virginia law required ignition interlock devices when the offender's blood alcohol level was 0.15 or greater or after a second or subsequent DUI offense. The legislation went into effect July 1.

Governor McDonnell said, "Last year, 245 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia and another 5,465 were injured. No family should have to hear the news that their loved one was killed or injured by a drunk driver. Just one drunk driver on the road is unacceptable, and I hope that as we spread awareness of this law, that individuals who may otherwise consider driving impaired will be deterred by the consequences of that potentially deadly decision."

"This bill ... will make the Commonwealth's roadways safer for all Virginia families," said Martha Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA. "This new law prevents impaired drivers from operating their vehicle, a potentially deadly weapon, on Virginia roads, while allowing offenders to provide for themselves and their families as otherwise productive members of society."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, ignition interlock devices reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent. Similar laws requiring interlock devices for all of those convicted of driving under the influence in Oregon and Arizona have been followed by more than 50 percent decreases in DUI-related deaths in those states.

Legislation Highlights

Provides that a person who is convicted of DUI may drive only with an ignition interlock after the first offense, as a condition of a restricted license and is required to have an ignition interlock installed in each vehicle owned by or registered to him after a second offense

The bill also provides that the court may authorize a restricted license for travel to and from the interlock installer and a person can pre-qualify for an ignition interlock prior to conviction

Currently, the requirement for an ignition interlock is imposed only upon a second or subsequent offense or when the offender's BAC is 0.15 percent or above.

Complete press release from the governor's office.

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Governor McDonnell Outlines 2012 Transportation Plan

Speaking to more than 700 hundred industry and transportation agency professionals yesterday during the 2011 Governor's Transportation Conference in Norfolk, Gov. Bob McDonnell outlined his transportation policy and funding plans for the upcoming 2012 General Assembly Session. 

The governor called for changes in laws governing the allocation of future surpluses to transportation, dedicating portions of revenue growth attributable to transportation infrastructure projects to transportation, increasing the portion of sales tax dedicated to transportation, the establishment of an Interstate 85 Connector Economic Development and Promotion Zone to encourage businesses to invest in Virginia and ship through Virginia ports, and the advancement of Virginia's commercial space flight programs. 

Read the official Press release from the governor's office.

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"Quiet-Pavement" Materials to be Tested on Route 7 Bypass in Leesburg

Governor Bob McDonnell recently signed legislation that could make the constant loud "whoosh" of car and truck tires on the highway a bit quieter after VDOT repaves the driving surfaces of certain high-speed roads. The legislation directs the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to construct several demonstration projects to further study "quiet-pavement" technologies. These projects will help determine how well the new pavements perform over two winters in Virginia.

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-Fairfax) sponsored HB 2001, which amends the 2009 Virginia law requiring VDOT to consider using pavement materials that reduce tire noise when resurfacing appropriate roads (Code of Virginia § 33.1-223.2:21).

The Quiet Pavement Task Force is a cooperative group consisting of representatives from VDOT and the asphalt and concrete paving industries. The group studies and identifies roads around the Commonwealth that would be candidates for quiet-pavement installations.

VDOT will install five demonstration projects to assess the performance of such materials for two years. They are all on four-lane, divided high-speed roads with good underlying pavement structures.

The three locations selected for the asphalt "quiet" technologies include the Route 7 Bypass in Leesburg.

Following a year-long pilot begun in 2008, VDOT obtained positive results from a quiet-pavement installation on a section of Route 234 in Manassas using a hot-mix asphalt known as "porous friction course," or PFC. This "open-graded mix" allows air and water to seep down from the road surface away from tires. It reduces hydroplaning, tire noise, and splash and spray. The improved drainage also cuts wet-night glare and improves the visibility of road markings.

"VDOT's research arm, the Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research, has been a national leader in developing real-world testing scenarios for the latest highway technologies and working with VDOT engineers to implement them for the benefit of all who use Virginia roads," Governor McDonnell said. "These demonstration projects will take results from one recent study and put them to work to make our roads safer and last longer, and to improve the quality of life for those living near the roadways."

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Governor Encourages All Virginia Residents to Try Alternate Forms of Transportation

Earlier this week, Governor Bob McDonnell announced the Virginia Transportation Challenge as part of Virginia's celebration of Earth Day.

The challenge encourages all Virginians to try a form of transportation other than driving alone once every two weeks. The challenge is designed to help residents begin to shift the way they look at their daily commute and make small changes that can have a big impact on congestion on Virginia highways and the quality of our environment.

"Sometimes driving alone really is the only option, but not always. Sometimes taking the bus or train, carpooling, vanpooling or teleworking is an even better option. Every time you make the choice to not drive alone you are helping reduce congestion on our highways and harmful emissions in our environment, and you are keeping a little extra money in your wallet," said Governor McDonnell.

Virginia's population is expected to grow by 35 percent by 2035, and while the Commonwealth works to improve and expand its transportation system, Virginians must begin a fundamental shift in the way we travel to take greater advantage of the transportation options available to us today.

Using the vast array of transportation options available in Virginia can deliver significant benefits. Public transportation options reduce harmful gas emissions in our environment and gallons of gasoline used each year, remove cars from our congestion highways, and can help families save thousands over the cost of owning and operating a car. Options such as telework can remove the need to commute completely, saving millions of vehicle miles traveled.

McDonnell added, "Transportation is one of the key challenges facing the Commonwealth, and ensuring we have a modern and efficient transportation system is a key part of keeping Virginia the nation's best place to live and do business. The historic transportation funding legislation passed in the General Assembly, Virginia's new telework tax credit legislation and the Virginia Transportation Challenge all work together to improve our transportation system to meet the demands of the future and help address the congestion we are facing today."

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation's (DRPT) Service Locator tool can help you identify the transportation options available in your area. The tool can be accessed by visiting www.drpt.virginia.gov/locator.

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Governor McDonnell Calls on MWAA to Reverse Metrorail Tunnel Decision

Commonwealth Does Not Support More Expensive Route for Metrorail Project

Governor Bob McDonnell sent a letter to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) today, calling on its board of directors to reconsider its recent vote to pursue a tunnel alignment for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project through the Dulles International Airport. The Commonwealth and localities have expressed frustration regarding the MWAA vote to pursue a more expensive tunnel alignment for the project.

"The tunnel alignment has, by all accounts, been shown to be the much more expensive alignment through the airport, costing hundreds of millions more than the aerial alignment with relatively minimal positive logistical or aesthetic benefit," McDonnell wrote.

"Taxpayers in Northern Virginia will bear the burden of this significant cost difference, which will make it difficult to achieve the Commonwealth's goal of reaching a total project cost close to the original $2.5 billion. I, along with the project's local government funding partners in the town of Herndon, and Loudoun and Fairfax counties, are very surprised and disappointed in the MWAA board's very costly decision and hope that upon further reflection, the board would come to the more fiscally sound decision to pursue the aerial alignment."

The MWAA board voted to pursue the tunnel alignment for the project in its meeting in early April. The decision will likely add $250 to $300 million to the project cost and places in jeopardy the original $2.5 billion estimate for completion of the next phase of work.

On April 18, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton sent a joint letter to MWAA expressing "outrage" over this decision and threatening to withhold their portion of funding unless the board reconsidered.

To read a copy of the letter, visit www.drpt.virginia.gov/news/files/Letter.pdf.

According to the Washington Post, the first phase of the Metrorail extension, which is costing $2.75 billion, connects with the existing rail system near East Falls Church and consists of four stations in Tysons Corner and one at Wiehle Avenue in Reston. It is scheduled to open in 2013. The second phase would run from Wiehle Avenue to Ashburn in eastern Loudoun and is projected to cost $3.5 billion with an underground Dulles station. The original estimate was $2.5 billion. The phase is estimated to open in 2017.

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Virginia's First 70mph Speed Limit Increase

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the first stretch of Virginia interstate to post a 70mph speed limit under new state law that went into effect today, July 1.

Earlier today, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton unveiled the new 70mph sign along I-295 from I-95 in Prince George County south of Petersburg to just south of the Route 60/Interstate 64 interchange in Henrico County. While campaigning for governor, McDonnell proposed the speed limit increase to 70 mph in rural and less populated areas as a way to improve transportation in the commonwealth.

House Bill 856 and Senate Bill 537 passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Bob McDonnell in March, allows the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to increase the maximum highway speed limit to 70 mph on certain highways after the completion of a traffic engineering study.

Doubt we'll see any 70mph increases here in Loudoun County, even though most motorists are already going that speed! But what do you think Loudoun County commuters? Think increasing the speed limit is a good idea or are we going fast enough already? Comment below.

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