Hello Yupette,
I hope you've been following developments in the Pike streetcar system planning process.
As things stand now, the cost of the Pike's street improvements will approximately equal the cost of the streetcar system. That is, the streetcar system will cost $130 million for 10-14 streetcars. Improvements to the Pike to support the streetcar system will cost $70 million and the Washington Blvd. bridge will cost $60 million.
Only a few months ago, we were told that the total cost of the Pike streetcar system would be $160 million.
Apparently the County Board will pay for all this from the surtax on business real estate, which provides the County Board with about $40 million annually to be used for new transportation projects.
Whether other pressing transportation needs are addressed remains to be seen. The County Board has committed to building another streetcar system in Crystal City.
Mark, 22204
11 comments:
How does a bridge get to cost $60 million?
So, how much gets stripped from other highway projects for this one bridge?
Build an off-the-shelf interstate highway type bridge over the Pike and save the taxpayers $55 million.
Since there is going to be a median under the bridge, why not an off-the-shelf design with bridge piers on the median? While we're at it, scrap the trolley and get together with Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County and design an efficient and cost effective bus rapid transit system for all four jurisdictions.
About $50 million of the $60 million projected cost of the Washington Blvd. bridge gets spent making the bridge compatible with Urban Village Idiot Zimmerman's multi-billion $$$ 'streetcarscape'.
Where is ACTA? Oh, they're watching the Minnesota Tea Party Convention this week in Frostbite Falls.
The Plutocratic Party's Pike agenda will largely consist of corporate welfare checks mailed to their out-of-state REIT Republican contributors, campaign and otherwise. Some Democrats.
ACTA is also watching the Wisconsin Tea Party convention in Cheese City, so as to obtain cheesehead PR to recycle around Arlington via e-mail.
The County Board's stupid streetcar is dictating paying $70 million for Pike street upgrades and $60 million for a bridge. I would have to be an idiot not to vote for Audrey Clement in November.
How many new schools would $260 million buy?
Yupette,
Don't forget that it will cost an additional $280 million or so to replace the 5,000 units of affordable housing that will be lost. That's not to increase affordable housing; it's just to get us back to where we are now!
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