The Following letter was sent by Chris Zimmerman, County Board Vice-Chairman and representative to the Metro Planning staff:
Subject:
Proposed Metro Expansion
November
16, 2001
Dear
Civic Leader:
I am writing to you in my capacity as Arlington's representative on the
Metro Board of Directors.
As you may know, Metro staff have recently completed an analysis of the
"core capacity" of the rail system, and made preliminary
recommendations for improvements. This
involves many key issues, such as the ability to operate eight-car trains
(currently the longest trains operated in the system are six-car), improved
connections between lines, and the capacity of maintenance facilities.
As part of the study, staff also made some entirely new proposals for
future expansion of the system. (If
you click on the following link to the Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/oct01/metro101901.htm
you will see a map showing the proposed expansion.)
Among these are a proposed new line in the District of Columbia from
Georgetown to Union Station; another segment from Union Station across Anacostia
to Largo, Maryland; and a new crossing of the Potomac.
Also included is a proposal for a new line that would run across north
Arlington, from Rosslyn
to East Falls Church. It is on this
last proposal that I am seeking your input.
Under this new proposal there would be: 1)
a new Metro line along the I-66 right-of-way from Falls Church to Rosslyn,
2) up to three new stations in north Arlington: in
the vicinity of Spout Run and Lee Highway; near Quincy Street; and just
west of George Mason Drive, 3) an expansion of the East Falls Church
station, and 4) a
new river crossing at Key Bridge.
The intent of these changes is to ease congestion on the Orange Line, by
providing a direct connection to downtown for the new Tyson's-Dulles extension.
Cost for this new line is estimated in the vicinity of $2 billion in
current dollars.
This is an issue which could have significant impacts for Arlington - all
of which I believe need to be thoroughly identified and explored before we, as a
community, respond with our concerns, questions, and recommendations.
As this is a new proposal, not included in any previously adopted plan
either by Arlington County, Northern Virginia, or the Metro Board, it has
not been evaluated in terms of its relationship to Arlington's Comprehensive
Plan. I have requested that the
County Manager have staff perform a preliminary evaluation of this proposal in
terms of Arlington's adopted plans, and provide any thoughts or recommendations
he may have. When I receive the
Manager's response I will share it with you.
I am requesting your assistance in promoting community discussion of this
issue, while it is still early in the process. I would appreciate your encouraging your membership, and any
others you know who might take an interest in this matter, to share your
comments with me. You can help by
publishing this request for comments in your newsletter, announcing it at one of
your meetings, posting it on your website, or any other way which reaches the
widest audience. Comments can be
submitted via a form on the County's website at www.co.arlington.va.us/cbo/news/metro.htm
or the County Board email address at countyboard@arlington.va.us
or by fax at 703-228-7430; or U.S. mail at the address listed below.
As your representative on the Metro Board of Directors, I will make
certain that all comments received are shared with my colleagues on the Board of
Directors at the appropriate time.
Thank you for your assistance in assessing what is in the best interests
of Arlington as discussions on plans to expand Metrorail continue around the
region. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Sincerely,
Christopher
Zimmerman,
Vice
Chairman
Return to Bellevue Forest Citizens' Association Home Page
Copyright © 2000, BellevueForest.org, All Rights Reserved.