Can Security Concerns Be Addressed in Arlington?

Due to concerns about violating BRAC confidentiality rules, military officials have been reluctant to work with the private sector and local officials to explore security options in Arlington, according to Governor Mark Warner. In his closing remarks before the BRAC commission July 7, he stated that the "process simply did not allow DoD to do the kinds of things it needed to do in order to produce a series of better, cheaper and more secure leased space options."

In response, Arlington has proposed alternatives that would save millions of dollars over the DOD recommendations. See Arlington's proposal.

What is the BRAC Proposal and How Does it Impact Me?

The Defense Department (DOD) has proposed moving over 20,000 Defense jobs from offices in Crystal City, right next to the Metro and VRE stations to Fort Belvoir in southern Fairfax and beyond. In addition, Walter Reed Medical Hospital would be closed and consolidated at Bethesda Naval Hospital and other jobs would be relocated to Fort Meade and Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland. 

In addition to the DOD jobs, contractors would also have to move as they are required to be located within just a few miles of the military offices they serve.  This would not only disrupt people's lives, but more importantly it would create a major strain on the region's already overburdened transportation system.

Many officials have made the point that the proposed realignments are contrary to the goals and intentions of regional officials who have sought to reduce traffic and air pollution, and preserve open space and the Chesapeake Bay. We all have sought to do this by focusing development near transit and in mixed-use centers, revitalizing our older communities, reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled, and increasing the use of transit, carpools, walking and bicycling.

Local & Regional Concerns

Traffic and transportation costs would be unbearable for local government and taxpayers to build the needed infrastructure to get people to Fort Belvoir & Fort Meade and even with federal funding, transportation improvements will take at least 10 years to put in place.

The overall cost to the taxpayers and local governments will be significant to pay for all of services that would be needed for the DOD jobs and the related contractors and services. [Water, sewer, neighborhood impacts, transportation, traffic, personnel, etc.]

The move would cause notable “Brain Drain” from federal agencies and contractors and create huge personnel costs as the location would be inaccessible/inconvenient for workers.

The symbolism of the move and the potential for other government offices to relocate could leave the region paralyzed in traffic and empty the Nation’s capital.

Solutions
There are design alternatives to make Crystal City and other in-town locations secure.

There are other locations near the Pentagon to accommodate the workers in leased space in Crystal City.

IN THE MEDIA

"Analysis Finds Base Plan Could Add Traffic"
The Washington Post, July 14, 2005

"Arlington Hires Cohen Group to Deal with BRAC"
Washington Business Journal, July 8, 2005

"Base Closing Plan's Legality Is Disputed by Sen. Warner"
The Washington Post, July 8, 2005

Government Reform Chairman Says Base-Closing Plan Could
Cause Brain Drain
GovExec.com, June 21, 2005

Defense Workers Tell Legislators They Won’t Move
Washington Post, June 21, 2005

In Defense of Arlington, A Heads-Up to Pentagon
Washington Post, June 19, 2005

Why Not Move the Pentagon Too - Neil Pierce
Column, May 29, 2005