BRAC Causes More Traffic Jams at Fort Belvoir

As residents and legislators feared, the BRAC move of thousands of federal employees to Fort Belvoir is causing an increase in traffic jams around the base.

According to WTOP, Virginia Sectretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton said backups have worsened on southbound I-95 and the Fairfax County Parkway. Connaughton said the state was concerned about traffic light safety along the parkway because of increased traffic. 

When , he was worried about the "immensely negative" impacts BRAC would have on roadways in Northern Virginia. "“It’s going to have a very serious impact on not just the commuters going on I-395, but actually, we think it’s going to have an impact on 95 itself, 495 and then have rippling effects throughout all northern Virginia," he said.

, said he expected it to take about five years to sort out the transportation issues when Patch spoke with him in September.

"It's a challenge for the State Secretary of Transportation because of everything he's pounded on regarding any major roadway in this area - and Fort Belvoir touches all of them - Route 1, the Fairfax County Parkway, Interstates 95 and 395," he said. "I understand where they are coming from."

Approximately 20,000 workers moved to the main base, Mark Center in Alexandria, and the National Geospacial Intelligence Agency Warehouse as part of the federally mandated relocation. 

Connaughton told WTOP that new bus routes along Route 1 from Alexandria to Stafford are some solutions the state is still discussing with Fort Belvoir officials.