Thursday, December 23, 2010

Total Costs for Zimmerman's Pike and Crystal City Trolleys Will Likely Exceed $400 Million

Hey, Yupette,

Forget the estimates of the cost of Zimmerman's Pike trolley being $134 million and the Crystal City trolley being $140 million. Total built-out costs will be in the range of more than $400 million. Pretty appalling because the Pike doesn't need a trolley and the County will be paying a fortune to build a trolley through a former rail yard. Thanks for the blog.

Retired Transportation Planner

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Plan Now for 2020 State and Local Population Growth

Hi Yupette:

Appears that Virginia's population will increase by 1 million by 2020 and Arlington's population will increase by 25,000. We should be planning basic infrastructure growth now, rather than funding extravagant projects. Thanks for this blog.

Jerry - 22207

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

U.S. Population Grew by 60 Million in 20 years

Hi Yupette,

The U.S. population has increased from 248.7 million in 1990 to 308.7 million this year. Despite almost 3 years of recession the population of the United states grew by 27.3 million, or 9.7 percent, this decade. So we are on track for the U.S. population to reach between 550 and 600 million by the end of this century.

How long can we continue to postpone making decisions about the effect of significant population growth on our environment? I'm 35 and expect to be around in 30 years when the U.S. population may increase by another 100 million.

Jeanne, Arlington, 22204

Monday, December 20, 2010

Time for County Government to End the Planetarium Charade

Hi Yupette,

Did you read the Local Opinions page in yesterday's Post? The Post rightly went after the Arlington School Board for its anti-knowledge campaign against the Arlington Planetarium. Part of the anti-knowledge campaign directed by the recreation and entertainment fanatics on the County Board and School Board to also defund libraries, nature centers and the like and use the savings to build more recreation and entertainment infrastructure. Who's to blame? Start with Walter Tejada, Jay Fisette, Mary Hynes, Sally Baird, and Abby Raphael. Walter Tejada and Jay Fisette are so anti-knowledge it's frightening. Unless the knowledge involves soccer and bicycles.

Margaret - 22203

Sunday, December 19, 2010

City of Alexandria Posts Outside Spending On-Line

Hi Yupette,

I live not far from Alexandria and you should be aware that Alexandria City Council requested the City Manager's staff to prepare a detailed report of the city's spending for outside services like contractors and consultants. Outside spending comprised about 10% of the City's spending last fiscal year. The information is on-line on the City's Web site and some citizens want the same information from the Alexandria school system.

fairgrrl