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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
curious
()
Date: June 12, 2009 04:52PM
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Arlington-moves-ahead-with-Columbia-Pike-streetcar-project--47264142.html
Arlington moves ahead with Columbia Pike streetcar project:
A plan to build a streetcar system along Columbia Pike in Arlington and Fairfax counties is poised to move forward this week as part of a years-long plan for developing the busy corridor.
Metro officials are slated to vote Thursday on whether to begin a $4.06 million environmental and engineering study of the proposed 5-mile streetcar line. It would be the first major step needed before financing and building the line with its 14 proposed stations between the Skyline complex and the Pentagon City Metrorail station.
“We’re quite enthusiastic about it in Arlington,” said Christopher Zimmerman, an Arlington County supervisor who sits on Metro’s board of directors. “For us, it’s one of our top transportation priorities in Arlington. It’s critical to the development planned in the corridor.”
The project would consist of an electric tram that runs on embedded tracks in one lane of the roadway, making stops along the curb.
Arlington and Fairfax counties chose the system in 2006 as a way to carry more passengers than the buses that already run along the busy pike. A streetcar wouldn’t need a dedicated right of way like Metrorail would.
Earlier this spring, the two counties approved the initial money that allocates $3.8 million for a consultant to study the environmental effect and draw up preliminary engineering. An additional $260,000 would go to Metro to manage the project. But the transit agency still needs to weigh in on the plan.
Zimmerman hopes the line can be the first piece of a network of surface rail that would include a link to Potomac Yard and Crystal City.
But some say Northern Virginia has more important transportation priorities amid the tight economy.
“We have billions and billions of needs and to put a couple hundred million dollars in Columbia Pike seems a poor investment at this time,” said Bob Chase, head of the nonprofit Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
The total project costs vary somewhat, with preliminary estimates of $160 million to $175 million. Who will pay for the construction hasn’t been established. But the environmental study could help qualify the project for federal funding.
It’s also not clear who would operate the system and who would pay the operating costs. Zimmerman projects the earliest it could be running would be about 2014.
Arlington moves ahead with Columbia Pike streetcar project:
A plan to build a streetcar system along Columbia Pike in Arlington and Fairfax counties is poised to move forward this week as part of a years-long plan for developing the busy corridor.
Metro officials are slated to vote Thursday on whether to begin a $4.06 million environmental and engineering study of the proposed 5-mile streetcar line. It would be the first major step needed before financing and building the line with its 14 proposed stations between the Skyline complex and the Pentagon City Metrorail station.
“We’re quite enthusiastic about it in Arlington,” said Christopher Zimmerman, an Arlington County supervisor who sits on Metro’s board of directors. “For us, it’s one of our top transportation priorities in Arlington. It’s critical to the development planned in the corridor.”
The project would consist of an electric tram that runs on embedded tracks in one lane of the roadway, making stops along the curb.
Arlington and Fairfax counties chose the system in 2006 as a way to carry more passengers than the buses that already run along the busy pike. A streetcar wouldn’t need a dedicated right of way like Metrorail would.
Earlier this spring, the two counties approved the initial money that allocates $3.8 million for a consultant to study the environmental effect and draw up preliminary engineering. An additional $260,000 would go to Metro to manage the project. But the transit agency still needs to weigh in on the plan.
Zimmerman hopes the line can be the first piece of a network of surface rail that would include a link to Potomac Yard and Crystal City.
But some say Northern Virginia has more important transportation priorities amid the tight economy.
“We have billions and billions of needs and to put a couple hundred million dollars in Columbia Pike seems a poor investment at this time,” said Bob Chase, head of the nonprofit Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
The total project costs vary somewhat, with preliminary estimates of $160 million to $175 million. Who will pay for the construction hasn’t been established. But the environmental study could help qualify the project for federal funding.
It’s also not clear who would operate the system and who would pay the operating costs. Zimmerman projects the earliest it could be running would be about 2014.
Re: Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
formerhick76
()
Date: June 13, 2009 07:56AM
I've ridden the 16 line before, it's the most used in the Metrobus system.
It'd be a useful test to see if it can run on say Routes 236/29/50 to cover areas and major routes that aren't really fed by Metro. OTOH, I'm not sure how much it'd cost more than Metrobuses ...
It'd be a useful test to see if it can run on say Routes 236/29/50 to cover areas and major routes that aren't really fed by Metro. OTOH, I'm not sure how much it'd cost more than Metrobuses ...
Re: Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
ExS.Arlington
()
Date: June 13, 2009 08:17AM
formerhick76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've ridden the 16 line before, it's the most used
> in the Metrobus system.
>
> It'd be a useful test to see if it can run on say
> Routes 236/29/50 to cover areas and major routes
> that aren't really fed by Metro. OTOH, I'm not
> sure how much it'd cost more than Metrobuses ...
I rode the 16F for years and just dont see how this would improve anything.
If the Metrobus service isnt up to snuff why not just add more buses and
save the expenses. (admin and otherwise)
I've also heard this proposal described as the "Tijuana Taxi"
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've ridden the 16 line before, it's the most used
> in the Metrobus system.
>
> It'd be a useful test to see if it can run on say
> Routes 236/29/50 to cover areas and major routes
> that aren't really fed by Metro. OTOH, I'm not
> sure how much it'd cost more than Metrobuses ...
I rode the 16F for years and just dont see how this would improve anything.
If the Metrobus service isnt up to snuff why not just add more buses and
save the expenses. (admin and otherwise)
I've also heard this proposal described as the "Tijuana Taxi"
Re: need to build a sonic in the area
Posted by:
WingNut
()
Date: June 13, 2009 08:31AM
erge
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2015 07:13AM by WingNut.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2015 07:13AM by WingNut.
Re: Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
Vince(1)
()
Date: June 13, 2009 09:18AM
Arlington has virtually ignored the Columbia Pike strip for the last 30 years favoring more affluent parts of the county. If the trolley isnt the answer...something else needs to be done to revitialize this section of Arlington.
Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.
Registered Voter...a Big talking coward..big man on FFXU...little man in life.
Re: Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
WingNut
()
Date: June 13, 2009 09:31AM
erge
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2015 08:35AM by WingNut.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2015 08:35AM by WingNut.
Re: Arlington To Vote On Proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar- FU Vote?
Posted by:
Pedro Rodriguez
()
Date: June 13, 2009 10:10AM
Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arlington has virtually ignored the Columbia Pike
> strip for the last 30 years favoring more affluent
> parts of the county. If the trolley isnt the
> answer...something else needs to be done to
> revitialize this section of Arlington.
The only thing that would save that section is the mass deportation of illegal aliens.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arlington has virtually ignored the Columbia Pike
> strip for the last 30 years favoring more affluent
> parts of the county. If the trolley isnt the
> answer...something else needs to be done to
> revitialize this section of Arlington.
The only thing that would save that section is the mass deportation of illegal aliens.