Thank goodness! Now we need to push for the BRT in MoCo.

by Thayer-D on Jul 3, 2012 10:51 am • link • report

Good!

Now, let's extend the Silver Line to Leesburg, the Yellow Line to Potomac Hell, and the Blue Line to Fairfax City, the Orange Line to Warrenton, the Green Line to Waldorf and BWI/Baltimore, the Red Line to Gaithersburg, and the Purple Line to a full loop.

by Jasper on Jul 3, 2012 11:02 am • link • report

Geah.

by H Street Landlord on Jul 3, 2012 11:09 am • link • report

I thought as much...

by Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Jul 3, 2012 11:14 am • link • report

5-4 is what most have been expecting.

by selxic on Jul 3, 2012 11:28 am • link • report

Looking forward to Loudoun being a disruptive voice on the WMATA board from here on out (*rolls eyes*)

by andrew on Jul 3, 2012 11:38 am • link • report

I can't believe that John Roberts sided with the silver line in his opinion!

I also am gonna call Delgaudio and warn him that the homosexual invasion of loudoun will arrive by train.

by drumz on Jul 3, 2012 11:44 am • link • report

According to the newly revised MWCOG plan, the next major transit project in NoVa (beyond the already planned VRE improvements) is the BRT line from Shirlington to Mark Center to Van Dorn metro.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jul 3, 2012 12:49 pm • link • report

and of course there is an ongoing tier 1 EIS study of the I66 corridor, which is supposed to have results by December.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jul 3, 2012 1:07 pm • link • report

I am so glad that sanity prevailed in Loudoun County. Something is wrong when it is easier for me to fly out of JFK than IAD. I can take the Metro, Amtrak, and LIRR to JFK easier than it is to commute out to IAD.

by Rain17 on Jul 3, 2012 1:24 pm • link • report

the next major transit project in NoVa (beyond the already planned VRE improvements) is the BRT line from Shirlington to Mark Center to Van Dorn metro.

That's unfortunate because the need is greater in Tysons. But, wait, didn't Tysons just get the Silver Line Phase II? However, if you add up the existing plus future planned transit/road capacity coming into Tysons, it is still woefully inadequate for the planned density. Unless a surprisingly large share of future Tysons workers end up living in Tysons.

What's really needed is additional transit on Virginia's most significant commercial corridor, Rt. 7. Particularly between Alexandria and Tysons.

by Falls Church on Jul 3, 2012 1:29 pm • link • report

I can take the Metro, Amtrak, and LIRR to JFK easier than it is to commute out to IAD.

You do realize you can take Metrobus Express 5A from L'enfant or Rosslyn or the Wash Flyer bus from West Falls Church to IAD, right? If you time it right, Metro to the Wash Flyer bus will likely be quicker than taking the Silver Line all the way to IAD. That's why the Silver Line isn't about "rail-to-dulles" it's about building capcity for many more jobs and residents in Tysons.

by Falls Church on Jul 3, 2012 1:33 pm • link • report

But the 5A is a bus and I won't take a bus.

by Rain17 on Jul 3, 2012 1:40 pm • link • report

@Falls Church

the operative word is PLANNED density, I guess. The Alex project will address Mark Center, which is built and is a problem now for I395 while the Tysons needs will come as the new developments there come to completion. Planned completion for the Van Dorn BRT is 2016. Adding a SE line out of Tysons will be more complex, IIUC, given the narrow width of parts of rte 7 in City of Falls Church and the resultant to route on side streets, etc. Also the future of the seven corners to Baileys piece will depend on the future of Pike Rail, and on the propose traffic circle at seven corners. I think a transitway south on Gallows from Tysons may happen before a transitway SE.

note, the Van Dorn transitway will not only serve traffic to Mark Center, but will enable redevelopment in Landmark and the Beauregard area. And will connect in future with east west transit on rte 236.

Note also, City of alex will be funding the local piece.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jul 3, 2012 1:47 pm • link • report

But the 5A is a bus and I won't take a bus.

Well that certainly is a logical conclusion. So you would prefer to take the train (actually 3+ trains) to JFK (a 3.5+ hour trip) rather than take a bus?

by MLD on Jul 3, 2012 2:02 pm • link • report

Adding a SE line out of Tysons will be more complex, IIUC, given the narrow width of parts of rte 7 in City of Falls Church and the resultant to route on side streets

They would have to give up the center turn lane and convert it to transit. And, while it's much more complex/expensive to put light rail on 7, it's far more worthwhile than putting it on Gallows given the huge disparity in density (and urban form) between 7 and Gallows. Merrifield Town Center notwithstanding, Gallows isn't much of a commercial corridor and doesn't connect to other infrastructure like Pike Rail/Articulated Bus.

Also, transit improvements on 7 doesn't need to be light rail. It could be high frequency articulated buses with signal priority.

The Mark Center is already there and since there's little scope for additional development, building transit to the Mark Center isn't likely to be a high returning investment. On the other hand, there's lots of development potential on the Rt. 7 corridor (far more than Beauregard/Landmark).

by Falls Church on Jul 3, 2012 2:17 pm • link • report

Landmark mall is proposed for complete redevelopment into a mixed use town center, Beauregard Small Area Plan looks forward to large scale residential redevelopment of the existing low rise apt complexes, and there plans afoot for redevelopment of commercial properties around Van Dorn between LRT and the Van Dorn metro. So as far as redevelopment the potential is very significant. And City of Alex is willing NOW to commit dedicated lanes. And Mark Center is creating an existing need for transit, not for redevelopment itself (since its built) but for user benefits and congestion relief (which would have benefits in avoiding externalities of auto use).

And City of Alex is willing to finance a big piece of it (though applying for FTA small starts $) If and when Fairfax county is willing to move ahead with the $ and the willingness to dedicate lanes, I am sure Fairfax projects can start (either on the rte 7 corridor or on Gallows)

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jul 3, 2012 2:43 pm • link • report

I prefer rail-based transportation. I hate buses with a passion.

by Rain17 on Jul 3, 2012 2:44 pm • link • report

I prefer rail-based transportation. I hate buses with a passion.

I prefer rail-based transportation, too, but if the choice is between a decent bus service and nothing, I will take the bus.

by JustMe on Jul 3, 2012 4:30 pm • link • report

Good, I will have have more metrorail construction to photograph after phase I opens.

by Sand Box John on Jul 3, 2012 10:59 pm • link • report

@JustMe, Rain17 is being difficult but the 5A is a miserable experience. I pick it up at L'Enfant so that I can get a seat even though it would be more efficient to get on in Rosslyn. The service gets screwed-up whenever there's a marathon, fundraising walk for a disease, etc. The buses are claustrophobic. The Silver Line can't come soon enough.

by Rich on Jul 3, 2012 11:30 pm • link • report

[quote]And, while it's much more complex/expensive to put light rail on 7, it's far more worthwhile than putting it on Gallows given the huge disparity in density (and urban form) between 7 and Gallows. [/quote]

But Rt. 7 goes thru Falls Church. So light rail won't happen. Same reason it won't run down 123 from Tysons to Vienna-Fairfax metro. So Gallows is really the only option.

by EthanS on Jul 4, 2012 8:14 am • link • report

I don't think the City of Falls Church is as opposed to redevelopment as the town of Vienna is.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Jul 4, 2012 10:42 am • link • report