I attended the BRAC-133 meeting last night and I regret that our other commitments have not allowed us to evaluate the transportation issues and Transportation Management Plan for the Army’s Mark Center project. Last night’s meeting and a quick review of the TMP raise the following issues that we believe need to be evaluated:
Category: Resources
Virginia: Commonwealth Transportation Board 2011-2017 Six-Year Plan
First, our oil dependency and the world of higher energy prices that we can expect — with just 5% of the world’s population we use 25% of the world’s oil; 70% of that goes to transportation. The spike in gas prices in 2007 showed our vulnerability and is seen by some as the final straw that broke the back of the speculative real estate market. Gas prices increased 3-4 times what they were in 2000 and this broke many families’ budgets. Commuter buses were swamped and transit ridership continued to grow even after prices fell back. The cost to own a car according to AAA can be $7000 to $8000 per year. The family that has to own two or three cars is spending money that it could be saving for college educations or to invest in a business.
D.C. – New Resources for Housing and Homelessness Advocates
The lack of affordable housing has long been a problem in the District. For some residents, this means that they are forced to live in housing that eats up nearly all of their paycheck, leaving little for other basic necessities such as food and clothing. For many others, the cost of housing is so high that they are forced to double up in homes and apartments, move out of their community, or live in their cars or out on the streets.
Green Power Platform
Building Healthy and Vibrant Communities in Prince George’s County is a comprehensive blueprint to improve the environment and economy in Prince George’s County and to secure environmental justice for all of our residents. Policy recommendations are provided for energy conservation, renewable energy, waste management, land use, transportation, green business, sustainable agriculture and water/natural resources.
Groups Express Concern Over Possible Change in NoVa WMATA Representation
Letter from CSG, Sierra Club and Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation expressing opposition to changing Northern Virginia’s representation on the WMATA Board of Directors.
Map: The Future of Richmond Highway
A map showing the redevelopment potential of Richmond Highway (Route 1). Shown are commercial areas ready for redevelopment, parks and protected open space, and important streams and watersheds along the corridor.
Review of the Loudoun Countywide Transportation Plan
Smart Mobility, Inc. has been retained by the Citizens for a Countywide Transportation Plan to provide an independent review of the proposed Loudoun County Transportation Plan (CTP). This review encompasses both a preliminary critique of the Loudoun County Transportation Model (LCTM) which is the basis for the plans recommendations, and on the plan’s effectiveness in supporting the county’s overall goals of more sustainable and compact land use forms as stated in the Loudoun Comprehensive Plan.
Proposal for a Comprehensive Visioning Process for the Richmond Highway/Route 1 Corridor
The Richmond Highway Corridor passes through some of the most historic land in our Nation including the home and lands once owned by our first President. It has streams and wetlands connecting to the Potomac, and parks including Huntley Meadow and the Mount Vernon bike trail. It is marked by the diversity of peoples that are modern Fairfax, with a variety of neighborhoods and housing. From Beacon Hill one can see the landmarks of our nation’s capital including the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.
Fairfax County: Comments on the Draft Tysons Corner Comprehensive Plan
Bus Rapid Transit for I-66 and I-95 should not be “post-2020” but accelerated to be complete by 2020 at the latest. This is particularly true given the recent award of Bus Priority Corridor funding by the federal government and the strong bi-partisan interest in I-66 BRT.
Recommendations on the Loudoun Transportation Plan
A paper by the Coalition for Smarter Growth on some of the potential downfalls within the Loudoun Transportation Plan, including flawed traffic modeling and lack of integrated analysis of land use and transportation alternatives.