Posts by Jenifer Joy Madden — Contributor
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“We need to plan together” for the arrival of autonomous cars
Fairfax County and the state of Virginia are taking the lead in our region on the future of connected and autonomous vehicles. One big reason: economic development. Experts say that to ensure we get the most out of the new technology, we need to be deliberate in our approach. Keep reading…
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“Self-driving vehicles will improve our cities, if they don’t ruin them”
Driverless cars, drones, and other high-tech changes to urban transportation are on the way. But will they make our cities heaven or hell? Keep reading…
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Guess who wants to teach cyclists a lesson?
Have you ever been on your bike, minding your own business, when a driver seemed to try to run you off the road? Some revealing light was shed on that subject at this year's Transportation Research Board. Keep reading…
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Kids can be traffic engineers, too. Check out the video.
Last week at the National Building Museum, hundreds of local kids learned how to design streets. In the video below, check out what Fairfax-based civil engineer and STEM skills advocate Fionnuala Quinn taught them, and see if you can spot how they’re working on challenges that are unique to DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Keep reading…
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I spent five days in Havana. This is what transportation is like there.
Cuba has some special twists on transportation. These are my impressions after a five-day People to People cultural exchange tour I took of Havana, the Cuban capital. Articulated buses and bus stops were full: Keep reading…
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Tysons will get its first bike lanes this summer
Some of Tysons’ main streets are getting a makeover this summer, and that’s going to make them more bike-friendly. Keep reading…
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New Tysons Circulator bus routes get mixed reviews
When the Silver Line opened, Fairfax County also launched three new bus routes to help people get around Tysons Corner. How are they working? Jenifer Joy Madden had a good experience on the buses, but Navid Roshan says that the meandering route makes the bus slow for many trips. Keep reading…
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How will “connected vehicles” affect urbanism?
A consortium of Virginia schools will soon start testing vehicles in Fairfax County that can talk to each other and their surroundings. But what will “connected vehicles” (CV) really mean for transportation and urbanism? Researchers have attached tracking equipment to light poles and other roadside infrastructure in and around Merrifield, including stretches… Keep reading…
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S is for S buses, streetcars, and social media this week
Find out plans for better bus service on 16th Street, weigh in on streetcars, or listen to panels on DC social media and the future of transportation this week. Plus, be sure you’ve marked your calendar for the Greater Greater Washington 5th birthday party on March 5! WMATA bus planners recently promised to explore ways to increase service on lower 16th Street, where riders… Keep reading…
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Route 7 needs transit to get people to Tysons
In Fairfax County, some residents are worried about squandering a real opportunity to reduce traffic into Tysons. State officials want to expand Route 7 between Reston Avenue and the Dulles Toll Road, but can’t consider transit because of the county’s comprehensive plan. The Virginia Department of Transportation would like to widen Route 7 from 4 car lanes… Keep reading…