The Free Enterprise Forum has just released an exceptional study they commissioned by Draper Aden Associates.

Neil Williamson, the director of the FEF, said

“What our report shows is that an at grade intersection that’s actually a roundabout would handle the traffic for at least the near term while the federal project moves forward through it’s approval process”.

“The Reasonableness report clearly indicates the state funded Meadowcreek Parkway project can be constructed with an at-grade interchange and serve the community.  The new independent federal project could then be built on top of the at grade intersection, thereby minimizing traffic impacts to the community during construction”.

If funding gets yanked due to Katrina and now Rita expenses, which seems more of a possibility every day, this study proves that there is a very viable alternative to the grade-separated interchange that could be built in conjunction with the Parkway itself.

Harrison Rue of TJPED states in yesterday’s DP:

“While I agree with the premise of the report, it will be far better, now that we’ve found the money, to do a timely location and design study and ensure both components of the intersection are built at the same time” …

Just what we need, another study phase. Call me a fool, but hasn’t this road been studied for 40 years? By the time any new studies are completed, they may be on their way to obsolescence as the numbers and environment (as well as the political environment) may have changed. In short, the addition of federal funds to the mix may present us the opportunity to build the interchange. However, this study shows that we can (and need to) get started now.

Things that could trip the Parkway’s construction up –
1) Lawsuit requiring the localities to tie the interchange and and the parkway as one large project rather than two separate, independent entities (which it is). I wrote about this (thanks to C-Ville) last week.
2) The federal funds get removed.
3) More political mastication, studies, etc.

The full text of the FEF’s press release is below. The full report can be found at their site (PDF) or below. If you have the time and inclination, I recommend a full read of this report.

Meadowcreek Parkway Project can move forward prior to Interchange Project
Roundabout design could handle traffic until interchange constructed according to study

A new independent “Review of Reasonableness” report, conducted by Draper Aden Associates for the Free Enterprise Forum, examined traffic projections, analyses and intersection designs and concluded that an at-grade roundabout would “allow Meadowcreek Parkway to operate safely and efficiently in the near term.”  The report also found importantly that the second project “with its own design utility can be built upon, rather than replace an at grade plan.” 

Free Enterprise Forum Executive Director Neil Williamson said, “Our goal in developing this report was to have a professional, objective, independent review of the issue.  Senator John Warner showed great leadership and a commitment to the community in securing the federal dollars necessary for the separate and distinct federal U.S. 250/McIntire/Meadowcreek grade-separated interchange project.  The Free Enterprise Forum applauds the Senator’s efforts on this issue.”  Mr. Williamson added, “The Reasonableness report clearly indicates the state funded Meadowcreek Parkway project can be constructed with an at-grade interchange and serve the community.  The new independent federal project could then be built on top of the at grade intersection, thereby minimizing traffic impacts to the community during construction”.
Draper Aden Associates is a 200-person consulting engineering firm with offices located in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, and Richmond, Virginia. Draper Aden is recognized as a leader among engineering consulting firms across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. The Free Enterprise Forum is a privately funded, public policy think tank.  The entire report can be accessed at www.freeenterpriseforum.org (PDF)