PennDOT eyes 99 completion by end of year

Highway on schedule to open at year's end - CDT
The debacle that is the i-99 construction may finally be over be New Year's.

On the way to Blue White we drove up the new section between Bald Eagle and Skytop. It was functional, but the Port Matilda interchange had very steep ramps.

i-99, Port Matilda, PennDOT, Skytop, Pennsylvania.

Labels: Pennsylvania, PSU/Happy Valley, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:22 PM | |

The Silver Line's long road ahead

Dulles Rail Still Has Miles to Go, Hurdles to Clear - The Post
A lot still needs to happen for the Silver Line to get built and there are a few ways and a number of people who will try to stop it.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 6:12 AM | |

Lazarus Metro line roundup

EDITORIAL - Dulles Rail's Revival - The Post

Its resurrection is a triumph of common sense over dogma and suggests that, contrary to the general impression of the state of governance in Washington, rational outcomes remain possible when grown-ups put their heads together. More specifically, it is a testament to the wisdom and perseverance of officials at Metro, which would operate the 23-mile extension; the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which would manage its construction; Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), who spearheaded the lobbying with Transportation Secretary Mary Peters to reverse what had seemed like the feds' unequivocal rejection; and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D).

Let us hope this cooperation continues on what may be a bumpy ride on the way to making this Metro line happen.

Metro Extension Plan Revived, But Officials Include Conditions - The Post
Dulles rail project gets federal reprieve - The Wash. Times
Rail decision thrusts Tysons development back to forefront - The Wash. Examiner
The details on how this came together and some information about what still needs to happen for it to keep going. The biggest sticking point will be addressing the current Metro system woes and find the funding to fix them. It is not over yet, not by a long shot and may in fact just be getting started.

After Months of Lobbying, Business Leaders Can Celebrate - The Post
The revival of the Silver Line is a cause for celebration in business circles.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:47 PM | |

More details on Dulles Corridor Metro

Dulles Rail Gets Federal Approval - The Post
As expected (since this morning at least), USDOT announced today that it is now supporting the proposal to build the Silver Line along the Dulles Corridor.

In a letter to Kaine and in a 10 a.m. conference call with the governor and Virginia congressional leaders, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the $5 billion project had finally met the Federal Transit Administration's standards for cost efficiency, construction and expected ridership. The project will now move into the final design phase, a major step toward receiving $900 million in federal funding.

"As a result of the collaboration between federal and state officials, the project sponsor and other project stakeholders, the financial stability and oversight of the project has improved," Peters wrote to Kaine in a letter obtained by The Washington Post. "Cost reductions have been verified and mechanisms have been established to enhance inter-organizational cooperation, technical capacity and project management."

Good news, but this isn't fait accompli just yet:

Still, Peters went on, "much work remains" to make the project right. Today's approval comes with conditions that must be met if the project is to receive federal funding. Without that money, state and local officials have said that the project would die, ending the possibility of a long-sought rail connection between the nation's capital and its major international airport. Supporters say the line would ease congestion through Virginia's biggest jobs corridor and keep the economy humming with the transformation of suburban Tysons Corner into a thriving downtown.

Among the conditions, Peters said in her letter, is a sweeping demand that Virginia and the Metro system guarantee the capital investment necessary to maintain and operate Metro. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority recently identified $489 million in "urgent unfunded capital needs," Peters said.

Virginia better not drop the ball on this one.

There is a chat about the decision going on right now on washingtonpost.com.

EARLIER: Silver line back on track?!

UPDATE 6:30 a.m. Thursday: I will be posting more about this topic after 12 p.m. today, so check back later.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:41 PM | |

Silver line back on track?!

Dulles Rail Set to Get Federal Approval - The Post
Apparently, Virginia and the U.S. Department of Transportation has found a way to make the Dulles Corridor Metro project, tentatively called the Silver Line, meet the "Federal Transit Administration's standards for cost efficiency, construction and expected ridership." It appears U.S. DOT secretary Mary Peters overruled FTA. Good job, Peters that was the correct decision.

This is excellent news, I am glad that we can finally get started on a project that is long overdue.

Now, we get to see the tunnel vs. elevated argument start up again. I would love to see it underground, but I don't see that happening at this point.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:16 AM | |

Expand the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel? Duh.

Transportation head calls for study of a wider Hampton tube - The Virginia-Pilot
It is self evident that the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (I-64/US 60) is insufficient at four lanes wide. While a second crossing, the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel (I-664) opened in the early 1990s to provide relief, it is out of the way for drivers headed to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Now, VDOT is acknowledging that building an additional tube is worth studying. People who live by the existing HRBT are not excited about it, but don't move next an interstate highway unless your are willing to see your property become eminent domain.

I head down that way about once year to visit my cousin and his family. I probably split my trips about 50-50 between the two tunnels. I would like to see a new Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel tube(s) funded, but only after the Silver Line.

H/T: Homer says he'll request study on building wider tunnel WTOP - WTOP

Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, Interstate 64, Virginia,

Labels: Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:30 PM | |

Privatized Penna. Turnpike on the way?

Rendell expects to name turnpike lessee soon - The Inky
Good news -- tolls on the federally funded Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania may not happen. The bad news is the reason why they won't happen.

Gov. Ed Rendell is still pushing to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike which essentially transforms a public utilities into private monopoly.* I am really skeptical that these things are good long-term deals for government or consumers. I may have to start shunpiking when I head to Happy Valley.

*Paraphrasing Jay Hancock of The Sun from an article I blogged about in January 2007.

Pennsylvania Turnpike, Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania

Labels: Pennsylvania, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:14 PM | |

Busy sports night in D.C., plan accordingly

There are three sporting events (Nats, Wizards, United home games) going on in the District tonight, so there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Nats Express parking will be in Lot 7 at RFK, not Lot 8 because D.C. United has a home match.
  
• A few stops along the Green Line may be crowded, especially Gallery Place/Chinatown
  
• Single-game parking can be bought online at the Nationals Way to Go page. There are apparently plenty of spots available. I think selling parking online is an excellent way at handling traffic management too.
  
• There is no need to get all worked up about this or the Nationals attendance right now. I know that goes against our instincts as cynical, overreacting Washingtonians, but this whole thing is all going to work itself out. Just allow a little extra time and enjoy.

All told, there will probably at least 55,000 fans at three different venues tonight. Go Nats! Go Wiz! Go United!

Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards, DC United, metro, parking, DC

Labels: DC United/MLS, Metro, Nats/MLB 2008, Transportation, Wizards/NBA

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posted by WFY @ 6:01 AM | |

New and improved I-395 signs

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There are a couple of things I like about these new overhead signs on I-395 North (Southwest Freeway). The control city of "Capitol Hill" makes sense and seeing "Nationals Park" makes me smile. "Nat'l Mall" is also very useful. I also like that exit numbers are finally being rolled out on I-395 North, though I would have just continued the Virginia numbering. I suppose the appeal of exit 1 being for US 1 makes it okay though. Up until the renumbering of the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway, the Virginia exit to US 1 was exit 1. While that was lost, the US 50 exit in Virginia became exit 50, so it was a wash.

One other thing, I'm pleased the didn't use the Clearview typeface.

Interstate 395, SW Freeway, 14th Street Bridge, dc

Labels: BeltwayLand, The District, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:01 PM | |

The spacing is definitely off, they should have just made a taller sign and had three lines for the control cities.

# posted by  WFY : Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:43:00 PM  

US 11/15 & PA 581 interchange rebuild begins

Work starts on deadly U.S.15/Route 581 ramp - Patriot-News
Construction on one of the more annoying and dangerous interchanges on one of the roads to Happy Valley has started. Within 75 days, the cloverleaf ramp from US 15 North to PA 581 West/US 11 South will be closed, replaced by a signalized left-turn lane. It will be safer, but is not ideal. I was hoping there would be a flyover ramp from US 15 North to PA 581 West/US 11 South, but as noted previously, PennDOT's cost-benefit analysis determined it wasn't worthwhile.

I believe they will have to reevaluate that decision within five years of the interchange's reconstruction.

US 11, US 15, PA 581

Labels: Pennsylvania, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:21 PM | |

This just in: Take Metro to ballpark

District to Limit Visitor Parking Near Ballpark - The Post
Stadium's plan discourages driving - The Wash. Times
MARC FISHER - Seriously. Take Metro. - The Post
If you are not a season ticket holder with a parking pass don't expect to drive to the ballpark area, take Metro (rail or bus) instead. If you really want to drive, you can park at RFK Stadium and take a shuttle bus to Nationals Park.

JDLand.com's Near Southeast DC Redevelopment site has a section about Stadium Transportation and Parking that is worth a look.

Team Still Feels The Love From An Old Friend - The Post
Chico struggles during first outing - The Wash. Times
LHP Matt Chico emerged from last night's outing vs. Florida (a 3-3 tie) without giving up a run, but threw only 16 of 32 pitches for strikes.

RHP Garrett Mock, acquired with Chico in the LIVAN! trade, pitched two innings, giving up an unearned run. He is not expected to make the majors this spring.

Chico was the latest player featured in an washingtonpost.com video:




For Johnson, An Exhibition Of Pure Joy - The Post
Johnson avoids another collision - AP/Florida Today
1B Nick Johnson played his first competitive baseball game since Sept. 23, 2006 last night. Johnson told 3B Ryan Zimmerman that he "Slept in my uniform last night." He also fielded a fly ball much like the one that resulted in his collision with RF Austin Kearns. By the way, Jim Bowden is already hinting a trade of either Johnson or Dmitri Young.

Nats Lose First Battle Over New Stadium - WTOP
The District defeated the Nationals in arbitration over "ancillary items at the new stadium, such as golf carts, fork lifts, and medical and office equipment." That will save the city $4.2 million. I don't understand why the team was trying to get that from the city.

Do you wonder what it is like to be a sports photographer?


washingtonpost.com's Nationals RSS feed made its monthly/quarterly appearance in Google Reader at 1:18 a.m. this morning. I had 41 total headlines dating back February 10.

Labels: Metro, Nats/MLB 2008, Transportation, Video

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posted by WFY @ 5:51 AM | |

Two Silver Line stories

Dulles Rail faces new bids - The Wash. Examiner
Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield and Del. Joe May, R-Leesburg inserted language into a budget bill that would force the first leg of the Silver Line to be rebid. Given the shady way the project was put together, that sounds reasonable.

This was from Saturday:

2 Top Republicans Try to Jump-Start Dulles Rail Plan, Raising Some Hopes - The Post
An encouraging sign:

Minority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) sent Transportation Secretary Mary Peters a letter this week, saying: "It is vitally important that this project move forward. Open dialogue between Virginia and the Department of Transportation will make certain that lawmakers are best able to alleviate the burden of increasing traffic congestion and transportation demands across the entire national capital region."

It is good to see someone from outside of Virginia getting involved too.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:39 PM | |

Chat transcript: Pearlstein on Silver Line

Somehow I missed a chat hosted by Post business columnist Steven Pearlstein about the Dulles Corridor Metro project. It is quite an interesting and presents several points of view, though Pearlstein favors building it through a Metro line above other modes and wants it to go through Tysons. Pearlstein also outlines how he wants the project saved in his Wednesday column.

You may recall he wrote a column in 2006 praising Tysons' Messy Vitality that I thought was silly and so did Robert K. Lewis.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport, Steven Pearlstein

Labels: BeltwayLand, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:50