October 10, 2000 - The Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation (ACST), a broad-based citizen's group, announced its opposition to a proposed engineering study on widening Interstate 66 inside the Beltway.

"This study, like the entire movement to widen I-66, is going completely outside the normal planning process," said ACST President Miriam Rollin. "Not a single regional transportation plan includes this project, and the Virginia General Assembly failed to fund it."

The $5 million preliminary engineering study proposed by Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board, a panel that allocates Virginia Department of Transportation funds, would be the first stage in a major road construction project. Virginia Gov. James Gilmore (R) is pushing to widen I-66 despite strong local opposition.

"The Commonwealth Transportation Board and Governor Gilmore are trying to push this through without considering the alternatives at the risk of causing great disruption of the surrounding neighborhoods with little effect and lots of wasted taxpayer's money," said Jack O'Leary, ACST Vice President. "We should pick the best solution, not just the first one that comes to mind."

Rollin said ACST opposes the study because:

• Widening I-66 inside the Beltway has not been approved by any of the regional transportation decision-making bodies, like Northern Virginia's Transportation Coordinating Council or the Washington region's Transportation Planning Board, or by the Virginia General Assembly.

• The study considers only one of many options for solving the I-66 corridor's transportation woes.

"The voices of the people of Arlington, who will be affected most by this project, should be heard," said O'Leary." ACST is committed to considering all the options, from better, less costly improvements to I-66 to improved HOV regulations and enforcement to transit solutions. A combination of alternatives might do the trick faster and cheaper."