The Board of County Supervisors approved a new resolution stating they will not close State Route 234 until the entire Manassas Battlefield Bypass has been completed and opened to traffic.
“My resolution speaks directly to the long-standing policy of this board that we oppose the closure of either 234 or 29 until the Manassas Battlefield Bypass is constructed and opened to traffic,” Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland said from the dais.
Supervisor Candland brought this resolution to the floor. He said it was not about approving or disapproving the Bi-County Parkway, but whether the closure of 234 would bring more traffic congestion, especially cargo traffic, spilling onto local roads in the county.
He also wanted the resolution to show that the Manassas Battlefield Bypass is not to be confused with the Bi-County Parkway.
Using documentation, he explained how his motion was consistent with other resolutions throughout the years, including a 1988 bill put forth by Congressman Frank Wolf and a Prince William Board of County Supervisors 2005 resolution.”
“(There has been a) long-standing agreement by Congress, the National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Prince William Board of County Supervisors that the closure of either 234 or 29 could only take place if and when the complete battlefield bypass was built and opened for traffic,” Candland said.
However, he explained that those at the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), an appointed, not elected board, “usurped” those resolutions, when on Feb. 20, 2013, they redefined the meaning of “Manassas Battlefield Bypass” by their language, which to Candland inferred the Bi-Couny Parkway could serve as the alternate route around the battlefield.
Candland explained that other misunderstandings between what was meant by the Battlefield Bypass led him to believe they should revisit the issue in their resolutions as well. Although the board set a resolution on July 16 not to close 234 until the bypass was complete, Candland felt that resolution was nullified by another resolution passed on Aug. 6, asking that they reaffirm the 2005 resolution.
Candland explained the two previous resolutions as such:
Aug 6. Chairman Stewart asked us to do a little housekeeping on the premise that the July 16 resolution was somewhat defective. This board accepted this argument in good faith, and Supervisor Caddigan actually made the motion to clarify the intent of the July 16 resolution. That language of that resolution, when it was provided just a few days later, was not consistent with my understanding of the motion that I was asked to vote on, and I understand from Supervisor Caddigan’s statements that it was not the language of the motion that she intended being approved by the board.
However, Chairman at-Large Corey Stewart saw the issue differently, believing the former resolution to be sufficient.
Also, he said the new resolution could have the unfortunate unintended consequence of encouraging the Virginia Department of transportation (VDOT) and the CTB to shut down 29, something they are no longer planning on doing, although they are planning calming measures for the road.
Stewart also described the Manassas Battlefield Bypass as a “disaster” of a road that was not designed or intended by the county, but was something the Park Department desired.
Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington said he would support Candland’s resolution; however, he was concerned the back-and-forth on the resolution made not just the board, but the “whole community,” look foolish.
He also cautioned against accusing the state of being less than forthcoming in their dealings with this road, and he stressed that the board needed to be “a voice of reason” so that the CTB could look to them as an advising body on matters of the Bi-County Parkway.
Stewart and Covington both said they supported the Bi-County Parkway itself, even though it is unpopular with residents, as it serves the need of reducing traffic congestion in the growing community.
The vote passed 6-2 with Stewart and John Jenkins of the Neabsco District opposed.
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