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While I agree with the value of streetcar to Columbia Pike, and I personally think it's a better choice for that corridor on the basis of some of the transportation merits Mr Arnold describes, I cringe a little bit every time the impact on development is mentioned. It's a real and important effect, but is it a proper use of Federal transportation money? Because with Arlington changing course, and planning to apply for Small/New Starts money, we must recognize that it's a zero sum game - a dollar to pay for a project where the marginal benefit of streetcar over art-bus is mostly in building a community, not providing exponentially more/better transit service, takes from projects that are wholly defensible based on their ability to improve mobility/accessibility.

In this imperfect world where basic transit service is being gutted due to lack of funding, I wish that marginal redevelopment benefit was not paid from that finite pot of money.

Provide a separated ROW for the streetcar, and all of these concerns are moot.

by darren on Jun 18, 2012 2:56 pm • link • report

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