Fairfax County Board Asks for BRAC Delay in Letter

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the county’s Congressional delegation requesting their support for a one-year delay to the move of 6,400 federal employees to Alexandria’s Mark Center as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

“We have been urging the federal government to take responsibility and mitigate the traffic gridlock that will occur at the Mark Center since the Pentagon made this decision six years ago,” Chairman Sharon Bulova said in a statement. “A one-year delay, while not perfect, will allow progress on some of the efforts being made to help alleviate the problems that this federal decision will create.”

On May 12, 2011, the House Armed Services Committee, of which (D-8th) is a member, approved language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that gives Secretary of Defense Robert Gates the authority to extend the September 15, 2011, move-in deadline by a year.

The NDAA grants Gates the power to push back the deadline but does not require him to do so. Following the act’s committee approval, Moran sent a letter to Gates asking that Mark Center be included as one of seven BRAC recommendations that could be delayed.

In its letter, the County Board asked that this language be kept in the bill, in hopes that the deadline could be extended to September 15, 2012. According to a press release from Moran’s office, the House of Representatives will consider this measure sometime this week. The NDAA would still need to pass the Senate and be signed by the President before Gates could act.

A Department of Defense Inspector General’s report revealed that the Army may have performed faulty traffic impact studies. Upon the report’s release, Moran urged local governments to pursue legal action. , Prince William County and have stated they will not file suit, but the NDAA could provide the delay many West End Alexandria residents feel is needed.

A one-year hold on the move to Mark Center would allow for construction to begin on a ramp that would connect the northbound I-395 HOV lane directly to Seminary Road, a project that has been deemed critical by legislators and residents. The Federal Highway Administration construction on the ramp by 18 months when it decided more environmental assessment documentation was needed.

“The project is already expected to take several years and FHWA’s decision will further delay its completion until long after 6,400 employees are relocated to the Mark Center,” the Board wrote in its letter. “Fairfax County has urged FHWA to reconsider this decision.”

According to a release, the Board sent similar letters to Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, and U.S. Reps. Moran, Gerry Connolly and Frank Wolf.