New Transportation System for Alexandria Proposed

[Ginny Hines Parry]

New Transportation System for Alexandria Proposed

 Two members of the City Council-appointed Ad Hoc Transportation Policy and
Planning Task Force have proposed a major transportation initiative for
Alexandria.  The initiative is designed to move people among the population,
commercial and employment centers of Alexandria and Arlington County and
provide convenient and reliable access from neighborhoods to Metrorail
stations.  In a March 1, 2005 memorandum to their colleagues, George Foote
and Poul Hertel urged that the task force recommend to Council an immediate
upgrade of the current public transit system with wireless technologies and
a long-range transportation construction project.

  Foote and Hertel propose using wireless technologies, such as a high
capacity, multi-use city-wide wireless broadband network to improve the
efficiency of existing transportation information systems and encourage more
telecommuting, thereby reducing traffic congestion.  With wireless
technology now more affordable and reliable, today's technology makes it
possible for bus location and specific arrival information to be available
at bus stops, offices and homes.   It is possible for the system to email or
call riders minutes before their bus arrives at a stop.  Technology can make
public transit more reliable and predictable,  which will encourage more
transit use, improve the commuting experience  of current transit users, and
leave more cars at home.

 The long-range program could include modern urban rail transit, such as
streetcar lines with dedicated rights of way.  It could also include a
system of personal transportation devices to carry residents to work.  New
routing of traffic, different uses of existing streets and new parking
structures could be part of the long-range transportation project.  It
should incorporate the existing transportation infrastructure and  improve
sidewalks, trails and other facilities.

 The Foote-Hertel initiative does not propose the construction of major new
roadways, such as connectors from Eisenhower Avenue to Duke Street.  As
cited in their well-documented paper, "Still Stuck in Traffic", which is
attached to this email,  more and wider roads would not solve Alexandria's
transportation problems.  Such roads would draw more commuter traffic
through the city.  Alexandria's location between residential and commercial
districts in nearby jurisdictions means that our streets are already
commuter routes and will remain so, regardless of what is done to increase
their capacity.

 These proposals are intended to be a starting point for the task force to
begin discussing how the city will direct and draw benefit from the enormous
growth that Alexandria will experience in the next 25 years.  The task force
was established by City Council in May 2004 to update the city's master
transportation plan and to assist staff with the Comprehensive
Transportation Policy and Program Project.   After six months of extensive
briefings from city staff and consultants, the task force recently reached
consensus that continuing with traditional and incremental steps or doing
nothing were not options.

 The task force is expected to discuss the recommendations at their next
meeting on Monday, March 28 at 7:00pm in Room 3000 in City Hall, 301 King
Street.  The meeting is open to the public.

 The Foote-Hertel Memorandum and "Still Stuck in Traffic" are attached to
this email.  I would appreciate having your comments on this initiative,
which I will forward to the task force.

Many thanks,


Ginny Hines Parry, President
Alexandrians for Sensible Growth
317 Skyhill Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-212-0982
ghparry at fortebrio.com










-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pdf
Size: 18374 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://bicycle.alexandria.va.us/mailman/private/bsc/attachments/20050324/fb4e9c75/attachment.pdf
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pdf
Size: 78782 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://bicycle.alexandria.va.us/mailman/private/bsc/attachments/20050324/fb4e9c75/attachment-0001.pdf