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Construction raises hackles in McLean
As a first step in the construction of the beltway high-occupancy toll lanes, last week contractors cleared about five acres of stubby trees and underbrush across the street from Cooper Middle School in McLean.
The Virginia Department of Transportation-owned site is planned as a preliminary staging area for construction of the HOT lanes – a place to put trailers and store equipment.
However, during those few hours, VDOT and contractor Fluor/Transurban may have chopped down more than they can wood chip. Caught by surprise and claiming it received no prior notification that the site would be cleared, the Board of Supervisors has begun looking into increasing its oversight of VDOT construction projects, including the HOT lanes.
“VDOT and the contractor take the position ... that their activities on VDOT property cannot be regulated by the county even though the property is essentially being used for a private purpose,” wrote Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) and board Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) in a joint board matter approved Monday.
This is not the first time Foust has tangled with VDOT with over private use of VDOT property. In 1999 he was part of a court case that went to the Virginia Supreme Court concerning telecommunications monopoles on VDOT land. VDOT lost the case.
“If they had told us what they were gonna do, we would have worked with them,” Foust said.
VDOT megaprojects spokesman Steve Titunik has taken full responsibility for the communication breakdown.
“Obviously we didn't do enough to let people know what was happening. I feel terrible. I've let people down,” Titunik said.
The Times learned that representatives of Fluor/Transurban and VDOT were called to an emergency meeting with Foust, Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) and Del. Margi Vanderhye (D-McLean) after citizen complaints about the clearing began to pour in. However, VDOT declined to meet with local officials with a reporter present.
“Wewanted the opportunity for have frank and open discussion,” Titunik said.
According to Foust, he and other supervisors will be receiving regular updates from the HOT lanes project about work in their districts. Titunik says that the Balls Hill Road staging area is the only HOT lanes staging area located in a residential area and that, when the project is completed, the site will be turned into a “nature area.”
In the meantime, the site will be screened with a wooden fence. Traffic from the staging area will be timed to avoid conflict with Cooper Middle School.
Email the reporter at mtayloe@timespapers.com
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