Politics & Government

Police Lieutenant Warns About BRAC Traffic Woes

"Is it an issue that I'm concerned about? Yes," says Franconia District Station lieutenant

A Franconia District Station lieutenant warned Wednesday night that traffic problems in the Franconia District will increase as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process brings more people to the area.

A by the Department of Defense's Inspector General found that planners had failed to take into account traffic conditions around the Mark Center, an Alexandria complex that is a centerpoint of BRAC.

"When that place is at full capacity, you know what that's going to do?" Franconia District Station Lieutenant David M. Smith said at a Citizen Committee meeting on Wednesday.

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"Is it an issue that I'm concerned about?" Smith said. "Yes." He added that Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay (D) is also worried about the impact BRAC will have on traffic.

Smith began talking about BRAC after an audience member at the CAC meeting complained that the Fairfax County Police Department's anti-speeding campaign ignores dangerous intersections, like the intersection of Franconia Road and Van Dorn Street.

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Smith responded that monitoring driving violations at intersections is difficult because it's hard to find a good place to put a police cruiser. He then started to talk about the general state of Franconia-area roads, saying that by the time new roads are built to accomodate increased traffic, they can't handle traffic demands.


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