Transportation systems need to evolve to accommodate urbanization
 |
| Rush hour on Route 50 in Falls Church. |
Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova’s “Evolution of
Transportation” forum June 12 covered trends from way back—when Route
7 was an Indian trail—to the future, when we might be able to watch TV or nap
while our cars drive themselves.
The present state of transportation is a mess, as anyone who’s
tried to traverse Tysons during rush hour or gotten stuck on Route 66 at any
hour knows.
tried to traverse Tysons during rush hour or gotten stuck on Route 66 at any
hour knows.
Fairfax County was developed with the automobile in mind, said
Rep. Gerry Connolly, at the session, which was held in the Angelika Film Center
in the new Mosaic District in Merrifield. Subdivisions were built without
sidewalks, because everyone wanted to drive, rather than walk to shops or
schools. “So now we have to go back into the existing infrastructure and
retrofit it” to provide the kind of walkable, transit-oriented communities
people want today, he said.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, at the session, which was held in the Angelika Film Center
in the new Mosaic District in Merrifield. Subdivisions were built without
sidewalks, because everyone wanted to drive, rather than walk to shops or
schools. “So now we have to go back into the existing infrastructure and
retrofit it” to provide the kind of walkable, transit-oriented communities
people want today, he said.
 |
| Connolly |
Major infrastructure projects take a long time but are well
worth the investment, Connolly said, noting that planning for Metro started 50
years ago. What’s needed are political leaders “willing to invest the time and
energy in projects they will not see,” he said.
While we need to invest in huge projects, like the
Silver Line extending Metro to Dulles Airport and beyond, the nation also
needs to spend big money on taking care of the existing infrastructure, said Peter
Rogoff, head of the Federal Transit Administration in the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
Silver Line extending Metro to Dulles Airport and beyond, the nation also
needs to spend big money on taking care of the existing infrastructure, said Peter
Rogoff, head of the Federal Transit Administration in the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
There’s a backlog of $50 billion to repair the nation’s
seven biggest transit systems, he said, while the nation’s highway system
needs $100 billion worth of work.
seven biggest transit systems, he said, while the nation’s highway system
needs $100 billion worth of work.
The Silver Line is scheduled to open in 2018, with the first
phase through Tysons to open in early 2014, said Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Other major ongoing projects in the county include the I-395 express lanes project, with a terminal ramp to open
in 2015; improvements to relieve congestion on I-66; and the Columbia Pike
streetcar line.
phase through Tysons to open in early 2014, said Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Other major ongoing projects in the county include the I-395 express lanes project, with a terminal ramp to open
in 2015; improvements to relieve congestion on I-66; and the Columbia Pike
streetcar line.
David Alpert, founder and editor of the Greater Greater Washington website, called the Silver Line a “transformative element of Fairfax
County that will turn Tysons into an actual city on its own.”
County that will turn Tysons into an actual city on its own.”
“The purpose of transportation is not just motion,” to move
people the longest distance at the fastest possible speed, said Alpert. “The
real purpose is access,” to get people to their jobs, stores, schools, and
wherever they want to go.
people the longest distance at the fastest possible speed, said Alpert. “The
real purpose is access,” to get people to their jobs, stores, schools, and
wherever they want to go.
The attempt to pursue motion actually limited access, he
said. Highways are barriers. Children used to play over a wide area in their
communities but now are restricted to their block. And adults who used to walk
half a mile to shop can’t do it safely anymore because they don’t feel
comfortable walking across multi-lane roads.
said. Highways are barriers. Children used to play over a wide area in their
communities but now are restricted to their block. And adults who used to walk
half a mile to shop can’t do it safely anymore because they don’t feel
comfortable walking across multi-lane roads.
Alpert called for Fairfax County to create more walkable
communities to respond to demographic trends, including increasing numbers of
older people who can no longer drive and millennials who
are more interested in living close to shops and transit than having a large
backyard.
communities to respond to demographic trends, including increasing numbers of
older people who can no longer drive and millennials who
are more interested in living close to shops and transit than having a large
backyard.
The Mosaic project is a great example of the type of
mixed-use development people want, he said. But even though it’s within walking
distance of Metro, crossing busy streets is an obstacle, and there are “dead
zones” on the way that make the walk less pleasant.
mixed-use development people want, he said. But even though it’s within walking
distance of Metro, crossing busy streets is an obstacle, and there are “dead
zones” on the way that make the walk less pleasant.
Alpert also urged the county to implement technological
solutions, such as smart phone apps for carpooling and large electronic signs
at bus stops letting people know how long they have to wait.
solutions, such as smart phone apps for carpooling and large electronic signs
at bus stops letting people know how long they have to wait.
Increased use of teleworking could relieve rush hour
traffic, suggested transportation consultant Josh Sawislak, the infrastructure
lead on President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. “It’s not a
silver bullet,” it but could make sense for “knowledge workers,” at least part of the time, he said. Also getting more people to work
remotely would give local governments some breathing space as they struggle to
come up with money to fix the region’s infrastructure.
traffic, suggested transportation consultant Josh Sawislak, the infrastructure
lead on President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. “It’s not a
silver bullet,” it but could make sense for “knowledge workers,” at least part of the time, he said. Also getting more people to work
remotely would give local governments some breathing space as they struggle to
come up with money to fix the region’s infrastructure.
New automobile technologies coming down the pike can offer
additional solutions, added Frank Weith, general manager for connected services
at Volkswagen Group of America. “Autonomous driving” is the ultimate goal, he
said. We already have cars programmed to drive themselves, but implementing
those systems on a large-scale basis will be challenging.
additional solutions, added Frank Weith, general manager for connected services
at Volkswagen Group of America. “Autonomous driving” is the ultimate goal, he
said. We already have cars programmed to drive themselves, but implementing
those systems on a large-scale basis will be challenging.
Meanwhile cars are being developed with all sorts of active
safety improvements, he said, such as cameras that measure the distance to the
car in front, alerts that warn drivers of a potential collision, and systems
that automatically call emergency services when there’s an accident.
safety improvements, he said, such as cameras that measure the distance to the
car in front, alerts that warn drivers of a potential collision, and systems
that automatically call emergency services when there’s an accident.
Of particular interest to parents are systems that can set
geographic boundaries and speed limits for teen drivers.
geographic boundaries and speed limits for teen drivers.