By Stephen Repetski (Editorial Board Alum) • November 20, 2019
The state of Virginia plans to add another crossing to supplement the capacity of the 115-year-old Long Bridge and expand service throughout the region. Addressing the Long Bridge bottleneck is vital to Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express’s (VRE) ability to run more frequent trains and prepare for expected growth in ridership.
By James Bacon (Bacon’s Rebellion) • November 20, 2019
The traffic engineers, it appears, have won. Chesterfield County is doubling down on suburban sprawl with plans to build a series of “superstreets” at a cost of tens of millions of dollars over the next decade. While the massive infrastructure investment likely will reduce traffic accidents and improve traffic flow on the streets themselves, they will literally cement into place the county’s dysfunctional land use patterns.
By David Alpert (Executive Director) • November 20, 2019
A crossing guard allegedly stabbed a MetroAccess driver on November 13 near DC’s Langley Elementary School in Eckington. Now the PTA is asking, how can the area be safer? They have some ideas. What do you think?
There were delays and concerns, but now project heads are confident with the recent progress of the Silver Line Phase II route to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County. An announcement of an opening date could come as early as next month. (Max Smith / WTOP. Tip: Sand Box John)
Metrobus drivers have been on strike against Transdev, a WMATA contractor, since October 24. Some of the union’s complaints include inhumane working conditions, and that Transdev’s hourly rate is lower than Metro employees with no pay raises or retirement plans. (Elliot C. Williams / DCist)
An autonomous vehicle is operating for the first time in Montgomery County. Olli, an eight-passenger electric shuttle, is cruising along a half-mile stretch of roadway on Gateway Center Drive in Clarksburg. (Neal Augenstein / WTOP. Tip: Chester B.)
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission refused to concur with a study to add toll lanes to the Capital Beltway and I-270, citing concerns over the plan’s finances, lack of transit, and the possibility gobbling up public parkland. (Katherine Shaver / Post)
A speed camera on DC’s I-295 is generating millions of dollars in speeding tickets. Lucinda Babers, the Deputy Mayor heading the agencies that run the program, argued that the end result was to reduce speeding and increase safety. (Lisa Fletcher / WJLA. Tip: Garrett)
Over 600 Spring Valley residents have signed a petition against adding a protected bike lane on Dalecarlia Parkway. Advocates say the plan would encourage more biking and walking throughout the neighborhood, and that the current four lanes aren’t necessary. (Northwest Courier)
The District opened Kingman Island, a ribbon of land in the Anacostia River near RFK Stadium, for public campouts. Though it’s just in the experimentation phase now, more public camp outs are expected in the spring. (Jacob Fenston / DCist)
