Around the corner today;
WMATA is talking big numbers and big upgrades, $26 Billion of spending spread over 27 years (approximately $1billion per year extra) towards system upgrades and new expansions. What does it mean for Virginia? Some of the first projects envisioned include use of 8-car trains which would alleviate some of the congestion on the Orange/Blue tunnel. This change would be implemented by 2025, and likely earlier. Also proposed is the creation of a new river crossing to separate the blue line from the orange line across the Potomac, by 2040. This new tunnel would effectively be routed to Georgetown and ultimately connected into the Red Line. It would also be one of the more expensive components of the $26 billion wish list. Previous estimates put the Georgetown station and crossing at $3.3 billion, a number that was formerly thought to be too expensive to be worth it. The plan also includes approximately $3 billion in spending to expand the Orange Line to Centreville, a very popular proposal with most Fairfax.
Unfortunately, the plan notes that these future projects have no current funding. We have previously noted the need for WMATA to restructure its fare system in order to provide a fair cost, reduce subsidies on jurisdictions, or maintain current subsidy levels while saving for future expansions. While the Silver Line was capable of attaining all of its funding without any assistance from WMATA, future projects will not be so lucky. There are no plans to provide higher density allotments in Centreville in order to counter pay for infrastructure upgrades, and frankly there shouldn’t be. These projects, if they really are wanted, should start to be funded immediately with a strategy incorporated into the next fare price increase likely in 2014. We continue to push WMATA to reduce their bus costs and reinvest the operationally solvent rail system fares into savings. (WBJ)
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1st Stage Theater is a week away from their 2013 debut show Italian American Reconciliation. If you’ve never been to a show at 1st Stage and enjoy stage performance you will really enjoy the experience. The theater has all professional actors and is funded through ticket sales and donors through their Theater By the Square Foot fund. I enjoyed several performances in 2012, including Almost Maine and Side Man. If you are looking for something new to do around town this year I highly suggest you head over to 1st Stage.
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State Senator Chap Peterson pushes two important bills for the Fairfax region. One, the “Dooring” bill, was mocked by several GOP supporters, including a reporter from Norfolk who called it asinine, was passed by the Senate this past week. As well it should. One thing the Norfolk “journalist” didn’t note her mocking of the bill was how many people have been killed or seriously injured by purposeful door openings in traffic meant to abuse a cyclist who doesn’t have to sit in the jam. It is an important step in correcting the unbelievable prioritization of anyone sitting in a vehicle over pedestrians and bicyclists.
The second was an important bill trying to correct the State subsidization of cheap energies from coal (via Dominion Power) by equaling the plane for alternative energy sources. Instead the GOP lead senate passed a bill that gives MORE “power” to Dominion and reduces the ability for other energy providers to compete using less damaging sources. This of course adds to the list of pro-combustion policies (oil rigs in the Chesapeake, Coalfields Expressway billion dollar road project, removal of the gas tax) that Governor McDonnell has pushed. (Washington Post)