Leaders from the Prince William and Loudoun County Chambers of Commerce announced the formation of the Bi-County Partnership at a press conference May 30 in Manassas.
The Bi-County Partnership is a group representing 11 organizations in the Prince William, Loudoun and the Dulles areas formed to advocate for the Bi-County Parkway, also known as the North-South Connector, on behalf of the business community, while also attempting to dispel misinformation about the proposed highway project.
Speakers on behalf of the Partnership said the Bi-County Parkway would bring economic growth, ease traffic congestion and bring connectivity from Prince William County to job centers in and around Dulles and Reston.
“This road is quite simply about improving the quality of life for everyone,” said Rob Clapper, President of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.
Clapper said having the road would attract more high-paying jobs to Prince William County and allow residents to commute easily between the two counties.
While he said it is “about jobs and economic opportunities for the future,” Clapper said his chamber members also want to protect the environment, culture and history of the area because they work, live, play and raise their children in Prince William County.
Val Walters, Executive Director of the Dulles South Alliance, said the new road would benefit Northern Virginia families who are often stuck in traffic congestion just to take their children to after-school activities.
“As a mother of two, I have personally experienced that frustration,” Walters said.
Tony Howard, President of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, asked elected leaders to green light the project saying community leaders often have blocked new road projects “under the mistaking notion that you can control growth by taking roads off the map.”
Howard said population growth is predicted to rise with or without the road, but without the road, traffic congestion on local roads would increase. He also said building the road could help lessen the tax burden for residents in both counties as it would encourage new businesses to relocate, thus increasing the tax base.
However, representatives of the Partnership say it is at least five, maybe ten, years away. Because the road is yet in the design phase, it is unknown if it will incorporate HOV lanes or be a toll road.
However, Clapper said that as a limited-access road, the Bi-County Parkway would protect the rural crescent from residential or commercial development.
Residents have raised concerns about the possiblity of closing some local roads. However, Howard noted that federal laws require certain roads, such as Route 29, remain open until new roads are in place.
Ghadban said her citizen’s group, “Just Say No to the Tri-County Parkway,” is petitioning the Commonwealth Transportation Board to limit the influence of the Park Service to close roads residents want to remain open.
In response to the message of the press conference, Ghadban said she is not surprised Loudoun County approves of the road; however, as a commercial real estate agent, she believes Prince William property values will be hurt when Route 234 and the Bi-County Parkway become cargo roads for Dulles Airport.
Not all people agree with her assessment. Former county planner Roger Snyder said the road has been planned since 1980, and he expects it would primarily be used for commuting between Prince William and Loudoun counties, not cargo.
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