The Arlington Coalition on Transportation (ACT) is a citizens group formed to oppose the construction of Interstate 66 through Arlington, Virginia. The focal activity of ACT was the conduct of a lawsuit filed against the Virginia Department of Transportation in 1971 in district court. This small citizen's group, founded by Jim and Emelia Govan, actually defeated the powerful Virginia Highway Commission, as the agency was then known. After considerable further legal and technical struggles, a compromise solution was reached to create a scaled-down highway segment, including a transit element.
In the year 1956 the Virginia Highway Commission (later the Virginia Department of Transportation) proposed Interstate 66 to link Washington, D.C. to the planned Interstate 81, a total project length of 76 miles. The citizens of Arlington were concerned about the impacts of this project through their county, especially with regard to air quality, noise and community disruption. In 1971, ACT was the plaintiff in an action against the Virginia Highway Commission, having filed a suit in the U.S. district court. ACT won this case after a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Arlington Coalition on Transportation v. Volpe, 458 F.2d 1323 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1000 (1972). The court paid special attention to the plaintiff's expert calculations and testimony projecting that air quality levels would violate Federal ambient air quality standards as set forth in the Clean Air Act and violate United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for ambient noise.
The Washington Post, which paid little attention to the conflict, suddenly became a supporter of Arlington Coalition on Transportation after their stunning victory in the Fourth Circuit. Studies of air quality and noise continued under the direction of ESL Inc., who this time were working directly for the Virginia Department of Transportation under the agreement reached between plaintiff and defendant. These studies, part of the court-mandated environmental impact statement, led to further highway design mitigation, particularly related to acoustical impacts.
The conflict continued into the mid-1970s, until Secretary of TransportationWilliam T. Coleman intervened to mediate the dispute and arrived at the "Coleman Decision," which amounted to a reduced four-lane highway with a Washington Metro element.
Events to current times
The four lane version of Interstate 66 was completed through Arlington in the year 1982. Tinkering with variations of High occupancy vehicle lanes occurred in the 1980s, and in 1999 Virginia Governor Gilmore announced a plan to widen both directions of I-66 within the Beltway. Soon thereafter a new organization, Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation, was formed to oppose further widening of I-66. This successor group to ACT questions the break in precedent from the intent of the "Coleman Decision", the lack of integrated transportation planning in the corridor, and further environmental impacts to Arlington.
Bibliography
Bill Peterson, "For the Govans, the Road to Victory Is Unpaved". The Washington Post, August 21, 1975
C. Michael Hogan and Harry Seidman, Air Quality and Acoustics Analysis of proposed I-66 through Arlington, Virginia, ESL Inc. Technical Document T1026, Sunnyvale, Calif. (1971)
Jim and Emilia Govan, Oral Histories, Arlington County Library
Mirriam A. Rollin, President of Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation, Comments at the Richmond Hearing at the Commonwealth Transportation Board of Virginia October 5, 2000
Virginia Highway Commission, Design Plans for Interstate 66, (1970)
Stephen J. Lyntona, "Long Road: Bitter Fight Against I-66 Now History I-66's Final Shape A Tribute To Its Opponents' Tenacity", The Washington Post, December 22, 1982
Jack Eisen, "Citizen Groups Attack Plans for Freeway", The Washington Post, September 7, 1972
External links
. AA Roads. Archived from the original on 2006-02-27.
Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation blog
March 18, 2023
arlington, coalition, transportation, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, novemb. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Arlington Coalition on Transportation ACT is a citizens group formed to oppose the construction of Interstate 66 through Arlington Virginia The focal activity of ACT was the conduct of a lawsuit filed against the Virginia Department of Transportation in 1971 in district court This small citizen s group founded by Jim and Emelia Govan actually defeated the powerful Virginia Highway Commission as the agency was then known After considerable further legal and technical struggles a compromise solution was reached to create a scaled down highway segment including a transit element Contents 1 Early history of the I 66 conflict 2 Events to current times 3 Bibliography 4 External linksEarly history of the I 66 conflict EditIn the year 1956 the Virginia Highway Commission later the Virginia Department of Transportation proposed Interstate 66 to link Washington D C to the planned Interstate 81 a total project length of 76 miles The citizens of Arlington were concerned about the impacts of this project through their county especially with regard to air quality noise and community disruption In 1971 ACT was the plaintiff in an action against the Virginia Highway Commission having filed a suit in the U S district court ACT won this case after a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Arlington Coalition on Transportation v Volpe 458 F 2d 1323 4th Cir cert denied 409 U S 1000 1972 The court paid special attention to the plaintiff s expert calculations and testimony projecting that air quality levels would violate Federal ambient air quality standards as set forth in the Clean Air Act and violate United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for ambient noise The Washington Post which paid little attention to the conflict suddenly became a supporter of Arlington Coalition on Transportation after their stunning victory in the Fourth Circuit Studies of air quality and noise continued under the direction of ESL Inc who this time were working directly for the Virginia Department of Transportation under the agreement reached between plaintiff and defendant These studies part of the court mandated environmental impact statement led to further highway design mitigation particularly related to acoustical impacts The conflict continued into the mid 1970s until Secretary of Transportation William T Coleman intervened to mediate the dispute and arrived at the Coleman Decision which amounted to a reduced four lane highway with a Washington Metro element Events to current times EditThe four lane version of Interstate 66 was completed through Arlington in the year 1982 Tinkering with variations of High occupancy vehicle lanes occurred in the 1980s and in 1999 Virginia Governor Gilmore announced a plan to widen both directions of I 66 within the Beltway Soon thereafter a new organization Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation was formed to oppose further widening of I 66 This successor group to ACT questions the break in precedent from the intent of the Coleman Decision the lack of integrated transportation planning in the corridor and further environmental impacts to Arlington Bibliography EditBill Peterson For the Govans the Road to Victory Is Unpaved The Washington Post August 21 1975 C Michael Hogan and Harry Seidman Air Quality and Acoustics Analysis of proposed I 66 through Arlington Virginia ESL Inc Technical Document T1026 Sunnyvale Calif 1971 Jim and Emilia Govan Oral Histories Arlington County Library Mirriam A Rollin President of Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation Comments at the Richmond Hearing at the Commonwealth Transportation Board of Virginia October 5 2000 Virginia Highway Commission Design Plans for Interstate 66 1970 Stephen J Lyntona Long Road Bitter Fight Against I 66 Now History I 66 s Final Shape A Tribute To Its Opponents Tenacity The Washington Post December 22 1982 Jack Eisen Citizen Groups Attack Plans for Freeway The Washington Post September 7 1972External links Edit TransAmerica Interstate 66 Corridor 3 Routing of the Trans America Corridor ISTEA NHS TEA 21 AA Roads Archived from the original on 2006 02 27 Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation blog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arlington Coalition on Transportation amp oldid 930041943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
