Momentum Builds For Streetcars In Northern Virginia
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(Thursday) February 18, 2010
U.S. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) voiced his support for streetcars during an Alexandria City Council meeting this week. Council asked the Congressman to support a federal funding request for a new streetcar feasibility study to extend the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar line over to the new BRAC-133 complex under construction by Beauregard and I-395 in Alexandria.
“Unless we can move people around, we can’t grow.” said Moran.
The Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition wrote to Council members expressing support for a streetcar feasibility study. At the meeting, City Council member Del Pepper said: “This will be a burst of energy for the West End.” The feasibility study supports the mission of the Coalition to create a regional streetcar network to connect Arlington, Fairfax and Alexandria. Arlington ad Fairfax Counties already have plans for a 5-mile Columbia Pike Streetcar line between Pentagon City and Skyline, the first in northern Virginia.
The Columbia Pike Streetcar line is expected to be extended on the east end too and travel through Crystal City. The Coalition supports continuing this extension into the Potomac Yards area of Alexandria. Arlington County and the City of Alexandria have stepped up their joint meetings to coordinate efforts on transit.
Councilman Rob Krupicka stressed the importance of an inter-jurisdictional effort to create a seamless high-capacity transit system.
The Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition elected its first board of directors at an organizational meeting in late January. The five board members represent three northern Virginia jurisdictions covered by the Coalition: Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the CFity of Alexandria.
On Feb. 17, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded TIGER Discretionary Grants for streetcar systems as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act totaling $131 million to three U.S. cities. In early December, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $130 million in grant funds for “urban circulator projects,” including streetcars. The grants are available from the new federal “Livability Initiative” that is designed to “to coordinate federal transportation, housing, and environmental protection investments.” This is positive news for local jurisdictions that are actively planning such projects.