July 24, 2015
SOUTH POTOMAC PILOT NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUTH POTOMAC DEFENSE COMMUNITY
New VDOT Signs on 301 and Commerce Drive to Reduce Traffic Incidents
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By Barbara Wagner Staff Writer
In response to increasing development and traffic congestion in the vicinity of B Gate at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently installed new signage warning drivers along Route 301 to slow down during the rush hour. The new signs may be found immediately past the intersection of Rt. 301 and Commerce Drive (the first northbound entrance to Walmart) and next to the entrance to the plaza where Pancho Villa restaurant is located. The change was the result of collaboration between Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP), VDOT and King George County officials. The hope is that the new signs will help to ensure the safety of the NSF Dahlgren workforce and other commuters who utilize the corridor. The signs advise drivers of stopped or slow traffic in the area between the hours of 7 and 10 a.m. and that the suggested speed limit for that area is 45 mph. Capt. Mary Feinberg, commanding officer of NSASP, initiated talks with VDOT and the
U.S. Navy Photo by Barbara Wagner
New traffic signs have been placed at the intersections of state Route 301 and Commerce Drive across from the Walmart Shopping Center entrance, and at state Route 301 and Market Drive - the intersection in front of Pancho Villa Mexican restaurant-to alert drivers of merging traffic and slower speed through the area. The new signs are the result of a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) and King George County officials. community and sought to ensure that all possible measures were being taken to safeguard drivers entering and exiting the base, as well as those who travel along that stretch of road. “NSA South Potomac has
an inherent responsibility to work with local and state officials regarding the safety of the roads in the vicinity of the bases to ensure the safest conditions possible exist outside the base’s fence line,” said Feinberg. Feinberg’s original
request was for a legal speed limit reduction, however after VDOT conducted a review of the traffic study results they determined a change was not warranted. \ “The speed shown on the new sign is an advisory
speed,” said Tina Bundy, VDOT spokesperson. “Legal speed limit signs are black and white and that established speed limit is based on the results of a speed study.” The original speed study for that area was conducted in May of 2012, with the most recent study this past March. As a result of the 2015 survey, the determined appropriate legal speed limit is 55 mph for that area. “There are no proposed changes at this time to the current speed limit,” Bundy added. “However, VDOT is working on a project to create a continuous right turn lane from Commerce Drive to the B-Gate entrance. The continuous right turn lane will minimize traffic back-ups in the through travel lanes and reduce rear-end crashes. Currently however, the project is not funded at this time.” Additional changes planned for the area include a change to the traffic signal cycling at Owens Drive and B-Gate that will improve the flow of traffic entering the gate. “The existing traffic speed was found to be 58 mph and the crash experience was determined not significant
See Traffic, Page 7
NSASP Welcomes New Public Works Officer By Barbara Wagner Staff Writer
Cmdr. William Windus recently joined Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) as the new public works officer. A native of New Jersey, Windus comes to NSASP following a three-year tour with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe Africa Southwest Asia (NAVFAC EURAFSWA) in Naples, Italy. Commissioned in 1998, Windus has an expansive portfolio of projects under his belt but agrees that the wide range of missions onboard Na-
val Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren and NSF Indian Head is going to be quite an undertaking. “The diversity of mission at [Dahlgren and Indian Head] is impressive,” he said. “Balancing the priorities of the different commands that all have vital missions presents a challenge. The most important challenge though, is to ensure the mission success of our customers while continuing to protect and maintain good stewardship of the environment, along with the safety of our public works employees and base personnel.”
A 2012 recipient of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NAVFAC ESC) Military Engineer of the Year award, Windus is recognized for his innovation and efficiency and with such an important three-fold mission, his talents will be tried in his role as public works officer at NSA South Potomac. Windus will oversee public works projects on Dahlgren and Indian Head which encompass a myriad of complex missions and challenges. There are several projects currently in the works at each installation, including the new
addition at the Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC), an infrastructure project involving upgrades to the water towers on NSF Dahlgren and completing the deconstruction of the old fitness center there, as well as the new, decentralizing steam and power system at Indian Head. Standing up the new power plant on NSF Indian Head, slated to go online in the fall, will also present a tremendous challenge for Windus and the public works team. The old, coalfired plant will have to un-
See Officer, Page 7
U.S. Navy photo by Daryl Roy
Cmdr. William Windus, Naval Support Activity South Potomac Public Works Officer.
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