This document summarizes a public information meeting held by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation regarding plans to complete missing segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail between Richmond Highway and Southwood Drive in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The meeting covered the project purpose and description, existing conditions, conceptual design plans featuring a pedestrian bridge over Dogue Creek and potential impacts. Next steps include accepting public feedback until April 8th and further design and environmental review before a follow-up public meeting.

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Public Information Meeting
Mount Vernon Memorial
Highway Trail
Mount Vernon High School
March 14, 2018
Department of Transportation

2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
List of Staff Members
• Presenters
– Chris Wells, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs Manager, FCDOT’s
Capital Projects Section
– Regina Herr, Project Manager, WRA
• Supporting Staff
– Ryan Knight, Transportation Planner III, FCDOT’s Capital Projects
Section
– Scott Ruffner, Engineer IV, FCDOT’s Transportation Design Division
– Chris Barksdale, Engineer III, FCDOT’s Transportation Design Division
– Mark VanZandt, Section Chief, FCDOT’s Transportation Design
Division
– Nicholas DeSantis, Task Manager, WRA
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3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Meeting Agenda
• Project Purpose and Description
• Existing Condition
• Conceptual Design
– Trail Design
– Bridge Design
• Potential Impacts
• Next Steps
• Questions/ Discussion
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4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Purpose and Description
• Complete missing segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
between Richmond Highway (US Route 1) and Southwood Drive for a
length of approximately two miles.
• Funding Information: Approximately $6.5 million with local funds.
• The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a designated National Scenic
Trail corridor spanning parts of the Mid-Atlantic and upper Southeastern
regions of the United States that connects various trails and historic site.
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5. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
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Source: Prince William Conservation Alliance website http://www.pwconserve.org/issues/trails/potomacheritage/index.html

6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Existing Conditions
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• From the Mount Vernon
Estate to Old Mill Road, trail
is on the north side.
• From Old Mill Road to
Southwood drive, trail is on
the south side.
• Trail Continues along Grist
Mill Park from Peartree
Landing to entrance of park.
• Trail Continues from George
Washington’s Grist Mill
House to Alternative Paths
Training School entrance.
• Trail crosses to the south
side of Mt. Vernon Memorial
Hwy at Route 1.

7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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• The conceptual design displayed or presented are not final design plans.
Design features relating to construction or to regulation and control of traffic
may be subject to change as deemed necessary during the detailed design
phase.
• Additional easements for utility relocations or any other impacts may be
required beyond the proposed limits of disturbance shown on these plans.
• Throughout the conceptual design, varying stormwater management
methods are proposed to mitigate project’s impact.
Shoulder and Ditch

8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
(Typical Cross-Section)
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9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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From Route 1 to the Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy Dogue Creek Bridge

10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Pedestrian Bridge Design Concept
• Proposed bridge approx. 185’
in length and 14’ trail width
• Pier locations and retaining wall
length to be determined during
design
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• Aesthetic treatments to match
character of area
• George Washington’s Grist Mill
within trail view shed
• Hydrologic and hydraulic
analysis required

11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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Coordination with FHWA, the USCoordination with FHWA, the US
Army, and VDOT is required forArmy, and VDOT is required for
potential intersection improvementpotential intersection improvement
at Fort Belvoir’s Walker Gateat Fort Belvoir’s Walker Gate
entranceentrance
From the Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy Bridge to Fort Belvoir’s Walker Gate entrance

12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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From just east of the Fort Belvoir’s Walker Gate entrance to Frontage Rd

13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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From Patton Blvd to Old Mill Road

14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
(Typical Cross-Section)
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15. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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From Old Mill Road to the Grist Mill Park Entrance

16. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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Existing Trail, from Grist Mill Park entrance to just east of Forest Haven Drive

17. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
(Typical Cross-Section)
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18. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Conceptual Design
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Connect from existing trail ending at Peartree landing to existing trail across from
Southwood Drive

19. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Potential Impacts
• Although, the goal remains to preserve scenic aesthetics and
minimize disturbance, the following may be potential impacts as
further design progresses:
– Tree and other vegetation removal
– Varying stormwater and drainage management methods
(Both Curb and Gutter and a Ditch considered)
– Impacts to adjacent or nearby properties due to trail alignment or
stormwater basin locations
– Further Coordination with Fort Belvoir’s intersection
improvement project
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20. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Next Steps
• Comments, Feedback, Suggestions for this phase of the project will
be accepted through April 8, 2018.
• Please share additional Comments at
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/walk/projects/mount-vernon-m
• FCDOT will submit conceptual design plans to our Transportation
Design Division (TDD) for further design and environmental review
with WRA.
• Once more detailed design available, FCDOT TDD will schedule
follow-up public information meeting.
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21. County of Fairfax, Virginia
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
OR SUGGESTIONS?
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