traffic

A Tyson’s Corner driving strategy?

Anyone traveling around Tyson’s Corner has seen the rebuilding of much of the infrastructure first hand. There will be a new Metro-rail line which includes a short tunnel from International Drive to Route 7, the reconfiguration of the beltway to include HOT lanes, and the underground utility realignments. Any change this big generates growing pains, and the one they can never seem to get a handle on is gridlock.

According to a report that I heard today on WTOP from the Washington Business Journal, the construction mess in Tyson’s motivated one business to move back to Bethesda. Danielson Associates, a firm that has been researching, consulting and investment banking for community banks since 1978 considered the traffic mess to be inconvenient for accessing many DC clients. One down for Virginia; one up for Maryland.

There was an amazing story from one of the utility contractors who was digging a trench and snapped a cable not identified on any utility map. As he pondered what to do, three Chevy Suburban’s with U.S. Government plates pulled up within 5 minutes to say “you snapped our cable”. The contractor mentioned that it usually takes days to determine who owns a cable.

These projects should help with our constant traffic and gridlock issues that have been growing pains of Tyson’s Corner since the 1980’s. Having a driving strategy has been an objective of most clients over the past ten years that influenced where they decide to live, but real estate appraisers overlook this “X-factor”. Commuting time remains a huge factor in maintaining values of real estate in Arlington, McLean, and Vienna.

traffic

If you rebuild the I66 and Route 123 overpass, then you will get elected in Virginia

This 1/2 mile stretch of Interstate 66 needs rebuilding right now . There must be existing VDOT designs to make this a “shovel-ready” project qualifying for immediate federal funding.

The problem is I66 tapers down in both directions to get under the existing 1960′s era overpasses, and when rush hour hits or there is one lane blocked, it causes a classic sphincter effect that can last hours.

Here is the area thanks to The Google:

View Larger Map

Here is the #1 best projects that VDOT could do:

• Replace the Jermantown Road overpass

• Replace the Route 123 overpass, and re-engineer the 123/66 clover leaf

The annual number of delays caused by this 1960′s design is incredible. Anyone who is even thinking of living west of the Vienna Metro Station dreads the thought of driving on this part of I66 at any time of day, seven days a week. Solving this problem would virtually guarantee election to office.

What do you think, gov?

traffic

In the Northern Virginia, you need a driving strategy.

Talk to anyone who has been in the area for a day or two, and I’m sure the topic of traffic will come up. How long it took to drive to work or the tie up on the beltway for no other reason than heavy volume.

It is the smart people who factor that in when looking for a home to buy. And the reality is that paying an extra $250k may just save your sanity… okay, your way-of-life. It is simple to calculate if you have been a commuter for any period of time on I66 or I495 because you have to leave home before sunrise to beat the volume problems, and pray that WTOP hasn’t missed reporting on an afternoon slowdown before you adjust to Plan B.

Those smart people have a job, and then strategize over the routes to work. With this plan in place, it is time to consider communities and available homes for sale. In the long-run you will have time to see your kids, coach that team, hit a bucket of balls, or simply enjoy your life.

One client moved to McLean to give better access to family in Potomac. Yeah, they paid a lot of money but have extra hours in their day… priceless. Another moved to Vienna to be close to the W&OD bike trail so he could ride his bike to work in Ballston… brilliant.

It needs to be part of your plan if you ever plan to live happily in Northern Virginia.

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