Some hot news for Patrick and Henry Street residents (or anyone interested in the BRT issue):
Sandra Marks, Division Chief of the Transportation Planning Division of the City's Department of Transportation & Environmental Services will be making a presentation at the West Old Town Citizens Association meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 11 at the Durant Center.
The topic will be "City Transportation Priorities and Funding Options" and presumably will focus on the proposed commercial add-on tax. You can read more about the proposal here. One of the priorities is to finish the Crystal City-Potomac Yard-Braddock Road transit connection, and the proposal is for streetcars. (See p. 16 of the presentation.)
Braddock Road Metro small area plan veterans will also note that the route into the station is still shown coming down Madison Street rather than along the Metro retaining wall.
Tsk tsk tsk.
9 comments:
They're honestly talking about taxing commercial properties in this economy? Sure, let's make the remaining businesses hanging on by a thread move elsewhere or close up altogether when their rents go up to help the landlords cover the tax. I love how this is just as damaging to the city's tax base as the ridiculous BID proposal, and comes along with the same lack of foresight or creative thinking, let alone any meaningful collaboration with the affected parties. Nah, let's just toss another cookie-cutter tax hike on the city, no matter the consequences!
And let's have many of the more expensive transportation initiatives not even be to our benefit but to the benefit of Arlington, DC, Fairfax, and Prince William commuters burning rubber through town! It's going to be up to us to provide the leadership and direction once again, since the city leaders (sic) once again are showing the lack of respect for residents and businesses. This comes with the usual absence of basic common sense and a desire to put Alexandria's needs first or at least on par with the Arlington and Fairfax boards, who seem to bully our officials into doing their bidding on a regular basis. I think I'd fall over if the city ever tried to work with us rather than put one over on us.
I was not impressed with staff's presentation last night. Arlington, not Alexandria, is driving the show. The idiots have considered nothing including bridge width, technology choice or trucks. The city is governed by fools! Thanks Walker and Lovain are no longer on Council. I'm ready to send Smedberg, Krupicka and Donley on their merry way.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/10/the-richest-counties-in-america.all.html
The inital report tried to draw us into tax brackets with Arlington and Fairfax, the #2 and #5 richest counties in the country. Part of the reason for that is our city's insistence on having a higher percentage of public housing units by far.
Let's not permit those counties to push their transportation costs and headaches on us as well with any new taxes as they've managed to push their public housing issues off on us.
Check out page 7 of the 11/11 updated presentation on this page: http://alexandriava.gov/TransportationAddOnTax
According to that, the metro tracks are going to be moved into Del Ray, relocating the Braddock Road and King Street metro stations, and taking out GW Middle School in the process. Obviously they drew the map incorrectly, thereby providing a graphic illustration of their utter incompetence.
Sandra Marks?
Is WOTCA undeserving of a visit by Rich Baier, the head of TE&S, or is it true that Rich Baier is afraid of the reception he might receive?
"providing a graphic illustration of their utter incompetence."
T&ES incompetence is a given. Did Baier not fail to build the new bridge with the future in mind? How long has the PY-Braddock connection been discussed? How can we get some of these bureaucrats fired?
Isn't it time for our elected leaders to represent the best interests of Alexandria, not the pet political projects of their buddies in surrounding jurisdictions?
Our budget is broken, fix it.
"Thanks Walker and Lovain are no longer on Council."
Boyd's mother and a transportation lobbyist. Now there's a pair. The transportation issue is repetitive at best. Am pleased to see the no special tax signs sprouting about. Residents and business must work together to thwart their sick moves. If previous Councils had developed the Yard appropriately we wouldn't be in this transportation fix. I say let Del Ray's streets move the traffic to and from the Braddock metro. They at least have setbacks.
"Boyd's mother and a transportation lobbyist. Now there's a pair."
Anybody know the outcome of the Walkers' meddlesome involvement in the American Legion project? It should be coming to trial soon and my good wishes go to the developer.
Post a Comment