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Updated every weekday as availableGetting There: VDOT hopes light syncing will improve flow on Route 3
Daily Progress, February 6, 2012
"Commuters who see too much red along State Route 3 on weekday evenings might find more relief soon in the form of additional traffic-signal timing work."
Capital Bikeshare program looks to spread into the Washington suburbs
Washington Post, February 1, 2012
"The sturdy red bikes that arrived in the District and Arlington County as a curiosity and now blend into the urban landscape will swarm into suburbia this year. By summertime, the bikes should be rolling through the streets of Rockville and Alexandria as the popular Capital Bikeshare program expands into several outer Washington communities. "
State Plans Leesburg Meeting On Transit Plan
Leesburg Today, February 1, 2012
"The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will host a public meeting in Leesburg to kick off the Super NoVa Transit/Transportation Demand Management Vision Plan. According to a DRPT release, the plan will outline a regionally coordinated and comprehensive transit and TDM vision that will support increased mobility and greater transportation choices by the region. "
List details properties at risk of condemnation for Purple Line
Washington Post, January 25, 2012
"Myman Onyejiaka has owned his Riverdale home for eight years, but he only learned Wednesday that Maryland transit planners are eyeing part of his front yard and driveway to make room for a light-rail line."
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Weekly News
Updated every week as availableGovernor OKs Dulles rail funds
Loudoun Times Mirror, January 6, 2012
"Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) has signed off on an agreement with the other funding partners of the Dulles rail project that includes a promise of $150 million in additional state funding. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Loudoun County, the Federal Transportation Administration and Fairfax County also have approved the agreement, which aims to reduce the core cost of the rail line from Reston to Loudoun County to $2.8 billion."
Public hearing set for Greene road improvements
Daily Progress, January 4, 2012
"The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on proposed improvements to an intersection in Greene County, according to a news release from the agency. The meeting is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Ruckersville Elementary School, at 105 Progress Place. The $2.27 million project includes upgrades to the intersection of Matthews Mill Road (Route 607) and U.S. 29."
After banner year, county will see less road work
Daily Progress / Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 27, 2011
"After a huge year for secondary road construction and improvements in 2011, Albemarle County residents can expect to see many fewer road projects taken on by the county in coming years. With sharp cuts in state money being sent to localities for secondary roads — Albemarle saw a more than 90 percent reduction from a $4 million-plus per year average in the early to mid-2000s to $346,000 this year — the county’s construction docket for 2012 only includes four rural road paving projects."
Metro board approves GSA development agreement
Washington Post, December 16, 2011
"The General Services Administration will push to locate large-scale federal agencies at rail stations in a deal with Metro to promote transit-oriented development in the region. The transit authority’s board of directors approved the agreement at a meeting Thursday. The GSA, which handles the federal government’s real estate, plans to pick sites at Metro stations for agencies that need at least 500,000 square feet of office space. GSA would lease the land from Metro under a five-year agreement."
The Coalition for Smarter Growth, PEC's partner in the DC area, helped to rally support for this agreement--a big win for smart growth in DC and Northern Virginia.
The Outer Beltway: The bad idea that won’t go away
Washington Post, December 16, 2011
"The Intercounty Connector just opened, but its $2.6 billion price, plus debt costs, have left Maryland’s transportation budget in shambles . ... Nonetheless, many ICC proponents have moved on to pushing for a full Outer Beltway — a second ring highway around the Washington region that was first envisioned in the 1950s. Think Houston, which is now working on its third ring.This might sound good in the abstract. After all, everyone knows traffic in the region is bad. But another Beltway would make our problems worse, not better. Why?"
Officials consider buses instead of rail for Loudoun County
Loudoun Times Mirror, December 20, 2011
"Building an express bus system in Loudoun County, instead of the two planned Metrorail stations, could potentially cut the costs of new transit in half, according to rough estimates released Tuesday. Pat Nowakowski, executive director of the Dulles rail project for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, presented his “back of the envelope” calculations to the Dulles Corridor Advisory Committee. "
How the McDonnell Administration revived a dead road
C-Ville Weekly, December 7, 2011
"On July 20 James Utterback, the Culpeper District administrator for the Virginia Department of Transportation, had the job of briefing the Commonwealth Transportation Board about the controversial Charlottesville Bypass. Flashing PowerPoint slides on an overhead screen, he walked board members through the complexities of a project that had languished on the books for most of 20 years until the McDonnell administration had assigned it a top priority...As it turns out, there were some very important things that Utterback did not mention in his scripted presentation."
Albemarle board, VDOT move to open Meadow Creek Parkway
, December 7, 2011
"The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution asking the Virginia Department of Transportation to open its portion of the Meadow Creek Parkway Wednesday."
Official: To build Silver Line, expect ‘heartburn level’ Dulles Toll Road rates
Washington Post, December 8, 2011
"Dulles Toll Road users could see “heartburn level” rates to help pay for the $6 billion Metrorail extension to Loudoun County, according to the chairman of the Finance Committee of the board controlling the highway."
VDOT Makes the Case for I-95 HOT Lanes
Bacons Rebellion, December 8, 2011
"The McDonnell administration characterized a public-private partnership agreement for HOT lanes on Interstate 95 as a win-win arrangement that will expand capacity and create new choices for Virginia drivers without dunning taxpayers or motorists who don’t want to pay tolls."
