Letter to Honorable Leon E. Panetta

Letter

The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
Secretary of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E718
Washington, DC 20301

Dear Secretary Panetta:

We write today to express our strong opposition to the Department of Defense's (DOD) occupancy plan for the Mark Center complex, in Alexandria, Virginia. The plan, as outlined by Assistant Secretary King to the Congressional Defense Committees, contravenes the department's assurances to work with the Virginia delegation and local governments to ensure that the occupation of the Mark Center does not cause failing levels of service to surrounding roadways and intersections, including Interstate 395.

As you may know, Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission 2005, recommendation #133, will relocate approximately 6,400 DOD personnel from leased office space, accessible by public transit, to the Mark Center complex in Alexandria, which is not proximate to any Metro station and located adjacent to I-395. According to five different reports by the Department of the Army, the DOD Inspector General, and the Virginia Department of Transportation, should the DOD fully utilize the 3,800 parking spaces available at the Mark Center complex, local roadways and intersections will experience unacceptable traffic congestion.

The DOD has reprogrammed $20 million for transportation improvements in the immediate vicinity of the Mark Center. According to the department's reprogramming notification, "the existing roadway capacities around the Mark Center development will be insufficient to accommodate the influx of new traffic in connection with the BRAC recommendation." However, these improvements, which will reduce but not completely mitigate traffic congestion, will not be completed for at least 18 to 24 months. The Commonwealth of Virginia has also agreed to fund $80 million to build the long-term traffic solution for the Mark Center, a ramp from the HOV lane to Seminary Road, a project expected to take five to six years to complete.

It was our understanding that the department would delay to the longest extent possible the occupation of the Mark Center beyond what was statutorily required until sufficient transportation infrastructure was in place. Both Assistant Secretary Hammack and Deputy Under Secretary Robyn have previously stated that relocating 2,200 personnel by the BRAC deadline would meet that requirement. Instead, Assistant Secretary King informed the Congressional Defense Committees that the DOD would relocate nearly 5,000 personnel this year, and the remaining 1,400 in 2012. A relocation of that size before the completion of the necessary transportation infrastructure will cause unacceptable levels of service, significant disruptions to local and through traffic during peak travel times, and extended delays for the 200,000 area commuters who use I-395 daily.

Although we are disappointed that the department has decided to relocate 5,000 personnel this year, we are particularly distressed that the DOD intends to use up to 3,800 parking spaces at the Mark Center. There is no rule, regulation or statute preventing the department from self-imposing a parking limitation to 1,000 until there is sufficient transportation infrastructure. This self-imposed parking limitation would incentivize DOD personnel to rely on the alternate modes of transportation described in the Army's traffic management plan.

Legislation has passed the House of Representatives and is pending before the Senate that would impose a statutory restriction of 1,000 spaces if you fail to act. We therefore ask that you immediately reconsider and revise the recently released occupation schedule and transportation plan for the Mark Center complex by incorporating a self-imposed parking restriction in order to mitigate failing levels of service to any local roadway or intersection.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb
U.S. Senator

Mark Warner
U.S. Senator

James P. Moran
U.S. Representative

Gerald E. Connolly
U.S. Representative