Washington Regional Network
for Livable Communities
INTERSECT
A NEWS BULLETIN FROM THE WASHINGTON REGIONAL
NETWORK FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES Volume 4 Number 11 September 1, 2000 (Editorial information at the end)
Redevelopment Opportunities at Prince George's Metro Stations Highlighted in New Website
A new website is available to residents and planners in Prince George's County and beyond who
are interested in promoting good quality infill and redevelopment at transit stations. The website reports on the results of a buildable land inventory around two Metrorail station sites in Prince George's County: West
Hyattsville and Prince George's Plaza, the location of a regional shopping mall. These and other stations in Prince George's County have had transit overlay zones, or special zoning areas for infill development, for years but
have yet to reap the benefits. The website and the study of development opportunities are the creation of Fang-Yu Huang, a graduate student in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at University of Maryland -
College Park. Ms. Huang came to the project with a background in computer science and an interest in affordable housing and land use issues. For each Metro station area, Ms. Huang covered three topics:
existing station area conditions (including land use maps and aerial photography), station area development opportunities, and stakeholder perspectives. The land use maps are particularly helpful, showing in easy-to-read
color graphics the various land uses in a ¼-, ½-, and ¾-mile radius. Many consider a ¼- to ½-mile radius – the distance most people are willing to walk to reach a Metro station - to be the preferred focus for neighborhood
planning. Based on the results of this project, local residents and elected officials now have better and more accessible analytical tools for addressing critical issues in their communities. Ultimately, public forums
are urged to reach consensus on ways to attract needed attention and resources so that surrounding communities can capture the full benefit of their local Metro stations. The study and the website provide a number of
steps forward in transit station area planning. First, the study is an example of how to conduct needed inventories of opportunities for redevelopment and improved access to transit around Metrorail stations in the
region. Second, the website provides an important tool for developers, decision-makers, and residents to plan for community-enhancing development around these two specific Metro stations. Last, the website promotes
understanding of station area planning by making it accessible to a broader audience – neighborhood, regional, and national – through the easy-access medium of the internet. A collaborative planning process involving all
stakeholders is the key for making quality communities, and having good-quality information accessible to everyone is an important step in this direction. This effort by Ms. Huang was carried out with the support of
1,000 Friends of Maryland and is an implementation of earlier research by WRN into promoting inventories of buildable land near Metro stations in the region. The extensive GIS study by the City of Seattle for its light rail
stations was used as a general model for Ms. Huang's analysis. Visit the Prince George's County Buildable Land Inventory website at
Virginia Forced To Assess Full Beltway Widening Impacts
A coordinated, three-and-a-half year effort of a coalition of civic associations, environmental and
taxpayer groups, and concerned citizens in Fairfax County has resulted in a decision by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to intensify its study of the environmental effects of the proposed beltway widening from
eight to twelve lanes in Virginia. One of the most important outcomes of this decision is that VDOT must now perform a thorough analysis of all reasonable alternatives to the 12-lane proposal favored by VDOT.
Attending VDOT public hearings and Chairman Katherine Hanley's citizen advisory meetings, organizing communities, making innumerable phone calls to neighbors, calling or meeting with elected and VDOT officials, writing letters and
articles calling for a more thorough study – all contributed to gaining the support of elected officials and to VDOT's decision. The coalition now plans to push for transit alternatives and to promote transit-oriented
communities that focus development around station stops. To get involved, contact Paul Hughes at (703) 280-1719 or
Waterfront Prison Site Defeated - Again
On the other side of the region in southeast D.C., residents of Anacostia and others are celebrating a decision by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to withdraw its appeal to the D.C. Zoning Commission of its unanimous decision opposing a prison at Oxon Cove. Oxon Cove is a piece of riverfront open space, which the community wants for parkland. The coalition of groups who opposed the prison location will continue to work to reclaim and restore the Oxon Cove site for the residents of Ward 8 and the District, so that they may permanently access the river and the wildlife at this site. For more information, contact Eugene Dewitt Kinlow of the Ward 8 Coalition at (202) 736-0288.
Update on Beltway Transit Alternative Studies
Virginia
is actually on the way to a comprehensive study of transit alternatives for the beltway corridor, thanks in great part to the efforts of Delegate David Albo (R-Springfield). The Virginia General Assembly has charged the
Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) with studying the feasibility of constructing rail from the existing mass transit rail facilities at Springfield to those at or near Tysons Corner. The study will also
examine extending rail beyond Tysons Corner into Maryland. Phase 1 of the Virginia study involved examining four technologies: heavy rail (e.g., Metrorail), light rail transit (LRT), mono-beam technology (e.g.,
Futrex's System 21), and bus rapid transit (BRT). These technologies were studied in combination with different alignments within the defined study area. Issues such as anticipated ridership, potential revenues,
environmental impacts, costs versus benefits, and effects on land use were also examined. The project is being closely coordinated with work performed in previous and on-going studies affecting the Capital beltway corridor in
Virginia and Maryland. DRPT is working with Maryland and the Virginia Department of Transportation to assure that rail receives a fair and thorough analysis through this study process. On August 14th,
the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) in charge of the study recommended that five technology-alignment combinations be proposed to the public for advancement into the second and final round of evaluation. The five recommended
alternatives include 2 heavy rail, 2 light rail and 1 monorail. The heavy rail alternatives were modified by the PAC to include heavy rail on an aerial structure rather than underground on portions of route. The
alternatives and evaluation results will be presented to the public at information meetings scheduled for September 6th and 7th (see Intersect calendar). Across the river in Maryland, the Montgomery County Council was
briefed last month on the progress in the beltway corridor study. Since 1994 five state and federal agencies have been studying ways to head off bleak predictions of complete beltway gridlock by 2020. The transit
options include three heavy rail (like Metro) and three light rail (like trams) that roughly zigzag around the beltway corridor. At the Council meeting, the head planners for the study likened it to the initial planning for
the Metro system. Council members were generally supportive of a rail alternative, with some expressing support for a link to Tysons Corner, and another supporting a transit route connecting inner rather than outer suburban
communities. In Prince George's County, Councilmember Peter Shapiro (D - District 2), who sits on several county transportation committees, expressed his support, "I want light rail, it meets the revitalization needs of the inner
beltway communities. It certainly is the sense of the Council to support mass transit at this point." In both Maryland and Virginia, recommendations must compete with existing regional priorities and scarce financial
resources, which is why the region's smarter growth community is demanding that financial resources be shifted from expensive new highway projects to alternatives such as rail and bus transit and bike and pedestrian connections. For more information on the Virginia study, call 1-877-955-0495, email
Region's First Hybrid-Electric Transit Bus
The first hybrid-electric transit bus in the region began operations earlier this summer. The bus seats 22 passengers and will serve the East Falls Church Metro station in
Falls Church, Virginia. The bus is the keystone in a 3-year pilot program sponsored jointly by the City of Falls Church, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Virginia Power, and WMATA. In addition to
providing better access to transit and increasing ridership, the program will allow local authorities to gain experience in operating and maintaining alternative fuel transit vehicles. Smaller vehicles and the hybrid-electric
technology combine to create significant efficiencies in terms of fuel and serving customers in lower-density residential areas. It is also worth noting that Georgetown University has been testing fuel cell transit buses for
the past several years. Fuel cells run on hydrogen and produce water as waste. Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles have both a gas- and an electric-powered motor. The electric motor assists the gas motor with such
activities as accelerating and decelerating. A hybrid car motor is capable of achieving fuel efficiencies of 60+ mpg in the city and 80+ mpg on the highway. In the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, the electric motor is
"charge sustaining," meaning it doesn't require recharging from an external power source but instead captures energy directly from the gas motor or from braking and accelerating.
Accounting Advice Sought; Webmaster Wanted
WRN is seeking a qualified volunteer who can advise on non-profit accounting, Quickbooks, and financial management matters. WRN is also seeking a volunteer webmaster for a few hours per month. If you or someone you know are interested, please contact Deborah Katz at (202) 667-5445 or debkatz@megsinet.net.
Upcoming Events
Wed & Thurs, Sept 6-7, 7 – 9 pm - Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
information meetings on the Capital Beltway Rail Feasibility Study (see related article in this issue of Intersect). Sept 6 – Falls Church/Tysons. Sept 7 – Annandale/Springfield. The two meetings are identical in
format. For more info call (877) 955-0495, email info@beltwayrail.org
, or visit www.beltwayrail.org. Wed, Sept 6, 4 – 5:30 pm -
Purple Line Network Meeting. All interested parties, advocates, critics, community organizations, local governments, businesses and church groups, etc. are encouraged to attend. Hosted by Byrne Kelly, The Greenfields
Company. Contact: Byrne Kelly at (301) 270-4626 or email Thurs, Sept 7, 12 – 1:30 pm – "A New Day for the Anacostia River?" brown bag lunch hosted by the DC Environmental Network with Toni Griffin, Director for Revitalization
Planning, DC Office of Planning and Ted Graham, Director, Water Resources Program, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Through the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, the city has the relevant District and federal
agencies poised to take responsibility for cleaning up the Anacostia and restoring its waterfront. How do we ensure that the community is actively engaged in the Anacostia's future and that these programs succeed? 1025
Vermont Avenue, NW, 3rd floor (McPherson Square metro). Contact: Anna El-Eini, (202) 783-7400 x. 183 or email Sun, Sept 10, 7 – 8:30 am Registration – Bike DC 2000. 35 mile, self-paced tour of the beautiful urban greenways, tree-lined streets and monuments of our
nation's capital. Meet at 19th and E Streets, NW. The ride begins and ends at the park. Online registration at Tues, Sept. 12, 7:30 pm – Town Meeting: Possible Alternatives To a 12-Lane Beltway. Sponsored by the Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth. Annandale, VA. Contact:
Paul Hughes, (703) 280-1719, email Friday, Sept 15, 11:30 – 1:30 – WMATA Clean Commute and
Technology Concert. Displays, live entertainment. Freedom Plaza, 13th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. For exhibit opportunities contact David Higgins, (202) 962-1320. Friday, Sept 15, 8:30 –
4:30 – "Washington DC Regional Transportation Challenges and Solutions," conference hosted by the Washington DC section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Hear from regional, state, and local agencies on some of
the major projects and programs planned for the region as well as state-of-the-art alternative approaches being used to fight congestion in the area, including travel demand management and transit-oriented development.
$30/person includes breakfast and lunch. Virginia Tech Graduate Center, Falls Church, VA. To register contact Soumya Dey, (703) 813-3242 or Sat, Sept 16, 8:30- 4:30 - 2000
Virginia Environmental Assembly – "Conservation, Public Policy, and the Next Generation." $30 registration. Richmond, VA. For more info contact Ellen Shepard at (540) 362-3538, email Thurs, Sept 21, 9 – 12 noon – "The Other Side of Sprawl: Its Impact On
Communities." Stressed by growth? Baffled by solutions? Come hear how groups are helping communities grapple with these tough issues. A program for members of the Alliance For National Renewal (ANR), open to
the public. The mission of the ANR is to serve as a catalyst for inspiring diverse people to work collaboratively in revitalizing their communities and society. ANR partners include community development organizations,
direct service providers, and groups promoting civil society and advocating progressive solutions to entrenched social problems. Washington, DC. Space is limited. Contact Lisa Burford at (202) 783-2961 or email
Thurs, Sept 21 - Smart Growth and the Law, first
forum of the George Washington Center on Sustainability and Regional Growth. The one-day summit will bring together top scholars and practitioners in the country to explore key legal issues associated with smart growth. For
attorneys and non-attorneys. For more information visit Fri, Sept 22, 10 am – D.C. Council Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs hearing on vacant and nuisance properties. To testify, register with Jasmine Yates,
(202) 727-8229, by COB, September 20. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Meetings, 777 N. Capitol St, NE (Union Station metro). For more info call (202) 962-3311 or visit Sept 8, TPB Tech Cmte (9 am) Sept 14, Citizens Advisory Committee to the TPB (6 pm) – Public comment on 25-year transportation plan from residents of Anacostia. Anacostia Professional Building, community room
(basement), 2041 M.L. King Ave., SE, (Anacostia Metro station). Sept 20, TPB (noon). Important opportunity to ask local elected officials for transit alternatives and integrated land use and tranpsortation
planning in the region's long-range transportation plan.
______________________________________________________ WRN WRN advocates
transportation investments, land use policies, and community designs that enhance existing communities and the environment of the National Capital Region. Deborah Katz, Intersect Managing Editor.
Comments & articles welcome.
Views expressed are not necessarily those of WRN.
1777 Church Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 667-5445 Fax: (202) 667-4491
Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities
1777 Church Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 667-5445 ¨ Fax: (202) 667-4491
Web: http://www.washingtonregion.net Email: staff@washingtonregion.net
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