Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The state's policies and advocacy for cyclists earned it a high ranking from the League of American Bicyclists.
Virginia is one of the best states in the country to bike, according to new rankings from the League of American Bicyclists. But it still lags behind some other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. A combination of state policies and programs — including a state bicycle plan and a "Share the Road" campaign — and an active state bicycle advocacy group helped the state earn No. 16, behind places like Washington state, Colorado, Oregon and Massachusetts. Still, neighboring states fared better on the rankings list: Delaware was 5, Maryland was 11 and Pennsylvania was 15. The League created a list of 10 signs that show progress on bikeability for states, including more than 1 percent of the commuters using bikes, a measure of success Virginia …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Improvements to Vienna station, among others, likely to be delayed as agency receives $8 million reduction in federal funding.
Sequestration will impact Metro’s long-term projects, likely delaying bus purchases, station improvements and possibly deferring the agency’s plan to replace its fare-card system with one allowing credit cards, according to a report from The Washington Post. The agency will receive $8 million less in federal funds as a result of the mandatory federal cuts. Metro had expected to lose as much as $12 million. It receives $150 million annually from the federal government, a number that is matched by local participating jurisdictions. • See: Sequestration to Affect Metro Maintenance, Long-Term Upgrades Metro is currently accepting bids from tech firms to develop a new system that would allow customers tap their credit card or mobile phone to …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The high-tech system will span 34 miles of roadway along I-66 from the District of Columbia to Haymarket, Va.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Governor Bob McDonnell announced a new high-tech system coming to Virginia's I-66 that is meant to help reduce congestion through better communication with drivers and improved traffic flow via lane control signs. The system, known as Active Traffic Management (ATM), is relatively new to American roadways, though it has been used on highways throughout Europe. "Conditions on I-66 in Northern Virginia demand the deployment of this innovative technology and commuters will benefit from improved safety and increased communication during incidents and congestion," Governor Bob McDonnell said in a press release. ATM systems continuously monitor traffic with high-tech tools like vehicle-…
Friday, November 30, 2012
Orange line trains on special schedule Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 as crews work on Silver Line.
Taking the Metro to get around this weekend? Here’s what to expect. According to a Metro news release: Orange Line Orange Line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly to allow for platform reconstruction, and between East Falls Church and West Falls Church for work associated with the Silver Line extension project. Throughout the weekend, trains will operate every 24 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton. Customers using Orange Line trains should allow 15 minutes of additional travel time. Blue Line service will operate at regular weekend intervals, providing more frequent service through the downtown core. Red Line Buses will replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Forest Glen to allow for platform …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Virginia's gas tax is a flat rate tax, but leaders are beginning to explore other options.
Next year’s holiday road trips may be a little more expensive as Virginia officials grapple with how to adequately fund Virginia’s growing transportation infrastructure needs. Gov. Bob McDonnell said earlier this month that raising Virginia’s gas tax, tying it to inflation or otherwise adjusting it is not off the table. “I’m looking at a range of things,” McDonnell told reporters in Richmond. “I can tell you that every other major tax in Virginia—the sales tax, the corporate income tax, and the [personal] income tax—all fluctuate with economic activity because they’re a percentage. ... We’re looking at whether or not ... it should fluctuate with economic activity, like every other tax in Virginia.” Right now, Virginia’s state gas tax is …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Board votes to eliminate 'peak of the peak' surcharge at Thursday meeting, but moves forward on other increases
Metro riders will pay at least $0.10 more per off-peak ride — and up to $.75 more during peak hours — in a fare adjustment passed Thursday by the transit authority's board of directors as part of a $1.58 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2013. The increases, which also include a $0.25 hike in parking lot and garage fees and a $0.20 charge for paying bus fares with cash instead of a SmarTrip card, would take effect July 1, the Washington Post reports. The fare hikes are part of a plan to close a projected $103 million deficit. Initially, the board had predicted it would face a $116 million shortfall. Metro would eliminate the "peak of the peak" surcharge passed on to riders during rush hour, which was introduced with the system's …
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Committee says rail's approach to safety has improved since 2009 crash, but tell us: Do you agree or think system has a long way to go?
The group charged with tracking and analyzing the safety of Metrorail told the system's board this week there were no serious concerns about its safety operations and communication with its directors “has improved dramatically” in the past few years. The Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC) said in its quarterly report this week it had gained confidence in the system, the Washington Post reported Friday. TOC officials said they had much better access to Metro documents and better faith in its safety practice then they did in the aftermath of a deadly 2009 red line crash. The relationship between TOC and Metro thereafter can be described as rocky at best: Metro blocked the TOC from documents and banned its safety monitors from its tracks. …
James
1:28 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Crestview gets backed up, impacting the Herndon Parkway turn. That causes much more of a public nuisance because people come to a complete stop even when no people are on the trail near the intersection. I don't blame anyone at all who lays on the horn, I give them kudos. more ›