The Bi-County Parkway ... It's Back!

 by Charlie Grymes

County officials are planning to resurrect the Bi-County Parkway. They included it in Table 2 of the proposed new Mobility Chapter for 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

The Bi-County Parkway died in 2016 for good reasons (see Myths and Facts and Stewart: Bi-County Parkway project is dead). And there are three new reasons since then that make the Bi-County Parkway proposal even less viable:

1. Viewed through an equity lens, the road would benefit relatively wealthy long-distance commuters rather than local workers.
   
   
2. It would increase Vehicle Miles Traveled, making it harder to meet the 2030 target adopted by all 24 jurisdictions in the DC region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% below 2005 levels.
3. 
   
4. Expansion of I-66, post-COVID telework patterns, and the planned Route 28 Bypass/Godwin Drive Extended will reduce demand for the Bi-County Parkway.

It's time for Prince William County to improve mobility for people who live and work here, rather than subsidize commuters driving towards DC. 

It's time to support mobility for people who work in Prince William, especially those who live in Equity Emphasis Areas along the Route 1 corridor and near Manassas/Manassas Park. 

It's time to invest in upgrading local bus service and the bike/pedestrian network, so every adult in a household does not need to buy a separate car to get to work, retail centers, or public facilities.