Opinion Column: It’s Time We Stopped Living With Roads That Are Killing Us

David Alpert, editor of the blog Greater Greater Washington, wrote a recent opinion column in the Washington Post:"It's Time We Stopped Living With Roads That are Killing Us."

The day before Thanksgiving, Loudoun County elementary school principal Kathleen Hwang died. She was trying to cross a road in her Sterling neighborhood.

How should we react to such a tragedy? Certainly we should mourn the loss of a beloved member of the community. But can we also learn from this experience as part of an effort to stop it from happening again?

Instead, our natural reaction seems to be to try to figure out which individual was at fault. Was it Hwang? The 18-year-old driver of the SUV that hit her? Police often hew to the assumption that the pedestrian was responsible. In many crashes, there’s no easy way to determine if the driver was distracted, so that possibility is rarely, if ever, a part of police and news reports. But the reported fact that Hwang was wearing earbuds — which might or might not have played a role — gave some people an easy way to dismiss the issue and move on.

Everyone — drivers and pedestrians — should pay attention on the road. But we know that many of us don’t. Our roads shouldn’t exact such a high price for our inevitable moments of carelessness, especially when the pedestrian pays the higher price for the error either way.

 
Read the complete article.

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Neighbors Upset over Location Chage of Baseball/Soccer Stadium

The Washington Post reports that when Loudoun County agreed in 2009, after much study and negotiation, to allow a minor league baseball stadium to be built, it was carefully situated along Route 28 in Ashburn near the intersection with Route 7. No neighborhoods too close, part of a gradual mixed-use development, general acceptance all around.

Suddenly in October, the planned Loudoun Hounds baseball team shifted their proposed stadium location about a mile west, to the corner of Loudoun County Parkway and Route 7, now six-tenths of a mile from several large Ashburn neighborhoods. The residents were stunned. Fearful of the traffic, the noise, the lights and many other effects of a new stadium in their midst, they are rapidly organizing opposition to placing a 5,500-seat ballpark, with room for another 4,500 standing, in the nascent One Loudoun office-retail-entertainment development. They’re calling themselves “No Stadium on 7.”

One Loudoun was “originally approved as a town center,” said Roy Richie, a resident of the Potomac Green neighborhood. “All of us who bought in here knew that and bought accordingly. But now it’s going from a town center to a special activities center, and they’re pushing this thing through. The process should be slowed down.”

Above: An artist's rendering of how the new baseball-soccer stadium at the One Loudoun development in Ashburn would look. The stadium would face Route 7 to the north, and Loudoun County Parkway would run along the east side. (One Loudoun, as published on The Washington Post)

Read the complete Washington Post article.

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Silver Line Could cost Metro Millions More Than Expected

The Washington Post reports that Metro may have to spend millions more than anticipated to operate the new Silver Line because trains will have to travel farther east than planned, according to two people with knowledge of the problem.

Transit officials originally expected eastbound Silver Line service to end at the Stadium-Armory stop, according to the two sources. But officials have since concluded that the tight turning space near the station would make it difficult for trains to reverse course there. Instead, trains will travel five additional stops to Largo before turning around to head back toward Virginia.

The change could cost Metro $4.5 million a year more to operate the line, according to the two people familiar with the problem and the plan to deal with it. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

The Post adds that the extended distance will require 20 to 30 more rail cars, which can be pulled from existing stock but will require Metro to ramp up maintenance on the existing fleet to ensure they are ready, sources said. The plan will also require additional personnel.

Read the complete Washington Post article. 

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Dulles Toll Road Operator Faces Federal Government Action to Purge Board

The Toll Road News reports that U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood says he is moving against the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) -- which runs the Dulles Toll Road and a new train line as well as airports -- saying he has been discussing action to change its membership.

MWAA's board is made up of appointees of the governments of Virginia, Maryland and D.C. as well as the U.S. Government.

The secretary made his comments in an interview with Washington Post reporters, as they wrote in a piece in this past Sunday's newspaper. LaHood is also calling on MWAA to immediately terminate contracts he says have been given to former board members, senior employees and families.

A report produced by USDOT Inspector General on MWAA for Northern Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf in May cites: conflicts of interest, no-bid contracts, secrecy, and extravagance. On extravagance the IG report lists board members buying  bottles of wine for $238, dinners at $1,600, a $9,200 airline ticket to a conference in Prague, and a $4,800 first-class ticket to Florida.

The Inspector General counted $220m in uncompeted contracts for the Dulles corridor rail project -- which is being majority funded in its second phase with toll revenue bonds on the Dulles Toll Road. 

Read the Toll Road News article

Read The Washington Post article

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Rep. Wolf Wants Virginia to Gain Control of MWAA Board

The Washington Post reported that Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) unveiled a bill Tuesday that would give Virginia control over the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, as the board overseeing construction of the Silver Line remains mired in controversy that has also impacted the Virginia Senate race.

Wolf’s bill would cut the size of the board from 13 members to nine, with six of them appointed by the governor of Virginia. Maryland, the District and the federal government would appoint one member apiece.

Even if it passed the House, the legislation stands little chance of becoming law, given the opposition of Maryland and the District. But the measure is a clear sign that Virginia officials have grown frustrated with what Wolf calls a “chaotic, dysfunctional” board.

Read the full Post article.

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Washington Post Editorial: Saving the Silver Line - and the Airports Authority

Did you see the editorial Sunday in the Washington Post about the Silver Line and the Airports Authority? Interesting read.

The Authority that controls Dulles International and Reagan National airports has proved regrettably lax at governing itself. That failing has now led Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, to appoint a federal watchdog to oversee it. The appointment comes at a critical moment, for unless confidence in the airports authority is restored, it could jeopardize completion of the most important infrastructure project in the Washington area, Metro’s $6.6 billion Silver Line extension to Dulles.

Read the full Washington Post editorial.


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Dr. Gridlock Seeks Video Commuter Nightmares

Dr. Gridlock with the Washington Post wants your videos! But not just any video... he's looking for videos about your worst commuting nightmares.

Okay Loudoun County drivers, here's your chance for your 15 minutes of fame. Submit your footage of your personal commuting hell. And as Dr. Gridlock notes, "safety first, don't shoot and drive!"



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Washington Post Has Helpful Traffic Page

FYI... the Washington Post has a nice traffic Web page. The online resource features the latest incidents, traffic cameras and more. You can get driving directions and even register for alerts about your specific commute.

If you're a fan of Virginia511, you'll notice many of the same features. The VDOT site also offers commuter options such as details on carpooling, E-Z Pass, bridges and tunnels, biking or walking, and telework. And, of course, it includes only Virginia traffic.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

Washington Post Blog

Hmmmmm... is it coincidence that the Washington Post starts a new Loudoun County blog the same day as Loudoun County Traffic begins? We think not. LOL!

But seriously, if you haven't seen it yet, it is quite impressive. And they even feature a couple of Web cams, for example this one at Route 28 just south of Waxpool Road.



Go ahead and check out the Post's Extra for everything about Loudoun County, and be sure to visit Loudoun County Traffic for just one thing -- traffic issues here in Loudoun County, Virginia. And be sure to participate. Voice your opinion about traffic issues and solutions. After all, your participation is what will make this site useful for everyone who lives here.

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