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Arlington, VA cancels Columbia Pike streetcar


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#1 Sloan

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Posted 25 October 2007 - 07:42 PM

http://www.examiner....on_trolley.html

#2 Sloan

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Posted 18 November 2014 - 03:31 PM

Arlington cancels the Columbia Pike streetcar

Following John Vihstadt's strong win in last week's election, a race that revolved largely around the Columbia Pike streetcar, Arlington officials have voted to stop work on planning or contracts for the project.


http://greatergreate...pike-streetcar/

#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 18 November 2014 - 06:45 PM

E-mail from Arlington County Transportation Division

Nov. 18, 2014

Arlington Cancels Streetcar Program


The Arlington County Board today voted to cancel the program to build a modern streetcar system along the Columbia Pike and Crystal City/Potomac Yard corridors. The Board’s action came just hours after Board Chair Jay Fisette and Vice Chair Mary Hynes announced they had decided the program must be cancelled to heal divisions that were distracting the community from a range of pressing issues.

The Board voted 4 to 1 to cancel the program and instructed the County Manager to develop alternate strategies to improve transit options and capacity for the two corridors without a streetcar.

The Board also instructed the Manager to assess the effects of the program's cancellation on the County’s land use and transportation plans and on plans to build and preserve affordable housing in the Columbia Pike corridor.

• Read the press release
• Read Chairman Jay Fisette’s statement (PDF)
• View a video of the press conference
• Read the Board's adopted motion (PDF)



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#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 November 2014 - 09:31 AM

WTOP radio, 11/18:

Arlington County cancels streetcar project

WASHINGTON -- Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette says the county is pulling all funding from the streetcar programs on Columbia Pike and Crystal City.

Citing political realities, Fisette says he still supports the plan, but can't go against the will of voters who re-elected anti-streetcar candidate John Vihstadt to the board two weeks ago.

SNIP

Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne supported the project and agreed to dedicate state dollars.

"Local support and input is critical for the financial and transportation success of this project and in light of the recent decision, the state will reprogram the funding that was previous allocated to it to other transit projects in Virginia," Layne writes in a statement to WTOP.

Fairfax County Board Chair Sharon Bulova and Supervisor Penny Gross were less forgiving of the seemingly abrupt decision to dump the project. Gross represents the small portion of the Columbia Pike street line that would have been in Bailey's Crossroads.

"The unilateral action by the Arlington County Board destroys 15 years of joint effort to bring streetcar service to the Columbia Pike corridor, and sets back transit options in this part of the region, possibly for generations," the two wrote in a joint statement.

"We believe that Arlington's decision to end the streetcar project is short- sighted, but the project realistically cannot proceed without the firm support of the Arlington County Board."

Read more here.

#5 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 November 2014 - 10:03 PM

Certainly sad news. I hope this decision was not reached in reaction to how long it is taking to get the H Street-Benning streetcar (original DC Streetcar line) up and running. A component of the Columbia Pike streetcar line was a segment within Crystal City and down to the redeveloped Potomac Yards. Hopefully Arlington can re-evaluate and at least do that smaller segment to mitigate traffic on US 1. A section connecting with one or more Metro stations could still be beneficial as it would act as a feeder to Metro.


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#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 November 2014 - 08:38 AM

The Washington Post, 11/20:

Dashed streetcar plans spread uncertainty along Columbia Pike, Crystal City corridors

Arlington County’s abrupt cancellation of two long-planned streetcar projects on Tuesday has upended plans to redevelop the Columbia Pike and Crystal City corridors and poses new uncertainty for those interested in transforming the aging neighborhoods, say business and civic leaders.

Some property owners along the congested Columbia Pike strip are now recalculating prices at which they think they could sell, predicting softer demand from developers who had been intrigued by the creation of a trendy streetcar line. Others, however, said they were relieved to hear that the projects were canceled — because they feared streetcars would bring gentrification that could force them out.

Continue here.

#7 Sloan

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Posted 22 November 2014 - 10:46 AM

Arlington streetcar demise sends message to poorer residents: Keep riding the bus

In proudly progressive Arlington, few like to admit that the county suffers from class and racial divisions just as in other places that are supposedly less enlightened.

But the county’s decision Tuesday to kill two long-planned streetcar lines has cast a light on the divide — and will probably deepen it.


http://www.washingto...3340_story.html

I think if the planners could re-configure the line so streetcars could have increased speed, the project could come back to life. Too much operation in mixed traffic obviates the need for the line. IMHO.

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#8 KevinKorell

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Posted 22 November 2014 - 11:21 AM

I think if the planners could re-configure the line so streetcars could have increased speed, the project could come back to life. Too much operation in mixed traffic obviates the need for the line. IMHO.

I agree. Simply moving transit from rubber tires to rail with slow moving and frequent stops does not give the route any advantage over those that remain as bus corridors. A modern light rail line with less frequent stops, more like stations than street corners, would be a better solution, although it may very well end up being more expensive. I have in the past pointed to the iconic streetcars in New Orleans, which some residents use as a horizontal elevator to go from one stop to the very next when they could have and should have walked. On our Fest visit in 2011 we observed many people who really could have used the minor exercise of walking a block cause the streetcar to stop just for them, and then it stopped again at the very next corner, again just for the same person who just boarded. This makes the trip much longer for people who are travelling longer distances.

The problem in a large suburban area like Arlington County is where one would put a modern light rail line? If utility or park corridors do not already exist, that forces planners to put the line in the street right-of-way, which subjects the rail line to cross traffic and signals, and slower running that it could achieve on its own reserved right-of-way.


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#9 KevinKorell

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 01:02 PM

Metro Magazine, 11/25/14:

 

 

After streetcar plan defeat, Arlington looks to better buses

Last week, Arlington County, Va., abruptly canceled a proposed five-mile streetcar line on Columbia Pike that was years in the making, citing the high cost to operate streetcars alongside cars in mixed traffic, CityLab reported.

 

This story  

http://www.metro-mag... Industry News)



#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 28 January 2015 - 08:20 AM

WTOP radio, 1/28:
 

No Arlington streetcar, so now what?

 

ARLINGTON, Va. — With the Arlington streetcar dead, lawmakers are discussing what will happen on Columbia Pike and what alternatives can help revitalize the corridor.

 

County Manager Barbara Donnellan presented the county board with a summary on shutting down the streetcar. She also discussed how to decide what comes next.

 

SNIP

 

“Our economic analysis said we will get economic growth from buses,” Donnellan said. “We will not get it at the pace, the report suggested, or it may not achieve the same height as streetcars. Streetcars would have brought more money, but buses will bring economic development to the corridors.”

 

Read more here.






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