Spring 2002 Funding Round: In the Spring 2002, we had one remaining "Big Four" project that we must submit before the end of our four-year window. The importance of the "Big Four" is a consequence of the NCAC's current point system. This system gives high priority to the first four projects that a newly-approved neighborhood submits to NCAC for funding. Each of these "Big Four" currently receive a bonus of 25 points in the ranking system, virtually ensuring that most such "Big Four" projects will be approved, even though (as Williamsburg found out in the Spring 2001 funding round) such projects may well be cut back.

The January 2002 Williamsburg Newsletter included a "call for project proposals," urging members to submit their nominees for the last "Big Four" project. Guidelines for projects:

• Proposed projects should relate directly to the goals identified by a majority of residents in our neighborhood survey and endorsed in our Neighborhood Conservation Plan.
• The proposed project should be one that cannot be funded in any other way; the price tag should be $100K to $250K.

On 17 January 2002, the WCA Executive Board endorsed a proposal to submit the Williamsburg Boulevard Traffic Calming/Beautification as our Spring 2002 funding round top priority. This project would involve construction of a landscaped median on Williamsburg Boulevard from the Williamsburg Circle to North Trinidad Street, which is our Civic Association's chunk of the median project included in the East Falls Church Traffic Calming Plan, but not yet funded.

This project has a number of key advantages:

• The project addresses traffic calming/pedestrian safety, which was one of the top priority goals identified in the neighborhood survey and endorsed in our Conservation Plan.
• The project is designed to calm traffic on Williamsburg Boulevard, which was highlighted in our Conservation Plan as one of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians and one in urgent need of traffic calming. The project, combined with the Powhatan Traffic Project, should discourage cut-through traffic on N. 35th Rd/N. 36th St./N. Somerset, assuming the County concurs on the need for gateway treatment at the corner of Williamsburg and North Somerset.
• The project includes landscaped medians, which addresses what was the other top-priority issue: the need for more trees and parkland in our neighborhood.
• The project would effectively head off any effort to build a West-bound access ramp to I-66 at Williamsburg Boulevard. The addition oft this ramp would greatly exacerbate existing traffic and pedestrian safety problems in our community. It would turn Williamsburg Boulevard into a feeder street for I-66 and substantially lower property values of those living on or near it or the streets that feed into it, including Sycamore, Little Falls, and Yorktown. For this reason, WCA has a strong incentive to oppose it.
• The project addresses a major threat to the safety of school children. Buses for two nearby schools (Tuckahoe Elementary and Williamsburg Middle School) have drop-off points on Williamsburg Boulevard. The huge expanse of highway and the high rates of speed represent a major hazard to these children. Williamsburg Middle School and Yorktown High School are about to embark on major expansions to accommodate a growing student body, which will only exacerbate the problem. For these reasons, we may be able to convince the Safe Routes to Schools program to throw in some additional funding.
• The Williamsburg project involves planting additional trees, which promotes urban reforestation – identified in January 2002 by Chris Zimmerman, the new Arlington County Board Chairman, as one of his priorities.
• The project is an unfunded part of the East Falls Church Traffic Calming Plan, which has been approved by the Transportation Commission; the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Committee; and the County Board. The East Falls Church Traffic Calming Plan has been approved by 68 percent of the residents in the affected project area. County staffers who have worked hard on the East Falls Church Plan have a strong interest in seeing the unfunded portions of it carried out. We may have a shot at getting some Capital Improvement money thrown in to supplement the NC funding. In any event, we almost surely could count on support from the Arlington-East Falls Church Civic Association.
• The project dovetails nicely with the Bicycle Lane Plan. It would complement and enhance the transformation of Williamsburg Boulevard from a four lane highway into a residential street with two vehicular travel lanes, two bike lanes, and two parking lanes. The County Board has already adopted the Bicycle Lane Plan, which includes installation of bicycle lanes on this portion of Williamsburg. We probably could count on support from the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee.
• Many of the Arlington County offices who would need to approve the project are already on board with it and are strongly supportive, since initial coordination has already been completed as part of the East Falls Church Traffic Plan.
• Neighborhood Conservation funds represent the only viable source of money for this project. Because Williamsburg is an arterial street, it is not eligible for the existing Neighborhood Traffic Calming program. The County has begun a study for a program that would embrace arterial streets, but it will be several years before this program is in place and we can apply for funds through it.
• Another major project included in the Williamsburg Conservation Plan – improve the Williamsburg Traffic Circle (Recommendation 7) – is being funded by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources, as part of their Spring 2002 regular budget. In other words, we do not have to use one of our "Big Four" NC projects on it!
• Although the median strip will create a small inconvenience for residents who live on Williamsburg Boulevard, it has a compensating benefit: turning one travel lane into an 8 foot wide parking lane and a 5 foot wide bicycle lane will provide an enlarged safety zone for residents backing out of their driveways. The speed-inhibiting effects of the median will also enhance safety, giving motorists a protected area (behind the medians) from which to make left turns.

Initial Planning Meeting: We discussed the proposal briefing at the 22 January 2002 WCA membership meeting and announced an initial planning meeting on 29 January. At the 29 January 2002 meeting, we decided to move ahead on the project and propose it as our priority project for the Spring 2002 NC funding round. To get the discussion going, we tabled the draft below.

The project area is shown in the map below.

Community Meeting: On 11 February, we held a community meeting on the project. The meeting was publicized through a special flyer hand-delivered to 150 residents at and near the project area. We also publicized the meeting and the issues under discussion on the web site. More Information   At the meeting, we discussed the proposal in detail and revised it slightly.

Meeting with County Staffers: On 26 February, members of the Williamsburg Working Group met with County Staffers to discuss the feasibility of the project. Tom Hutchings, from the County's Neighborhood Conservation program, provided a schematic drawing of how the median would look. Conrad Brewer, from engineering, was also present and handled questions on technical issues (standard width of travel and bike lanes. We also had a detailed discussion on how to handle the neighborhood petition. The County staffers expalined that this project (unlike curb, gutter and sidewalk) does not involve an actual change on anyone's property. For that reason, the definition of the "project area" was relatively flixible. Tom Hutchings, in response to a question, indicated that the County favored large, drought-resistant trees. Trees of 10-12 feet high would be planted, as trees of this size adjusted better to transplant shock.

Update to Williamsburg Neighbors: At the 26 February 2002 WCA membership meeting, project chair Jim Finley gave an update, summarizing the information provided by the staffers. He also showed the schematic drawing and described the project area.

Petition Strategy Session: On 28 February 2002, working group members met to discuss how to do the neighborhood petition. We came up with a three-page information package that included the draft proposal, a map of the project area, the schematic drawing of how the median would look, and a list of project advantages.

Neighborhood Petition: During March 2002, members of the Williamsburg working group carried the petition, with supporting documents, door to door to poll residents in the project area. The peition was completed on 26 March, with an approval rating well over the 60% requested by the County for projects of this nature.

Civic Association Approval: At the 26 March 2002 WCA Membership meeting, working group chair Jim Finley made a presentation summarizing the proposal and the results of the petition. During the discussion that followed, several meeting participants expressed doubts about the efficacy of nubs. Meeting participants voted on a motion to vote on the "nubbed" versus "non-nubbed" options to submit as our priority project in the Spring 2002 NC funding round. The non-nubbed version carried. We submitted the revised proposal and supporting petitions to the NC.

NCAC and County Board Approval: Neighborhood Services staff worked with the Williamsburg Boulevard Working Group to come up with a project that would fall within the $250,000 limit that NC has adopted. The revised project proposal (below) includes the installation of landscaped medians on all five blocks, with the patterned crosswalks and nubs deferred (to seek funding through other programs). On 13 June 2002, the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee voted to approve the revised Williamsburg Boulevard Project. The County Board approved the project in September 2002.

Design Work: The project was sent to the engineering division in January 2003. In late May, the project was given to a consulting firm to begin design work. This design work likely will take at least six months. Once a preliminary design is completed, the neighborhood will be asked to review and give input, as we were in the case of the Little Falls project. We are hoping that this neighborhood review will take place in the spring 2004. Target date for completion of the project is Fall 2004.

Want to keep updated on the project? Please email Jim Finley, who is chairing the Williamsburg Working Group. Or, you can call him at 703-534-6714.

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