Posts about Virginia
-
This bus stops here only during full moons and days with an ‘r’ in the name
Arlington’s CommuterPageBlog has the story of a poor Metro rider who tried to connect to an Arlington bus at Court House Metro. No signs tell riders where the stop is. He eventually found the stop, but no bus; it turned out (amid some confusing signs) that this bus stopped in a totally different place on weekdays. Keep reading…
-
Connolly wins
Gerry Connolly won the primary in Virginia’s 11th yesterday by 18 points. My progressive friends are disappointed, but Byrne’s apparent signals to Fairfax NIMBYs over Tyson’s redevelopment would have made me very nervous to have her in Congress. Keep reading…
-
VA-11 candidates on traffic, transit, and density
Tomorrow, Democrats in most of Fairfax and northern Prince William County will vote for a nominee to run for the Congressional seat in Virgina’s 11th district, currently held by Tom Davis. Since Northern Virginia has been trending Democratic and the Republicans lack a top-tier candidate, there’s a good chance the Democratic nominee will win in the general. Keep reading…
-
Alexandria still into Potomac Yards station
The Post reports continuing movement by the City of Alexandria toward putting an infill station on the Yellow and Blue Lines at Potomac Yards. The WMATA 2030 map I made for WMATA contains this potential infill station as well. Keep reading…
-
Non-conforming goats
An Arlington homeowner bought two goats to serve as pets and as cleaner, quieter lawnmowers. Only problem is, goats are not allowed by zoning. BeyondDC asks why goats are necessarily worse than dogs or motorized lawnmowers. Maybe there are other public health reasons, but we also have many zoning laws without a compelling basis. Keep reading…
-
Two sets of obstacles for Tysons
The Washington Post has an overview of Tysons redevelopment plans and the controversies that are coming. Critics from the urbanist side of things are concerned that keeping Routes 7 and 123 as wide highways instead of “urban boulevards” and running Metro aboveground will create barriers between sections and compromise the potential for an urban feel of the area. Anti-development… Keep reading…
-
Weekend walking roundup
Walking: so crazy it’s almost illegal: A group of Alabama students is responding to high gas prices by walking to school. Their courage is even more notable because parade rules almost made their actions illegal and their town lacks sidewalks. Keep reading…
-
Arlington rental proposal brings out immigrant phobia
Arlington is considering a proposal to allow homeowners to make rental units like basement apartments in their homes. It’s already legal in DC, as well as Montgomery and Fairfax. Today’s Post reports that many citizens are fighting the proposal, concerned that it will bring undesirable immigrants into Arlington. Keep reading…
-
Tweaked Rosslyn station on Metro 2030 map
Jim Hamre of WMATA pointed out that Metro’s current thinking on the separate Blue Line is that it would have to run one block west of the current Rosslyn station, to a new set of platforms connected by an underground walkway. I had hoped that the new tracks could pass right next to the old ones enabling a cross-platform transfer (after all, Rosslyn already has the two tracks on separate… Keep reading…
-
VA wants more rail, needs money
Virginia communities are vying to get one more daily commuter train to Washington, reports the Post. Amtrak is willing to run another train from Lynchburg to Union Station via Charlottesville, Culpeper and Manassas, or from Newport News via Williamsburg and Richmond. Unfortunately, Virginia only has money for one or the other. Keep reading…