Stuck in Traffic…Better Thank Two Fairfax County Supervisors

Lately, it seems that I-66 has become more clogged with traffic. Commute times that ordinarily take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes are now ranging from an hour to an hour and a half of sitting in gridlock. Now, this may not seem atypical for most living in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, but it’s not getting any better on many of our area highways. No doubt, traffic is predicted to become worst, and we can thank Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and Providence Supervisor Linda Smyth for their recent votes of not adding another lane of traffic to I-66. This will no doubt result in more time away from our lives and families.

Why would these two supervisors vote against the funding? After all, they sit on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, and the board also voted for the expansion previously. So, why the change? I guess the traffic does not phase them in the afternoon rush hour that seems endless at times.

Even, a candidate for the Braddock District Supervisor seat (previously held by Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova), John Cook expressed his disappointment in the decision of these two Supervisors.

“It is simply unbelievable that two representatives of Fairfax County would vote against traffic improvements on one of the most-clogged roads in the entire country,” said John Cook. “Northern Virginia politicians spend so much time trying to get funding for transportation, and when we finally get some, they say ‘No thanks’?”

At least, Cook gets it and even mentioned that his district is starting to see an overflow of traffic on Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike, which are often used as alternatives for I-66, when people have to drive into work. Cook is willing to work with public officials on both sides of the aisle to address transportation issues that affect not only Braddock, but the entire County.

We need common sense solutions that will help make the commute less stressful. With Metro improvements and expanding I-66 heading Westbound, transportation pains might be alleviated. Until then, I guess it is back to gridlock.