The Western Transportation Corridor

Status:  After hearing from hundreds of eastern Loudoun residents protesting the outer beltway running through their neighborhoods, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors voted in 2004 to not put the Western Transportation Corridor back on the county's plans. However, they did send the WTC back to the Planning Commission where it remains an ongoing threat.

The Western Transportation Corridor (WTC) is a proposed $1.5 billion highway that would stretch more than 50 miles through Loudoun County west of Dulles Airport.   It would also run through Fauquier County and western Prince William County. It is a piece of a proposed Outer Beltway around the DC Region. See a map of the Outer Beltway proposals.

Background on the WTC

It Won't Relieve Traffic
The WTC is being prioritized despite 2 facts:

1. It would not relieve traffic, and
2. It would take $1.5 billion of scarce transportation money away from projects that would reduce traffic.

VDOT's own studies show that the road would do little to relieve traffic congestion on the Beltway or I-66. It would actually increase traffic on several congested roads (Route 7, Route 50, the Dulles Greenway) since it would open new areas to development.

Who Wants the WTC?
Many of the proponents of the highway are developers who need a road through semi-rural areas to open those areas to development. Dulles Airport is also a proponent because it wants to attract freight.

Alternatives
Instead of spending $1.5 billion on building the WTC, we should be funding fixes to our current traffic problems on Rt. 7, Rt. 50, the Dulles Greenway, and local roadways. Tell us what traffic fixes you think need to happen.

More information on the Tri-County Parkway
More information on New Potomac River Crossings