Posts about Virginia
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Afternoon links: great streets aren’t overrun with parking
Parking minimums could kill SE project: A proposed building at 801 Virginia Ave will be offices instead of condos; unfortunately, current parking minimums are higher for offices, groundwater makes digging more parking levels too costly, and without a variance, Infosnack points out we’ll just be stuck with an empty lot. DCist agrees with parking reform: Removing parking minimums… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Montgomery County extravaganza
SmartBike in MoCo? Councilmember Valerie Ervin (Silver Spring) is suggesting a SmartBike system for Montgomery County, with stations “in the downtowns of high-density area such as Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton and Bethesda.” How about making it compatible with DC’s, so someone could one day pick up a bike in Bethesda, ride to Friendship Heights or Tenleytown… Keep reading…
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Widening I-66 is far from insignificant
As we discussed last week, the Virginia Department of Transportation will be presenting environmental review documents to justify widening I-66 from two lanes to three lanes for significant portions between Rosslyn and West Falls Church. The environmental review documents are in the form of a Categorical Exclusion, which under NEPA means that the widening would not have… Keep reading…
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Army: Alexandria move will be ok because we say so
The Post follows up with more quotes from Virginia officials and Army spokespeople about their transit-unfriendly move to western Alexandria. The Army says they want 40% of workers to carpool or take transit, but don’t justify how they will make that happen and why it won’t still be a disaster. Keep reading…
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VDOT widening I-66 in Arlington, sweeping environmental impact under the rug
VDOT is planning what they call “spot improvements” for I-66 within Arlington. The project plans to add a third lane along some of the most congested segments. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Mo’ train money, mo’ problems edition
Federal bread crumbs for a third VRE track: Virginia will spend $13 million to add a third track for VRE trains south of Fredericksburg to reduce delays from freight trains. In a big change for the feds, they are contributing; previously rail projects got no federal money. But they’re only kicking in $2 million of the $13 million total, as part of a mere $30 million for rail across… Keep reading…
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More fun with graphs
Continuing the discussion of Washingtonian transit exceptionalism from here and here, commenter SamZ posted this graph comparing the amount of non-car commuting in each region between the “transit zone” (within a half mile of transit) to the rest of the region. Keep reading…
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Army chooses least transit-accessible site of three for 6,400 jobs
The Army has decided to locate 6,400 jobs at a site in western Alexandria, right off I-395 but far from Metro, reports the Post. The jobs were originally slated to move from Arlington to Fort Belvoir, but concerns about traffic led the Army to consider alternate sites. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Paved paradise edition
AP covers parking minimums: This Associated Press article summarizes the debate over relaxing parking minimums. The article quotes Jeff Speck, who testified in favor of relaxing minumums, and Capitol Hill ANC Commissioner Ken Jarboe, who testified against. It also gives an example of a historic Milwaukee building which burned down and couldn’t redevelop until the city… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Baby steps from car dependence edition
Have you signed the pledge yet? Car-Free Day is Monday, September 22. Take the car-free challenge and head over to DC’s celebration between 11 and 3 at 7th and F for “live music, yoga classes, free t-shirts and giveaways, Segway demonstrations”, valet bike parking, free bike tune-ups, and test rides on SmartBikes. If not for me or for the environment, do it for Tommy. Keep reading…