MOCO, DC DON'T MAKE TECH JOBS TOP 25 LIST; VA EXURBS DO

An interesting piece in USA Today on the top 25 tech industry job growth jurisdictions in America ended up making the opposite point of its pro-smart-growth title. Currently-urbanizing Montgomery County failed to make the list, and so did the District, which is ostensibly the model MoCo is now following in regards to development and transportation policies. Not even Arlington or Fairfax are on it. Who in the DC region did make the list?

Exurban Loudoun and Prince William Counties. Neither of which is known for nightlife, transit-oriented urban centers, or other amenities that ostensibly draw "the young and the hip" to urban areas. While the article touts an "urban renaissance," the most recent data shows that urban growth has stalled or is going backwards, and the suburbs are now growing faster than cities. Did you know that, when you are using the internet, 70% of your data is streaming through Loudoun County? If anything, the establishment of Loudoun and Prince William as tech growth centers makes the case for an Outer Beltway even stronger, to manage the workers commuting there. It also again shows the foresight in the planning of the Silver Line through booming-but-squarely-suburban Tysons out to Loudoun.

Another intriguing data point in the study, is the growth rate of non-tech private jobs between 2007-2012. Loudoun (8.7%) and Prince William (6.8%) have had an astounding growth rate, only behind the Texas Miracle of Denton County (11.9%) and Kings County, NY (11.2%).

The success of DC's exurbs - listed alongside New York City, San Francisco and other major urban employment centers on this Top 25 - proves the point again that all of the alcohol, nightlife and high-density development in the world won't assure economic development nor job growth. No one would consider Loudoun or Prince William a hot nightlife spot. Yet both are among the 25 most attractive places to skilled tech workers. That's because they have the companies - and most importantly, the jobs. Conversely, think about Las Vegas. Vegas has arguably the best nightlife in America. But young workers are not flocking to Vegas, because it doesn't have the corporate headquarters and jobs.

Jobs are the biggest draw for college graduates, making economic development - and the attraction of major firms with high-wage jobs - far more critical than high-density development or nightlife. That also includes considering what else Loudoun and Prince William are doing right, that Montgomery County isn't.

BILL TO STUDY NEW MD-VA POTOMAC RIVER BRIDGE ADVANCES IN VA HOUSE

The Virginia House Transportation Committee voted Tuesday to send a bill requiring further study of a new Potomac River crossing to the House Appropriations Committee. Bill HB-1244 would require the Virginia Department of Transportation to review the results of an ongoing demand study for a new bridge. The study area is between existing crossings at Point of Rocks (US 15) and the Harry Nice Bridge (US 301). A new crossing would be constructed within that area.

Historically, new Potomac River bridges had been planned at several locations. Most notable were those to connect the unbuilt Rockville Freeway to the Fairfax County Parkway at Riverbend Park, and the unbuilt Outer Beltway (I-370 extension) to VA 28. Other bridges were considered at Arizona Avenue in the District, and in relation to the George Washington Parkway. Failure to build some - or all - of these crossings is a major factor in today's congestion on the American Legion Bridge in Bethesda, and on I-495 and I-270. A recent Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments study concluded that about a quarter of all traffic on the American Legion Bridge is heading to or from the Dulles area.

If the study shows a need for a new crossing (duh!), the bill requires VDOT to furnish recommendations for specific crossing sites to the Virginia General Assembly, and VA Secretary of Transportation, by December 1, 2015.

HB-1244 is co-sponsored by Del. Thomas Davis Rust and J. Randall Minchew. There is some urgency regarding the bill, as the House Appropriations Committee has only three meetings scheduled before all non-budget House bills must be finished.

A new crossing has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia).

VA BI-COUNTY PARKWAY SQUABBLE THREATENS MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE

A highway battle currently raging in Virginia could have severe impacts on traffic here in Bethesda, and a large portion of Montgomery County. If it results in a capitulation by elected officials in Virginia, the loss of a potential new Potomac River crossing would prolong an existing failure to attract large employers to our side of the river.

Many years, and Virginia taxpayer dollars, were put into preparing VA Route 28 as a potential link in a future Outer Beltway. Also known as Sully Road, VA 28 passes along the eastern side of Dulles Airport. If you look on a map, you'll notice many of its intersections have been transformed into cloverleaf interchanges, such as you find on the Beltway and other interstates.

While discussion of a future Potomac River crossing connecting VA 28 to I-370 in MD has rarely been open, it was often assumed to be the most cost-effective solution to several congestion and access issues on both sides.

But over the last 2 years, Virginia transportation officials have begun to emphasize a highway corridor west of Dulles Airport. Anchored around a north-south Bi-County Parkway, it is now thought by many to be the new route of the Outer Beltway.

I personally would not strongly object to that happening. But I'm concerned that the new plan is stirring up more unnecessary fights with residents near the western Dulles route. Should the proposal fail as a result, it could also delay construction of the new river crossing.

A VA 28 Outer Beltway route (see map below) would be less expensive to build for Virginia taxpayers. And if the Bi-County Parkway is canceled, I would hope Virginia officials would immediately turn their attention back to Route 28, and a Potomac River crossing.

Why is a new crossing so important to Montgomery County?

First, our lack of access to Dulles Airport is a major reason large companies choose Virginia over Montgomery County. A short route across the Potomac would not only provide that access, but also allow hotels in our I-270 corridor to enter the airport hotel market for Dulles.

Second, the numbers clearly prove that a new Potomac River crossing would reduce up to a fourth of the traffic on Bethesda's congested American Legion bridge during rush hour, in both directions.

A 2012 study, presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, showed that 23% of Maryland drivers on the bridge are headed to the Dulles area.

And that 27% of Virginia drivers crossing the Legion bridge are heading to I-270.

A new bridge would provide easy access for both sets of drivers, as well as high-paying jobs for Montgomery County residents.

So this is a story worth paying attention to on our side of the river, as our county's economy has been stagnant for many years.

If Virginia officials succeed with the Bi-County Parkway project, that's fine. But if it fails, they should return to the VA 28 concept. As the map below shows, it can achieve the airport access and same Outer Beltway route through the Dumfries area, back to I-95, as the Bi-County Parkway alternative.

At the same time, elected officials on our side of the river need to start working with their Virginia counterparts - like Outer Beltway proponent Sen. Mark Warner - to build this essential crossing.

Every day we do nothing, we lose more jobs to Fairfax and Loudoun counties, and we spend another day in gridlock on the Beltway and I-270.

MWCOG STUDY SHOWS NEW POTOMAC RIVER CROSSING ESSENTIAL TO DC AREA ECONOMIC GROWTH

You know the case for a new DC Outer Beltway and Potomac River crossing is strong when even a study by an anti-automobile group shows both are necessary.

I often disagree with the royal pronouncements by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), an unelected body that believes it has the power to tell you to "shelter in place" during bad weather or a terror attack.  And its general policies that promote a developer-friendly agenda, at the cost of quality-of-life for the folks who actually fund government.  A.k.a., the taxpayer.

But MWCOG has released a new survey report that argues that the region's economic growth will depend upon "improving ground access to BWI and Dulles" airports.  So Ron "Tax Cars Out of Existence" Kirby of MWCOG told The Examiner.

Since the Silver Line to Dulles is already under construction, the only other way to improve access to the region's most popular international airport is by building the Outer Beltway from Montgomery County across the Potomac, into Northern Virginia.

Direct highway access from Maryland into Loudoun County has always been planned as an extension of I-370 (Sam Eig Highway) across the Potomac. This connection would conversely provide Virginia with more access to BWI Airport.

But easy access from Montgomery County to Dulles is the most essential action required to restart our county's economy and job prospects.  Especially relative to Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

Why, you may ask, do companies who consider - and then pass on - moving to Bethesda or Rockville want Dulles access?

There are several reasons they prefer Dulles to BWI. 

Here's a simple experiment that illustrates just one of them.

This morning, I did a search on Expedia, for a non-stop, Thursday flight to two common destinations for today's international businessman or woman: Dubai, and Doha.

One passenger. Any type of seat. Go!

For Dubai:

BWI: Zero, zilch, nada.

Dulles: Immediately gave me a non-stop flight.

For Doha:

BWI: No dice again!

Dulles: Instant result for the flight I wanted again.

If your airport isn't offering direct flights to Dubai and Doha in today's business world, you're not competitive. And that means Maryland and Montgomery County aren't competitive, either.

Such access to Dulles can "influence the location of business, and even their decision to come to the region, says Kirby, MWCOG's Director of Transportation Planning.  Maybe he's coming around after all!

The importance of easy international connections to attracting large employers was the topic of a USA Today article the same day.

"Access to foreign cities can be critical to a city's economic future. Denver watched a [local] corporation [move] to San Francisco because Denver did not have a non-stop flight to Asia at the time. 'We lost a global headquarters,' says Denver Mayor Michael Hancock."

How valuable is such access to a local economy? The addition of one non-stop Denver-Tokyo flight is expected to generate $130 million in local economic activity - annually.

As Hancock told USA Today, "Our goal is to attract new companies that will relocate to Denver."

With the Montgomery County Council steadfastly opposing any new master plan highway construction, or Potomac River bridge, one has to ask, what's their goal?

ANOTHER DC OUTER BELTWAY STUDY

The Virginia Department of Transportation made a quiet announcement right before Thanksgiving last week.  It plans to begin a new study of traffic utilizing existing Potomac River bridges, between Point of Rocks and the Harry Nice Bridge (Morgantown).

The study will get underway in the coming weeks, and is expected to conclude in Spring 2013.

When completed, VDOT expects to have a new data set from which to extrapolate future demand for new crossings.

They are asking Maryland and DC to cooperate in the study.

Of course, this is a complete waste of money. We know the demand for additional Potomac River crossings exists.  It was amply demonstrated in the American Legion Bridge study I presented to you here in exhaustive detail months ago.

VDOT boss Sean Connaughton and Governor Bob McDonnell support a new crossing, and have taken substantive steps toward that goal. Maryland is in the grip of an anti-highway legislative majority in Annapolis and Rockville.  But economic and congestion reality make their begrudging cooperation inevitable.  Lack of direct access to Dulles Airport, and timewasting commutes, cost Montgomery County jobs every day the status quo persists.

Foolish decisions in the past canceled many bridges, including the Rockville Freeway-Fairfax County Parkway bridge at Riverbend Park, the I-266 bridge into Georgetown, the Arizona Avenue bridge, and two Outer Beltway bridges.

Have an arterial blockage like that in a human, and you would require immediate surgery. But in this case, politicians are willing to let you and Montgomery County's economy suffer.

Stop the studies. That money could be better spent on the hungry and homeless.

Start building the highways! We know they're needed. Instead of having a theatrical BRT/gas tax summit in Annapolis, we should have a real crossjurisdictional summit on solutions that actually work: highways and bridges.

Gov. McDonnell is a key player in forcing that, but Sen. Mark Warner is the real heavy-hitter needed to get fellow Democrats on board.

Warner should extend a high-profile invitation to Gov. Martin O'Malley, and transportation officials, to join Virginia in such a series of meetings.  The senator has already announced his support for a new crossing.  Warner is not one who can be ignored, as he is highly respected nationally, and just happens to have deep pockets and 2016 aspirations.  Getting the Outer Beltway done would improve Warner's and O'Malley's presidential resumés.  It's hard to argue against jobs and the tax revenue they generate.

The sun rises every day. 2+2=4. And yes, Virginia, we need an Outer Beltway.

No study necessary.

COMMUNIST CHINESE OFFICIALS ADVISING MONTGOMERY COUNTY ON BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) PLAN

STRANGE
BUT
TRUE!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The saga of the Emperor's new bus (a.k.a. Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit) took another bizarre turn yesterday.  A statement regarding a recent - but, strangely, unpublicized - visit by transportation officials from the province of Henan in Communist China, included a reference to the BRT project.

While the 18 officials from Zhengzhou were here to "learn about" planning and transit, the statement went on to say that they "shared insights about their own bus rapid transit system."

So to set the scorecard straight, Chinese officials have had more opportunity to weigh in on the BRT project than the taxpayers of Montgomery County.

How ironic, as China is the only country in the world to successfully accomplish what county politicians have claimed is their goal:  "get people out of their cars."  Oh, and they just happened to force people to do it.  For example, one day half of the people are allowed to drive into work, and the next day, the other half can drive.

Is having Communist officials advising you on an already-controversial project good PR?  Mmm... not so much.

This is the latest public relations disaster to befall the BRT "juggernaut."  First, the finished plan was presented and endorsed by several elected officials - without a single public hearing on the matter.  Then, when citizens like myself started pointing out that some downtown Bethesda residents could pay $1000 a year or more in BRT taxes, irate taxpayers turned out to a belated afterthought of a public hearing (again, after the plan had been finished).

Without those massive taxes, BRT was suddenly with no source of funding.  Primary BRT advocate Marc Elrich then demanded the business community pay for the system.  If they didn't, Elrich warned ominously, businesspeople would "get their worst nightmare."  Unfortunately, he declined to specify what that "nightmare" would be.

And the county's own master planner said the BRT system won't work, and won't have the ridership.

With a terrible concept being made worse by gaffe after gaffe, it's time to retire the downright nutty BRT plan, and get to work on building our decades-delayed master plan highways.

As the Chinese officials may have told them, Beijing has not just one Outer Beltway, but five!

Ask their advice.

LATEST VA FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUND GIFT TORCHES MoCo POLS' CLAIMS OF "NO FEDERAL MONEY" FOR ROADS

Even as Bethesda and other parts of Montgomery County endure crippling traffic jams, Montgomery County politicians keep assuring us that there is no federal money available to build badly-needed roads and bridges.

What they don't tell you is, they haven't even applied for any!

In order to be eligible for federal funds, a transportation project must first be placed into a master plan.  But our politicians have done just the opposite, deleting master plan highways like the Rockville Freeway and Outer Beltway from the books in methodical fashion.

If you wondered why our stimulus money ended up going to paving and sidewalks - while Virginia was getting money to finish its Rockville Freeway counterpart, the Fairfax County Parkway (the 2 roads were meant to connect, via a new Potomac River bridge by Riverbend Park) - it was because we didn't have any shovel-ready road projects in the pipeline.  Result:  we lost out on tens of millions of dollars.

What happens to federal money states and counties can't spend, because their leaders subscribe to anti-car ideology?  It gets taken back by Uncle Sam, and distributed to states with common sense.

Like Virginia.

I believe they got $67+ million for the Fairfax County Parkway.  But they're not done yet!

The Federal Highway Administration has just awarded an additional $52 million to Virginia, funds that - you guessed it - were passed up by states that are ideologically-opposed to building roads.  Even if the Feds are picking up a large portion of the tab.

$52 million!

Why is Virginia getting $52M extra?

As the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, Uncle Sam is giving a treasure chest of $1.4 billion "to states, like Virginia, that have eligible projects ready to go."

Why didn't we have the Rockville Freeway, Outer Beltway and Potomac River bridge "ready to go?"

Why didn't the state have the extension of I-70 to I-170 in west Baltimore "ready to go," to handle the explosion of truck traffic westbound from the port [and earn truck toll revenue - duh!], when the new Panama Canal opens in 2014?

Ask your elected officials.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL HOV LANE PLAN DEFIES BELIEF

COUNCIL INVITES

495, 270, LEGION BRIDGE

COMMUTERS TO JOIN

EMPEROR'S NEW CARPOOL

The Montgomery County Council and staff have surveyed two of the nation's most notorious traffic snarls - the American Legion Bridge/I-495, and I-270.  They have examined these 7th and 8th Circles of Hell.  They've brought their infinite wisdom to bear on one of the biggest obstacles to attracting new employers to Montgomery County (traffic gridlock).

And they've concluded the answer is... carpools.

Apparently, on whatever planet, and in whichever dimension, these folks reside in, this makes perfectly plausible sense to them.

Reality can be harsh.

They've studied a problem that has two definitive causes:  the failure to build at least three additional Potomac River bridges, and the failure to build our master plan highway system.

And what they've proposed specifically, is this:  turn the shoulders of 495 between Tysons Corner and the 270 spur into HOV/bus lanes.  And take an existing lane of I-270, and designate it an HOV lane.

In the first case, they have not increased capacity for the majority of drivers, and they have proposed a solution that could actually create worse traffic jams, and reduce safety.

Very few people carpool or take the bus on the Beltway.  So moving those vehicles onto the shoulder would have virtually no impact on travel lanes.  What would happen, however, is that the frequent broken-down or fender-bendered cars would now have no refuge at the side of the road.  There's no shoulder to pull off to, under the council's scenario.

I happen to recall driving from Virginia into Maryland one afternoon rush hour, and seeing a broken-down school bus on the shoulder.  Had the council's plan been in effect, those children would have been out in the middle of interstate highway traffic.  Is that a situation the parents of Montgomery County can buy into?

In addition, if someone breaks down in that shoulder "lane," you would have a jam worse than ever, as all of the buses and carpoolers would have to change lanes to get around that disabled car.

At least they're not proposing to "steal" a lane there.  But further north on 270, that's exactly what their plan calls for.  They want to turn an existing lane into an HOV lane.  In other words, congestion will get worse, not better.  Have you ever been at a dead stop at the 270 spur, and noticed the HOV lane is essentially empty?   So we're all sitting here, just so some politician can say he's "green?"

Surprisingly, or not, local media had no critical questions to ask the council, despite the plan's patent absurdity.  Instead, we are treated to more Orwellian statements about 21st century solutions, and "getting people out of their cars," something no one besides Communist China has been able to do so far.

Traffic congestion will not improve whatsoever should the council implement both their HOV plan, and the equally laughable Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) proposal.  In fact, in both cases, traffic would be worse.

But gridlock could be all but eliminated, if we made a belated commitment to building our master plan highways:  The Outer Beltway, Rockville Freeway, M-83 Mid-county Highway Extended, Northwest Freeway, and the Northern Parkway.  And at least one new Potomac River crossing.

There is simply no way the council can add 85,000 new cars to our existing highway system, as they plan to do, when it can't even handle today's traffic.

It's fine if the council wants to delude themselves that we can bus and carpool ourselves out of this mess.  But citizens and the media should cease to indulge decisions that place ideology over reality and decades of traffic engineering research.

We have "leaders" telling us they're adding 100,000 new residents to the county, which means 85,000 new cars driven by people who will not ride transit under any circumstances.

How many master plan highways is that same council proposing to build in the next 10-20 years?

Zero.  None.

We can't go on like this.

AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE STUDIES PROVE ROCKVILLE FREEWAY, OUTER BELTWAY WOULD EASE BETHESDA BELTWAY CONGESTION

LEGION BRIDGE

ISN'T THE PROBLEM,

THE MISSING

HIGHWAYS AND

BRIDGES ARE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

"Hooray!  Finally, someone is doing nothing about something!"

I don't know if that was an exact quote, but the above sentence sums up the decidedly-awestruck tone of media coverage of a recent "high tea" party, held by the Montgomery and Fairfax County Councils.  The meeting was presided over by Ronald Kirby, Transportation Planning Director for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Which is an Orwellian title indeed, as the sum of Kirby's public statements suggests he shares the Montgomery County Council's anti-highway, anti-car fervor - and promotion of transit-only policies that benefit development interests.

No surprise, then, that all parties involved conveniently reached a consensus that the solution to Beltway gridlock is... buses.  Never mind that there used to be a Bethesda-Tysons Corner bus that was terminated for lack of ridership.  "Rapid" bus?  Uh, what are you going to do, put bus stops on the shoulder?

Also predictably, we're told that widening the bridge would cost $800 million, and Beltway HOT lanes on the Maryland side would be even more cost prohibitive.

The good news I have for those doomsayers, is that we actually don't need to do either of those things.

What we need to do, is finish our 50-year-old master plan highway system. The twist is that the very numbers anti-highway Kirby touted, actually prove that he and the County Council are wrong, and I - and the planners of five decades ago - are right.

These studies clarify the missing highway capacity of the unbuilt Rockville Freeway and Outer Beltway.

Virginia drivers, the studies say, are headed to Interstate 270 27% of the time when they cross the Legion Bridge.  And a whopping 63% want to go east on the Beltway.

The 270 folks would use Potomac River bridges planned for the Outer Beltway and the Rockville Freeway to reach western Montgomery County and 270.  If one or both bridges were built, you'd have 27% of American Legion Bridge cars off the Beltway right there.

That 63% heading east?  It's likely some portion of that group could use the Rockville Freeway and ICC to reach their eastern destinations.  A Beltway-ICC link via the unbuilt Northern Parkway would further decrease that 63% group of cars headed east from Virginia.

How about Maryland drivers?

We've been told for years that nobody crossing the Legion Bridge in the morning from Maryland is going to Dulles.  Common sense told us that was bunk.  And now, the studies confirm it was complete and utter bunk.

23% of Maryland bridge-crossers are headed for the Dulles area.  Just consider that for a moment:  a Potomac crossing to Dulles via the unbuilt Outer Beltway and/or unbuilt Rockville Freeway, would take a full fourth of Virginia-bound cars off the Legion Bridge like a magic wand.

Another 24% of Maryland crossers were headed to areas of Northern Virginia that would be accessible to drivers on proposed bridges via the Rockville Freeway (Fairfax County Parkway) or Outer Beltway (Sully Road/Rt. 28, or the now-talked-about alternative west of Dulles).

In total, one or two additional bridges would reduce Virginia-bound traffic by nearly 50%.  And reduce Maryland-bound traffic by at least 50%.

And there are actually people opposed to new highways and bridges?!

Yes!  The scary thing is, among those opponents, are the very people discussing the future of the American Legion Bridge at this comedic farce of a meeting.

Best of all?  The $800 million cost of the unnecessary American Legion Bridge widening would could pay for the construction of most of the Rockville Freeway within Montgomery County, between 270 and the ICC.

Federal funds, as well as private/toll-funded options, could very realistically be secured to build at least one new Potomac River bridge.  Even if the Rockville Freeway only ran between 270 and the ICC (at Indian Spring Country Club), drivers crossing an I-370/ICC bridge could easily access it via 270.  The Rockville Freeway's 270 interchange already exists; most today know it as Montrose Road.

The good news is that one of Bethesda's biggest traffic nightmares, the American Legion Bridge, can be fixed without widening the bridge or the Beltway.  And if your home is one that would be demolished to make way for that widening, I suspect you'd have a strong self-interest in supporting the Rockville Freeway and Outer Beltway (both can be built without destroying homes within Montgomery County, as can the Northern Parkway).

The bad news, is that your county council and the wise people at COG have studied the same data I've presented to you here, and concluded that the answer is to do something short of nothing.

"Hooray!" for "leadership."

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BRT PUBLIC HEARING

Last night was a long-overdue and poorly-publicized public hearing on the Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) proposal.

Readers of this blog are among the few who have any sense of the coming catastrophe that BRT will be, if implemented.  The only other published critique I've found of MoCo BRT was a letter to the editor.

So with a 3 minute time limit (hastily corrected from the press release claim of only 2 minutes of testimony), I had to present the devastating case against BRT.  But was still able to talk a bit about what we could better spend the money on (Rockville Freeway, M-83, Purple Line).

The weirdest part of the night was the venue.  The press release stated the hearing would be in the "1st Floor Auditorium of the County Council Building."  I just assumed they meant that swanky new hearing room with the leather seats that the council wasted taxpayer money on.  It's right off the lobby to the left when you enter the building.

Well, I pull the big door open, and it's pitch black inside.  Okay.

Is it on the 7th floor? Nope.

Finally a county employee directs me to... the 1st Floor Auditorium.

Huh?

This musty chamber must have been opened for the first time in 40 years.  Funereal colors and aging wood paneling dominate the small "auditorium."  I think Jim Gleason was probably the last County Executive to preside over a hearing in that room.  Behind Ike Leggett's seat on the stage were two breakaway panels in the wall.  Any minute you'd expect the panels to open, and the ghosts of councils Past to stagger forward.

This BRT plan is so bad, just such a paranormal event could well occur!

Fortunately, despite efforts by developers and their allies, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, to stack the deck, opponents outnumbered supporters.

The only reporters I recognized were Victor Zapana from the Post, and Rachel Baye of the Examiner.

I have to comment on a couple of points Mr. Leggett made at the end of the evening.  First, he reassured attendees that he had not yet made a decision on BRT.  That is not what he said a few months back.  He vehemently stated then, that the county absolutely was going to build this system, and the only questions were cost and how soon.

Second, he made a point often made by supporters of the oversized Science City and White Flint sector plans:  that the massive BRT system is not imminent, and will take "20 or 30 years" to complete.

But just as almost the entire White Flint "I" sector plan permits have been issued within only 2 years of its passage, so too are these empty reassurances on BRT.

In fact, the state of Maryland has already begun the official process of studying Veirs Mill Road, and Georgia Avenue between Olney and Glenmont, for construction of BRT routes on both.  They've even held a public workshop for each.

Like Science City and White Flint, BRT too will explode out of the gate.  You'll have lost 2 lanes to buses on 355, 97, etc. within a year or two of passage.  And you'll get that higher tax bill, too.

The reason is that billions and billions of dollars are at stake for developers, and the politicians who get fat checks from them.

Oh, yeah, one other thing: Stewart Schwartz, I believe, testified that we could never solve traffic gridlock.  Again, my friends, billions of developer profits depend upon you believing that statement.

The fact is, if we built the master plan highways (Outer Beltway, Rockville Freeway, M-83, Northern Parkway, Northwest Freeway), gridlock would cease to exist in Montgomery County.  Period.

Without further adieu, here is my speech from last evening:

This task force's mantra appears to be, "The debate is over."

The fact that you produced your report, some elected officials have said we're going to build it, and the public only now is allowed to speak, is an outrage.   But looking at the facts of BRT, I can understand why you're scared to debate.

* 85% of people drive

* Your own master planner says we lack the density to support it

* "Rapid" is an Orwellian name for a bus that goes 15 miles in 50 minutes

* BRT will increase congestion, taking car lanes, and throwing off synchronized signals

* BRT duplicates Red Line service

* You've understated the annual BRT tax - Bethesda residents could pay $1000 or more

* Why should Bethesda and Silver Spring subsidize BRT, when it ends in our towns, and we won't even be able to ride it to work?

We've passed the tax limit.   I understand the [County] Council has a new benefactor - Mitch Rales.  Maybe you can get him to pay for it.

We should focus on building the Purple Line, and our Master Plan highways.

The M-83 upcounty.

We could build the Rockville Freeway - which would connect White Flint and Columbia, two areas we already know are going to have massive growth - for less than half the cost of BRT.  And the Rockville Freeway would carry more commuters per day than the entire BRT system.

BRT is a sprawl generator in places like Olney.  You can call building a city in the country a lot of things, but "smart growth" isn't one of them.

To summarize:

* We can't afford it

* Your own planner says it won't work

* It will increase sprawl and traffic congestion

I guess you're right, the debate is over.

Thank you.

IS VDOT CHIEF

TALKING ABOUT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY?

A new rule passed by the Virginia legislature will stop a problem that has afflicted Montgomery County for the last 40 years: allowing development, but not building the roads to support it.

If Virginia counties try to do that, they will now lose state transportation funds. We need a law like this in Maryland.

The Examiner article on the law cited Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton's exasperation over developer-beholden county officials' nasty habit of "nixing roads they had previously planned to build."

"'Our big issue is we've seen in many instances the localities approve growth plans, then remove the transportation facilities (a.k.a. roads) for various reasons,' Connaughton said. 'So we get the growth but we don't get the transportation, and then the state is the one left trying to foot the bill, as well as put up with the grief of the citizens.'"

Sound familiar?

The most notorious example of this is in Clarksburg. When plans were made to develop that rural area of the county, a new highway known as M-83 (Midcounty Highway Extended) was a central part of the plan. In fact, it was placed in the Master Plan.

The county council went ahead and eagerly approved all of the real estate development, and collected the hefty donation checks from developers for their massive campaign accounts. But they never built the M-83, leading to traffic jams on 355 and 270 that worsen every year.

The M-83 money was instead spent on goodies for the special interests and developers.

What other roads deemed absolutely necessary by wiser planners in the old days were cancelled?

The Outer Beltway, Rockville Freeway, Northwest Freeway, Northern Parkway, North Central Freeway, Palisades Freeway... just to name a few, and ones that were partly or entirely within the county borders.

OUTER BELTWAY,

NEW POTOMAC CROSSING

OFFICIALLY ON THE

TABLE

Governors McDonnell, O'Malley Begin

Discussion on Top Regional

Transportation Priority

Isn't it great to be ahead of the curve? In addition to advocating for the construction of the DC Outer Beltway on this blog, I've also been keeping you up to date on the small moving parts behind the scenes on the issue. Like the "Outer Beltway bills" in Richmond, the redesignation of corridors, Sen. Mark Warner getting on board, etc.

So now that it is being discussed at the highest level, regular readers have known this was coming long ago.

Yes, the Outer Beltway is finally going to happen after 60 years of delay.

What does the Outer Beltway mean for Bethesda? It means great news: finally, the gridlock between Tysons Corner, the I-270 spur and Gaithersburg will be relieved. If the Rockville Freeway is also built, the spur backups would be entirely eliminated. With eventual completion of the I-270 widening, the Watkins Mill interchange, and the M-83 Highway, I-270 would essentially be jam-free.

If I-95 were one day completed through DC - as it was planned to - and the North Central Freeway and Northern Parkway were built, so too would the Beltway gridlock be a memory of the past.

But in a day of tight budgets, the Potomac Crossing is the first step.

Where will the Outer Beltway go?

There are only two reasonable route options, and only two matching connections on the Virginia side.

On our side, we have the ICC/I-370 (the final Outer Beltway alignment chosen by planners in the 1970s), and the Rockville Freeway right-of-way (Rockville Facility).

The ICC is the likely choice, as it now reaches the Sam Eig interchange of 270, as well as I-95 at its eastern end. And it's already built.

The Rockville Freeway/Facility provides access to both interstates, as well. Currently known as Matthew Henson State Park, this highway facility reaches the ICC near Indian Spring Country Club. Hence I-95 traffic could take the ICC, and exit onto the future Rockville Freeway.

The Rockville Freeway would then connect to the existing Montrose Parkway (a silly road squatting on a portion of the Rockville Freeway right-of-way). Originally, the freeway was to occupy the full west portion of Montrose Road over 270. That right of way remains all the way to Falls Road. In fact, I have seen the real estate records for the purchases of land around the future freeway's intersections with Seven Locks Road and Falls Road. (Cloverleaf interchanges would have been built at both).

Two advantages the Rockville Freeway alignment would have over the ICC are shorter distance to Virginia (hence, far cheaper), and a clearer path to the Potomac River west of 270 (cheaper yet! Those eminent domain seizures and lawsuits are expensive).

Originally, the Rockville Freeway was planned as the Outer Beltway, and was to cross the Potomac near Virginia's Riverbend Park.

That brings us to the waiting connections across the river.

The two options are VA Rt. 28, and VA Rt. 286 (formerly SR 7100) a.k.a. Fairfax County Parkway.

In a world of sensible people, both get connected to Maryland. But it's complicated.

The Rockville Freeway was designed to line up with the Fairfax County Parkway to create the western half of the Outer Beltway. Once the ICC alignment was chosen for the Outer Beltway, planners dropped the Rockville Freeway crossing.

At that point, planners on both sides began to consider the Rt. 28/Dulles Airport corridor for the Virginia portion of the Outer Beltway.

If the ICC is selected as the Potomac Crossing route, you can be pretty sure it will connect with Rt. 28 (a.k.a. Sully Road for its northern section).

Wait a minute, you might ask, why would they take the longer route?

Good question!

To answer it, pretend you are a leprechaun. I'm serious.

Now open Google Maps, and search for "Dulles Town Center" (Sterling, VA).

Ok, just to the left of that is Sully Road. Now, Lucky the Leprechaun, scroll south on Sully Road, and start counting the cloverleafs. Each one of those is a grade-separated interchange (like the Beltway, the Outer Beltway will have exits, not traffic signaled intersections).

Wow, this is your lucky day! There are a ton of them!

Now look at Fairfax County Parkway. Uh-oh. Lots of work to be done.

One of the many stealth actions smarter planners on the Virginia side have taken is to prepare Rt. 28 for interstate highway designation.

They've also taken smaller steps towards that on the Fairfax County Parkway, but as you can tell from the map, it's nowhere near ready. 28 needs work too, once you get into Centreville. But there's plenty of room there to expand.

So if you're gambling, put your money on the ICC-370-Potomac River Bridge-VA Rt. 28 alignment.

There's plenty of time and room to bring Fairfax County Parkway up to interstate standards, and one day connect it to the future Rockville Freeway via another Potomac River bridge, as originally planned.

How will the Outer Beltway be completed?

It's interesting. Remember I told you a few weeks back my prediction that the ICC will be extended to Bowie? That gets you to MD Rt. 301.

Now, take VA Rt. 28 to its end. Then take Route 17. You've got an interchange with I-95 there as you head east. You've made a critical connection with Fredericksburg. Now keep following 17 east, and then Rt. 218 east. Eventually, you connect to...

Rt. 301! You've made a complete circle. An Outer Beltway.

But there are many alternative routes to accomplish that.

Right now, expect the governors to concentrate on the bridge crossing, and handling interstate volumes between western Montgomery County and the Dulles area.

And, alas, rumor has it that there will be tolls!

BETHESDA FIRM TO

BUILD NEXT SEGMENT

OF ICC;

NEXT EXIT: BOWIE

First Leg of Future DC Outer Beltway to

Reach U.S. Rt. 1 by 2014

Yesterday's announcement that Bethesda-based contractor ICC Constructors will complete a one mile extension of the ICC from I-95 east to U.S. 1 was another step towards a DC Outer Beltway.

News outlets and public officials, you may note, describe it as the "final" stretch/mile/leg, etc. In reality, this is just the beginning.

Once Route 1 is reached by 2014, further extensions west and east will be inevitable.

Next stop east? Bowie. Write that down. Bowie was long expected to be an exit on the Outer Beltway. Such an extension would revitalize Bowie's economy, and boost its property values.

While the rich pat themselves on the back in their New Urbanism $800,000-and-up transit-oriented condos in high-tax inner suburbs, future Beltways will allow easy movement for middle class workers between their jobs and affordable-yet-desirable single-family home neighborhoods in the exurbs.

Did I just say Beltways?

Surely you don't believe the Outer Beltway is the end?

Beijing has 5 Beltways. 5! And last time I checked, China's economic growth rate is ahead of ours.

Where is the next Beltway?

The Outer Outer Beltway will be what has been known as the Western Bypass. It will sweep westward from I-95, interchange with I-70, pass by southern Frederick County and Clarksburg, crossing the Potomac River near Point of Rocks. In Virginia, it will reach Fredericksburg as it turns southeast. NIMBYs and environmental groups will say it is going to cause sprawl (even as they heartily endorsed MoCo politicians who voted to build a city in the country around the Belward Farm - a city on farmland... now that's sprawl, ladies and gentlemen, and calls for a taking of the Hypocritic Oath!).

In fact, the areas that would be connected by an Outer Outer Beltway are currently growing as much as 800%, according to the latest Census data. That's without any new highways.

Eventually, you can expect yet another outer ring highway, this one reaching Hagerstown and Westminster.

The same politicians who talk about the environment so much are also approving all of their developer buddies' projects that will require these highways.

Mobility and affordable housing are good things. Future highways will be offset by zero-emission vehicles, and growing interest in sustainable local agriculture. This will minimize environmental harm, while expanding support for preservation of farmland.

Considering how long we've waited for the Outer Beltway (I-370) and the Rockville Freeway, future ring highways could be 50 or more years away.

Hopefully, we'll apply the same quick action to those two latter projects that developers forced politicians to apply to the ICC (Konterra) and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (National Harbor).

NATIONAL HARBOR

DEVELOPER TO

BRING NEW MOVIEPLEX,

RETAIL TO

ROCK SPRING PROJECT

IN

BETHESDA

Site Will Also House 200 Room Hotel, 161 Condos;

Is There A Casino in Bethesda's Future?

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The Peterson Cos., developer of National Harbor, has rescued the long-languishing Rock Spring development in Bethesda from the abyss.

Peterson will help finance, build and 50% pre-lease 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. The other 700,000 square feet will consist of Class A office space, a 200 room hotel and 161 luxury condos. That portion will be developed by DRI Development Services, LLC.

The only specific component revealed by Peterson is a multi-screen movieplex, which will directly compete with a new 15-screen theater at next-door neighbor Westfield Montgomery Mall, and a new iPic Entertainment Theaterplex being built by Federal Realty at its new Pike and Rose development at Rt. 355 and Montrose Parkway.

In general, this sounds like great news. National Harbor, for all of the negative talk about Prince Georges County, may well be the nicest development project in the entire DC area. Only Bethesda Row, Reston Town Center and the Rio/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg can match it in terms of atmosphere, design and tenants, in my opinion.

But in terms of scope, scale, planning and economic potential, I think National Harbor is in a class by itself. It has more of a resort feel, and makes ridiculously great use of its waterside setting. Washingtonian Center did this on a smaller, manmade scale. The use of water features really takes a development or resort to the next level, a concept that apparently escapes developers in Montgomery County.

National Harbor also has an incredible lineup of 5-star restaurants. It doesn't have as many famous chefs as Bethesda Row, but you're never going to get tired of dining out if you are a tourist staying at National Harbor.

One thing Rock Spring and National Harbor have in common is great transportation planning. We know from data that at least 85% of residents and patrons of any development will drive, even if the site is adjacent to Metro. National Harbor is placed right off of the Beltway, and the project was almost solely responsible for the construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge (which would have been unnecessary had I-95 been built through Washington as originally planned!).

Likewise, Rock Spring is right off of both I-270 and the Beltway. The only problem is that the sections it is right off of are among the most-congested in the DC area. This is because of several missing roads that had been designed to accomodate development in the area: the Rockville Freeway, the Outer Beltway, the Northwest Freeway, the North Central Freeway, M-83 Midcounty Highway extended.

Now do you understand why our existing roadways are jammed?!

So we really need to build those roads, starting with the Rockville Freeway and Outer Beltway (I-370) in particular. But in terms of planning, when you're moving a lot of cars, highway access is essential.

Finally, with Peterson pumped up about a proposed National Harbor casino, it's worth contemplating just what the future holds for gaming in Montgomery County.

Casinos are only placed within X-number of yards of an Interstate Highway, and here there are two.

Just 6 years ago, Martin O'Malley described slots as "morally bankrupt." Two years later, he was the preeminent champion of casino gambling in the state of Maryland. Montgomery County's councilmembers and legislators fell aside to allow slots. Voters who previously condemned slots statewide when Bob Ehrlich was governor, mysteriously developed a passion for one-armed bandits once the narrative changed.

Now the last bastion of anti-gaming resistance - Prince Georges County - is considering becoming the biggest gaming capital outside of Vegas and the Atlantic City boardwalk.

If we could learn to sing along with Kenny Rogers so easily then, what will stop casinos in Montgomery County when the time is convenient again?

To play devil's advocate, National Harbor sure is a great spot to put a fancy casino. Conventiongoers are amongst the easiest of targets for a gaming palace. A National Harbor-style development with casino could really turn around the economy in the Burtonsville area off I-95. Politicians need the money.

And this has all been planned anyway. I've heard that hotels at National Harbor and newer ones in Ocean City are all pre-wired and configured for slots. Voters have proven to be eager to flip-flop on any previously-inconceivable gaming proposal. Even in a mall!

Could slots come to Rock Spring or other developments in Montgomery County?

"Impossible!," you might say.

And you'd be right. For now.

DESPITE DEATH OF

HOUSE BILLS,

OUTER BELTWAY

TAKES SEVERAL STEPS

FORWARD

Last week, I reported on the death of two bills in the Virginia House which would have required studies related to a future DC Outer Beltway.

Yet, as has been the style of Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, several even more dramatic steps toward the highway were quietly taken this week.

First, the Prince William Parkway, Fairfax County Parkway (which, like the Rockville Freeway on the Maryland side, was actually part of the original Outer Beltway), and Franconia-Springfield Parkway (Fairfax County) were all designated as "primary roads."

What does that mean? It means they are now eligible for Federal funding for maintenance and upgrades. And for Federal help if they decide to make them part of a future Outer Beltway.

Second, on Wednesday, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved the Battlefield Bypass through Manassas.

The Battlefield Bypass is another road which could become part of the Outer Beltway.

Predictably, Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, is not pleased. But it's time that we stop allowing obstructionist groups to control the agenda, and build the long missing roads from our region's freeway system.

OUTER BELTWAY BILL

FAILS IN VA HOUSE COMMITTEE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Virginia House Bill HJ-131, which would have required the Virginia Department of Transportation to study a new Potomac River crossing, has failed in the House Rules Committee.

The bill was tabled on a voice vote.

While the bill, sponsored by Del. J. Randall Minchew was the most overt step towards a DC Outer Beltway in the current session, its failure so early is particularly surprising. Supposedly pro-highway Republicans currently control the House, and by extension, its committees.

Why, then, would they not have the votes to move the bill forward? A voice vote also means that the committee members did not have to go "on the record" individually, regarding their position on the issue.

An embarrassing failure to rise to the occasion on a highway critical to the economic future of the DC region, and an outcome one would expect from Annapolis, not Richmond. After all, it was just a study. What were they afraid of?

This means more time crawling across the American Legion and Woodrow Wilson bridges.

HJ-134, which would have studied the Bi-County and Tri-County Parkways (another Outer Beltway-related bill) was recommended to be tabled by a voice vote in a different subcommittee.

If this is the result in a "pro-highway," "pro-transportation" Virginia House, it's time to replace politicians to both sides of the Potomac River.

VIRGINIA HOUSE

RULES COMMITTEE

TO RECEIVE

NEW POTOMAC RIVER

CROSSING STUDY BILL

TODAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Del. J. Randall Minchew's bill requiring a Virginia Department of Transportation study of extending Route 28 into Montgomery County, MD, advances in Richmond today.

House Bill HJR-131 was approved by a House subcommittee last Thursday, and arrives at the full House Rules Committee this afternoon at 4:00 PM.

A defacto step towards completion of a DC Outer Beltway, the bill also mandates that the state request Interstate status for Route 28. Although the logical connection today would be Sam Eig Highway (I-370) on the Maryland side, it is interesting to note that Route 28 was originally destined to connect with the never-built Rockville Freeway near Riverbend Park, via a six-lane Outer Beltway atop a dam.

Minchew's bill passed the House Rules Studies Subcommittee by a 4-1 vote last Thursday. Del. Kenneth Alexander (D - District 89) cast the lone dissenting vote. Opposition is strong among environmentalists and a faction of developers who profit from traffic gridlock via "smart" growth policies.

But the growing support for new Potomac River crossings reflects the acceptance of reality: cars aren't going away, and will only get cleaner. And while developers and the politicians they get elected claim they're building to serve the young, the elderly, and young families "seeking vibrant urban lifestyles and walkable communities," data shows the opposite. With the exception of the District itself, those demographics are fleeing the inner suburbs for Loudoun, Stafford, Frederick, Carroll and Washington counties.

In addition to the Rockville Freeway, M-83 Midcounty Highway Extended, and the completion of I-70 to I-170 and I-95 in Baltimore, new Potomac River crossings remain essential missing pieces in our region's transportation system.

For the sake of jobs, and quality of life, let's hope the committee approves this bill and advances it to the next step in the process today.

OUTER BELTWAY

STUDY ADVANCES

IN

VIRGINIA HOUSE

Virginia House Bill HJR-131 has been approved by the House Rules Studies Subcommittee. The bill, sponsored by Del. J. Randall Minchew (R-District 10), mandates a Virginia Department of Transportation study of a new Potomac River crossing into Montgomery County. It would also explore a request for inclusion of Route 28 as part of the federal interstate system.

The bill now goes to the full House Rules Committee.

One small step for man; one giant leap for DC area drivers.

OUTER BELTWAY

ADVANCES IN

VIRGINIA HOUSE

2 Potomac River Crossing Bills Go Before

Subcommittee in Richmond Thursday

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The Twelve Days of Christmas aren't over yet for supporters of the long-delayed Washington D.C. Outer Beltway. Tomorrow morning in Richmond, two Outer Beltway-related bills will be put in the hands of a Virginia House Rules Subcommittee on Studies. And, no, I didn't make up the name of that body.

The most exciting of the two bills is written by Republican J. Randall Minchew (District 10). House Bill HJ-131 calls for a VDOT study of the potential "extension of Virginia Route 28 across the Potomac River into Maryland and the inclusion of Virginia Route 28 in the Interstate Highway System."

To understand this, Herman, set the Wayback Machine for when the northern arc of the Outer Beltway consisted of two parts: Route 28 and what is today known as the Fairfax County Parkway on the Virginia side of the Potomac, and the Rockville Freeway on the Maryland side. The two highways were to be joined by a bridge on top of a (never-constructed) dam near Riverbend Park.

Wealthy downcounty residents in Montgomery predictably howled, and the Outer Beltway was moved north to Gaithersburg's "backyard." This left a right-of-way then designated as the Rockville Facility or Rockville Freeway. Similar NIMBYs and politicians killed the freeway, which would have connected Falls Road with the ICC near Indian Spring Country Club.

Regular readers of this blog are quite familiar with the Rockville Freeway. I believe this missing highway is a critical link between exploding growth centers in White Flint, Burtonsville, White Oak and Columbia. That is why I continue to advocate for its construction to be included in the master plan, so it will be eligible for federal funds.

The problem is, the Maryland political establishment does not have any desire to end the gridlock - and lack of Dulles Airport access - that scares away so many large employers from relocating to Montgomery County.

They never built anything, until Gov. Bob Ehrlich got the ICC launched.

But Virginia quietly kept at it. Over the years, they've slowly worked to upgrade Route 28 and the FCP to interstate standards.

Last year, the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board advanced the Tri-County Parkway as a "corridor of statewide significance." The CTB and Gov. Bob McDonnell have done a simply magnificent job of moving the Virginia pieces of the Outer Beltway forward. It is the responsible thing to do given that Loudoun County has grown by 80% over the last decade.

That corridor, which is a more westward alignment for an Outer Beltway, is the subject of the second bill, HJ-134. That bill calls for a study of the "economic impact" of that "corridor of statewide significance."

Ultimately, over the next century, there are as many as five new Potomac crossings worth studying: The I-266 Three Sisters Bridge by Georgetown University, the Arizona Avenue Bridge, Route 28 and/or the Tri-County Parkway (only one of those is likely to be funded), and the long-discussed Western Bypass bridge near Point of Rocks.

Someday, growth will require that all of these bridges be built. New Urbanism - when done right, such as Bethesda Row - will continue to flourish inside the Beltway, and we have to complete our Metro system. But those who can't afford $800,000 condos and $2,000,000 McMansions will continue to flee to Fredericksburg, Loudoun, Frederick, Hagerstown and Westminster. Those populations will have to be served by highways or long-distance commuter trains. They seek single family homes, backyard cookouts, suburban parks, and lower taxes. That lifestyle is simply not available to them at an affordable price in the D.C. area.

More politicians are coming on board. None is more significant than Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who endorsed a new Potomac crossing last year. Warner brings nearly unlimited personal wealth, popularity, business connections, and inside-the-Beltway cocktail crowd respect. When Warner speaks, people listen, and wallets open.

Remember, these new roads and bridges won't just carry cars, but new Metro lines and bicycle paths, as well.

New obstacles to completion of the Metropolitan Branch bike trail in Montgomery County show that it's not just highway plans that fall victim to misguided notions.

The future of transportation is multimodal. Virginia gets that, and tomorrow is an exciting day for everyone else in our region who believes that, too.