Shocker the ICC is costing the state more then it thought. In the end this might be a good thing however. I may make people think twice before they build another huge project like the ICC again. Like hot lanes on I-270 for example.

by Matt R on Feb 4, 2011 8:57 am • link • report

Those station names are from the early ARS maps. Some of them appear on the 1968 ARS map. Other appear on the 1970 ARS map. Some of them appeared on the maps the were aboard the trains when the first segment opened on 03 27 1976.

by Sand Box John on Feb 4, 2011 9:01 am • link • report

This Adams Morgan streetscape project is going to be a nightmare for businesses. It might as well be called the "U Street-Columbia Heights Bar and Restaurant Benefits Act".

by Adam L on Feb 4, 2011 9:02 am • link • report

Fenty for Arlington Council!

ARLNOW has a good post on income increase in Arlington County, which was the highest in Virginia. It also didn't have as many Mexicans! So, smartgrowth = getting the rich people and getting rid of hispanic immigrants? Sounds like something Republicans should love!

A bit of cognitive dissonance regarding McDonald's plan for Virginia. If I understand Krugman right, that is EXACTLY what the feds should be doing: asking for money NOW to invest in infrastructure. So why is it bad for Virginia to do the same. And I've made this point about the 395 HOT lanes: nothing to do with the Arlington lawsuit, a lot to do with Transurbans credit lines being downgraded to junk status. 3 years only private companies could put out 99 year bonds -- yesterday the fed's advisory board suggested the Treasury do the same.

99 year Treasury bonds to fund an infrastructure bank would be a real win-win, but like most good ideas I'm sure that idiot in the White House doesn't want to touch it.

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 9:09 am • link • report

What is the decision-making process for placing federal offices? Maybe they focus heavily on the cost of acquiring land or real estate, which is presumably a lot cheaper in the outer suburbs.

So is it the Social Security Administration's fault, or were they just following the rules? (I'm not saying it is a good idea to build federal offices way out, I'm just saying agencies/departments might not have much of a choice ATM.)

by EJ on Feb 4, 2011 9:25 am • link • report

I think you mean Loudoun, not Loudon.

http://www.loudoun.gov/

by nevermindtheend on Feb 4, 2011 9:27 am • link • report

On SSA's siting decision:

In an internal communication, officials cited “a combination of favorable infrastructure and operating costs, environmental acceptability and favorable construction conditions.”

Even if SSA wanted to stay in Maryland for political reasons, there are plenty of available sites in P.G. next Metro stations. Then again, I guess the Obama Administration's sustainability rhetoric is just that: rhetoric.

by Eric Fidler on Feb 4, 2011 9:28 am • link • report

@charlie

There's no problem with borrowing - but you have to back the borrowed money with some sort of revenue stream, and that's what Virginia hasn't really secured.

by Alex B. on Feb 4, 2011 9:28 am • link • report

I would vote for Fenty for Arlington Council. That would be a real win for the county!

by MW on Feb 4, 2011 9:31 am • link • report

@AlexB; and besides debasing the dollar, how is running a 1.5 trillion dollar deficit not borrowing without securing a revenue stream?

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 9:32 am • link • report

I've fixed the misspelling of Loudoun.

by David Alpert on Feb 4, 2011 9:32 am • link • report

@charlie

Federal deficit spending is a different animal and really doesn't have anything to do with Virginia.

by Alex B. on Feb 4, 2011 9:35 am • link • report

Great to hear Virginia is going to continue down the path of bankrupting itself while attempting to sustain the unsustainable. Maybe they can take the money from whatever pot is funding the various Tyson's Corner projects.

Just one more lane!

by oboe on Feb 4, 2011 9:37 am • link • report

@charlie:

Besides debasing the dollar, how is running a 1.5 trillion dollar deficit not borrowing without securing a revenue stream?

Is VA's debt going to be financed by foreign cash loaned to them at an effective rate of 0%, too? In that case, go for it!

by oboe on Feb 4, 2011 9:41 am • link • report

@AlexB; no, it is the same animal; just the difference is control of the currency. McDonald's plan is being secured by some gas tax, from a quick look at the numbers Virginia can probably afford it (VA is very conservative and could add more debt).

I know Republicans are born stupid, so I understand why they don't see the cognitive dissonance. I could understand why GGW types don't want it spent on roads, but as far as the debt issuing it is the same argument that Krugman et al is making. Borrow now why it is cheap.

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 9:43 am • link • report

@AlexB; no, it is the same animal; just the difference is control of the currency

Hmm. Right, but isn't that like saying humans and bonobos are the same animal--the only difference is our DNA? "Control of the currency" is everything.

When you say "debasing the dollar" do you mean in a moral sense? How will we know when the dollar has been debased? Inflation above 1.5%?

by oboe on Feb 4, 2011 9:48 am • link • report

@ oboe; it will be foreign cash; it won't be 0% because the risk factor is a bit higher for Virginia, but it will be a very very low rate.

control of the currency can be temporary. OMB think there will be a currency crisis in 2-3 years, but we can postpone the borrowing debate until then. Dollar is still a reserve currency going forward but at some point we be able to finance it at same low rates. Some logic as McDonald.

Actually our DNA is the same DNA as an animal.

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 9:54 am • link • report

@charlie

Borrowing is fine. I think the projects VA is talking about royally stink, but there's no problem with borrowing in general. As you note, it's cheap to do so right now.

The problem is in their selection of projects and the total that they've borrowed without securing it against a stable revenue stream. It's not that McDonnell wants to borrow, it's that he's tying the hands of future policy makers in doing so since he's refusing to pay the minimal costs of the borrowing with a small increase in the gas tax.

You're right that VA can borrow more than they do, but McDonnell has overshot on this.

by Alex B. on Feb 4, 2011 9:57 am • link • report

@charlie:

Don't disagree with most of this...other than:

...our DNA is the same DNA as an animal...

Boo! Sophistry! Heh.

by oboe on Feb 4, 2011 10:01 am • link • report

@AlexB; I am not a fan of the Gov. Probably would disagree with most GGW people on the project choices - haven't seen them all, and virginia does need roads. Bigger problem is maintenance, which is terrible.

But in terms of the revenue stream, my understanding is he is just taking the gas tax money and securing it for the bond payments. Not a half bad idea. Gas tax in Virginia will eventually go up, and this is a lock against inflation. (i.e the additional gas tax with go into transport fund). Much much better than contracting with a private company to do the same thing (HOT beltway)

@Oboe; actually, go read Dawkins. There is one form of life on this planet -- DNA. The rest of us are just different expressions....way off topic.

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 10:17 am • link • report

I have a feeling the SS Service Center is just tip of the iceberg. Talking from a few budget friends I know, Federal agencies real estate budgets are getting slashed. So either they are going to cram even more people in the little remaining spaces or they are going to have to look elsewhere, as they will no longer be able to afford DC's commercial office rent rates.

by RJ on Feb 4, 2011 10:21 am • link • report

Me: "The only difference between a human and a bonobo is their DNA."

You: "No, it's the same DNA. Just in a different sequence."

Me: "Touche."

You: "Also, there's no difference between me and a '57 Chevy. It's all electrons, protons and neutrons, man!"

Me: "Quit horking the spliff!"

Funny, conincidentally, I've got the Ancestor's Tale on my bedside table. Great stuff.

by oboe on Feb 4, 2011 10:27 am • link • report

@ charlie How does funding using the gas tax hedge against inflation? It's a fixed rate tax, not a percentage. To me, it seems like the opposite of an inflation hedge. Is there something I'm missing?

by jcm on Feb 4, 2011 10:53 am • link • report

Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties accounted for 40% of Virginia's growth over the last decade.

Ok, this seems to be a line in the category of "big number tunnel vision". Wiki says: As of 2009, there were 2,551,197 people in Northern Virginia, around 32% of the state's population. Since NoVa is doing well economically, it does not surprise me that it accounts for 40% of the growth. It's barely newsworthy, quite frankly.

by Jasper on Feb 4, 2011 10:56 am • link • report

@JCM; VA gas tax 17.5 cents/gallon. Total revenue right now, 850 million.

Again, I am not sure what interest rate they are using but let's say 5%. Dedicate that 850 to interest payments, and borrow 3 billion. (someone could probably figure it it). So you're locked in.

Inflation will eventually kick in. So in five years that 850 million would buy a lot less than it does now for VDOT.

So you are guaranteeing future gas tax increases. In fact, the D in the senate should demand that as a condition; guaranteed phase up of VA gas tax to 50 cents in 15 years or so -- 4 cents a year -- as a condition of the one time borrowing.

by charlie on Feb 4, 2011 11:04 am • link • report

The World War I monument should be cleaned up and rededicated as a national monument. Those veterans went through the with the worst fighting conditions (trenches and charges on foot across no-man's land to face a friggin' machine gun) and the most senseless reasons for fighting it.

That group of veterans came home to a public that was even more indifferent than what the Vietnam veterans faced. They also faced a decade of presidents who ignored them and withheld their Congressionally approved veterans' benefits. They had to assemble on the Mall in order to petition President Hoover to give them their veterans' benefits. Eleanor Roosevelt finally met with them in 1933 and the Roosevelt Administration took steps to treat them better.

Throughout the rest of their adult lives their advice was always overshadowed by the heroism of their children, the WWII vets. If anyone deserves a national memorial to their service, it's the WWI vets. Even if it's posthuminously (except for 110-year-old Frank Buckles of West Virginia) it would be the right thing to do. We should honor the sacrifice of the 5 million Americans who fought in the most senseless (nobody truly agrees why it started to this day) and nightmarish (using 19th century tactics like charging on horseback against 20th century defensive technology like machine guns, trenches, and mustard gas) in human history deserve the recognition even if most aren't around to see it. Their peers got it wrong. We can do better.

by Cavan on Feb 4, 2011 11:05 am • link • report

@ charlie Ah, now I understand. Thanks!

by jcm on Feb 4, 2011 11:07 am • link • report

@Jasper

The wusa9.com article says that the three counties of Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun, not what wiki considers "Northern Virginia", accounted for 40% of the state's growth. Their combined population is not close to 2.5 million, so it's less than 32% of the state's population that represents 40% of the growth.

by Vik on Feb 4, 2011 11:35 am • link • report

Mr Alpert:
I'm finding several of the 'Breakfast/Afternoon Links' articles to have a 'Read More...' link at the bottom that only expands to add the 'Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.' text. Is this a client side behavior problem or an issue with how you are generating the 'Read More...' link code?

It might be neat for the Breakfast/Afternoon Link articles to just be the bolded text with each one expanding on mouse over until the 'Read More' link is hit to fully expand the list. Or just leave them expanded by default. Kinda nice to glance over them quickly.

by shy on Feb 4, 2011 11:42 am • link • report

@shy: Yes, that's a bug. I need to fix it. Thanks.

by David Alpert on Feb 4, 2011 1:10 pm • link • report

@Cavan The World War I monument should be cleaned up and rededicated as a national monument.

I hear it is being cleaned up. But why make DC's monument to its WWI dead a monument to the nation's WWI dead (or not) as you are proposing? Would you suggest maybe making Virginia's similar monument a national one?

by Lance on Feb 4, 2011 3:26 pm • link • report

Interesting that one of the stations is called "Chillum". I'm going to guess this sign is from when the Metro was still a 'pipe dream'? ... A 1960s psychedelic, Beatles in India, , pipe dream?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chillum_(pipe)

or is there really a place in Maryland called that? ;)

by Lance on Feb 4, 2011 3:31 pm • link • report

Lance, two responses to two comments.

1) The DC WWI monument is on the Mall. The location is what counts. Rededicating it as a national monument would get it funding, signage, maintainence, and educational peripheral statues and figures about what the United States was like in 1917 similar to the Plaques at the WWII memorial.

It is currently largely forgotten and in disrepair. If DC maintained it that would be one thing. Since it already exists, it's more sensible to renovate it and provide signage to it. It doesn't even have signage like the other monuments.

2) The West Hyattsville station was originally going to be called Chillum because the station was going to be near the I95 intersection with Chillum Road. Since I95 was cancelled inside the Beltway, the Green Line planners renamed it after its location rather than the road. The station opened in 1993 as West Hyattsville.

by Cavan on Feb 4, 2011 3:50 pm • link • report

Cavan

you are a very rational and bright commentor- but I have to disagree with you on the DC WW1 memorial. A lot of people come to this city and automatically make the assumption that no one is left living here that has roots that far back. Not true. My own grandpa was a DC WW1 veteran- and he almost died serving this country in that war- and in addition to the hardships you rightly mentioned- DC WW1 veterans had it even worse than vets from the states.
I would be completely against giving away something that my own family fought hard to get- and giving it to the feds who basically do not give a crap about Native DC people.

In addition to this- a lot of people do not realize that DC WW2 veterans received no bonus payments- but vets from all of the other states- and territories got fat checks - and these were cash payments other than the GI Bill and loans for housing,etc.

My father- who was a DC WW2 vet- received no bonus payments at all. And he was a disabled veteran with an 80 percent disability. People - you folks who read these blogs- need to realize there are REAL DC Natives who have actually lived here longer than the average urban hispster .

by w on Feb 4, 2011 4:10 pm • link • report

Given the DC memorial was built with locally donated funds, someone should sue the Feds for a taking, it's a DC memorial. Let the Feds pay for their own if they want one.

by Steve S. on Feb 4, 2011 4:30 pm • link • report

there's a neighborhood called Chillum. It borders Takoma park and Hyattsville. About 35,000 people live there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chillum,_Maryland

The metro stop isn't even on Chillum Rd. though. Its on Hamilton and Ager. And West Hyattsville is a misnomer too. "South" Hyattsville is a better description of where the stop is.

by Tina on Feb 4, 2011 4:43 pm • link • report

^I changed my mind. West Hyattsville is a decent name for the location of the stop. Looking forward to the re-establishment of trolleys in East Hyattsville...

by Tina on Feb 4, 2011 4:53 pm • link • report

When a highway project goes above budget, it's a necessary evil, and will be worth it in the end.

When a rail project goes above budget, it's a boondoggle and must be stopped immediately.

by JJJJJ on Feb 4, 2011 5:15 pm • link • report

@ Vik:The wusa9.com article says that the three counties of Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun, not what wiki considers "Northern Virginia", accounted for 40% of the state's growth. Their combined population is not close to 2.5 million, so it's less than 32% of the state's population that represents 40% of the growth.

And that's the research WUSA9 should have done. Perspective matters. 40% means nothing. 40% growth by 20% of the population on the other hand, does mean something.

by Jasper on Feb 5, 2011 10:43 pm • link • report