A Solution to Congestion:
Rail on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge

Although plans to widen the Beltway and build a new bridge are aimed to improve traffic in the region, without a transit alternative the project will only lead to more traffic congestion, pollution and sprawl. Construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge provides an opportunity to include transit alternatives on the bridge. Rail will provide transportation choices for commuters and should be included while the bridge is still under construction. Early studies of the Purple Line have showed that there would be strong ridership across the Wilson Bridge.

Opportunities still exist to secure space for transit on the Wilson Bridge. If space isn't included at this critical juncture, the region will be paying for it in future years.

Why a Wilson Bridge without Rail is Bad:

• The crossing is expected to be congested within two years of opening; after spending over two and a half billion dollars on the project, this is unacceptable.
• Prince George's County daily sends over 95,000 workers to jobs in Northern Virginia. Commuters at this vital crossing have no choice but to drive.
• Inner Prince George's suburbs like Oxon Hill have been promised rail for over 35 years. Given the chance to fulfill this promise, bridge planners once again shunned these struggling communities.
• The 12-lane bridge could mean widening the beltway to 12 lanes, a devastating prospect for a region already tied up traffic. Widening the Beltway could potentially be one of the costliest and most destructive highway projects in our regions' history.
• The DC region already has poor air quality. Prince George's County, Alexandria and Southeast DC would suffer the greatest with an increase of air pollution.

Resouces:
Rail, Not HOV, on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge: Sierra Club

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