Putting the Brakes on Mark Center Gridlock

It’s a move that locals been dreading for years. But with the deadline for thousands of government employees to make the trek to the new Mark Center just two months away, it looks as though officials will get the delay they’ve been asking for.

According to the Washington Examiner, the Defense Department has told local and state officials that not all of the 6,400 workers shifting to the Mark Center will be moved by the September 15 deadline. Instead, the Examiner says only about 2,200 workers will move by the deadline, with the rest making the move by the end of the year.

While the incremental shift should reduce the chance for increased congestion on I-395 and Seminary Road, Alexandria city officials tell the Examiner it still doesn’t leave enough time to make needed road improvements to handle all the new commuters.

“Obviously, it’s better for everybody’s planning purposes, if they don’t just jump in with 6,400,” Alexandria Deputy Director of Transportation Abi Lerner told the Examiner.

Road improvements were overlooked by the Army after a series of studies found that all the new drivers would not affect traffic. That has sent local and state officials into a frenzy trying to delay the move before the roads become clogged.

Part of that effort is Congress, who would have to approve any delay in the move. Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia put a provision in the Defense Authorization Act that could push back the move for another year, until September 2012.

Some local officials tell the Examiner that they have been assured by the Pentagon that some sort of delay would be put in place regardless of whether Moran’s provision actually makes it through the House. Still, most are preparing for a messy move.

“From a Fairfax County perspective, we look at this thing as they’re going to be in there in September, and we’re planning based on that,” Mark Canale, a former base-closing coordinator for the county told the Examiner.
 

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