Vihstadt and Garvey Demand, Receive Answers from County Staff About Streetcar Funding

Hello, Yupette,

County Board met with the County Manager and Transportation Staff this afternoon to discuss transportation programs related to the 2015-2024 Capital Improvement Plan.

Things went smoothly until about 45 minutes before the end of the meeting when John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey began asking Barbara Donnellan, Dennis Leach, and Transit Bureau Chief Steve Del Giudice a number of very pointed questions about Pike and Crystal City streetcar planning.

Turns out the the Federal Transit Administration could take 3 years or more to approve the County application for federal funding. Which prompted Jay Fisette to ask if it might be better to turn to other funding sources, like the State of Virginia. When queried by John Vihstadt, Leach stated that the County has a good working relationship with the State of Virginia regarding funding of capital transportation projects. That prompted both Vihstadt and Libby Garvey to ask whether state transportation funding can be used for transportation projects other than a Pike and Crystal City streetcar freeing up general obligation funds for uses like schools. (Short answer is yes).

At that point Donnellan became visibly angry and told Vihstadt that funds were already committed to the streetcar projects. Vihstadt continued, asking how much the County was spending on PR infomercials promoting the streetcar and asking whether it was fair to the two minority Board members for the County to be spending lavishly on advertising for the Board majority's position. Donnellan replied that it was appropriate to spend money informing Arlington residents about streetcars. Vihstadt then asked for an accounting of how much is being spent.

Those are the highlights. Post reporter was on hand for the entire meeting, so you may be able to read her take on what occurred tomorrow.

2100

LEED Certification - Anti-Renewable Energy

Hey, Yupette,

Did you happen to see the presentation by the developer of the residential and office buildings at 1401 Wilson Boulevard at Saturday''s County Board meeting? What a hoot. Any bonus density gimme that could be given by County Government the developer - Monday Properties - received.

Anyone wanting proof that LEED Certification is a huge environmental charade should peruse the 2009 LEED Platinum Certification for 1401 Wilson Boulevard. The developer received 12 points for an 816 vehicle parking garage near a Metro station but would not commit to any on-site renewable energy, including solar water heating for the rooftop swimming pool on the residential building.

LEED is another corporate welfare gimme where 'certification' and massive amounts of 'bonus density' are awarded for building elements that have nothing whatsoever to do with energy efficiency.

L.N. - Rosslyn

Sierra Club Likely to Endorse Beyer

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for your blog.

I'm a long-time member of the Sierra Club and am appalled by thousands and thousands of Land Rovers tearing up the environment around the world and destroying fragile ecosystems.

However, you have to be aware that hundreds, maybe thousands, of Sierra Club members also own Land Rovers or Range Rovers and are enthusiastic participants in off-road events - in the United States and around the World.

So, it's quite likely the Sierra Club will endorse Don Beyer for Congress. I'm only a member of the Sierra Club because of a personal (largely futile) commitment to environmental preservation. Unfortunately, Sierra Club members are mostly conservationists, not preservationists. Big difference.

Tom - 22101

Don Beyer's Plan for the Environment -- Toss It Under the Range Rover

 

Hey, Yupette,

Whatever Don Beyer may SAY about his commitment towards ameliorating Global Warming / Climate Change fact is that he's done little or nothing all the time he's been in a position of wealth and power in Northern Virginia to prevent Climate Change.

I don't see any renewable energy installed at any of Don Beyer's auto dealership locations. Except for a few models of Kia, Land Rover, and Volvo vehicles, what Don's been selling for many years are luxury gas guzzlers that require premium gas. And lots of photos are on the Web of Land Rovers and Range Rovers tearing up the landscape. Like the 510 horsepower supercharged 2014 Range Rover SUV that Don is featuring right now at Land Rover of Alexandria

If Don is so bent on preventing Global Warming from occurring why wasn't he organizing Global Conferences to Prevent Global Warming in Geneva when he was Ambassador to Switzerland?

Another selection, another PlutoCrat selected. When will the Sheeple wake up?

Dennis - 22205

Pike Streetcar Referendum Unlikely

Hey Yupette,

What's the Arlington Democratic Party's strategy for more tax-borrow-spend? Downplay the current and previous extravagant spending, delay additional extravagant spending until after November's elections, ignore opponents of wasteful and extravagant spending (the Pike streetcar), and use the County's taxpayer-funded PR propaganda machine and development-for-the-sake-of-development-friendly local media (Post, ArlNow, Sun Gazette, AIM) to boost Democratic candidates whenever possible.

Once there's an all-Democrat County Board again (never mind Libby Garvey) it will be back to more of the same - a $100 million Longbridge Aquatic Center, $450 million Pike streetcar, lots of $300,000 and $500,000 gimmes on the County Board's consent agenda for the County Board's pet people and organizations.

So don't look for a Pike streetcar referendum, 'cause there's not going to be one.

Fed Up Democrat

D.C. City Council Dems Vote to Throw Streetcars Under the Bus

Hi Yupette,

Biggest news in yesterday's Post Metro Section? D.C. City Council Democrats voted to sharply cut funding for the proposed streetcar system approved by outgoing Mayor Vince Gray. Seems that mismanagement by the District's Department of Transportation, escalating costs, and the huge projected cost of Vince Gray's proposed 37-mile streetcar system, make constructing a large system fiscally impractical. The H. Street streetcar line currently under construction will cost at least $487 million.

So where are the savings from not building Vince Gray's expansive and expensive streetcar system going? For tax relief to D.C.'s middle class which has long suffered from the New Urbanists' gentrification agenda. The City Council also raised both income taxes and taxes on services, targeted at the New Urbanists. Appears the Democratic City Council majority is much more attuned to the needs of the middle class than their Democratic counterparts in Northern Virginia.

Real Democrat 22201

May 31st Site Plan Forum to Fast-Track 'Development for the Sake of Development'

Hi, Yupette,

As promised, Barbara's Donnellan's and Jay Fisette's plans to fast-track New Urbanist 'Development for the Sake of Development' to benefit out-of-state REITs and local developers are entering the charade public meeting phase. Planning Commission and County Staff will hold the meeting at Virgnia Hospital Center's Hazel Auditorium on Saturday, May 31st, at 9AM. The important decisions were made months ago at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard.

As described  by several news blogs in March, Donnellan and Fisette are acquiescing to demands from developers who complain that the site plan review process is too cumbersome and is used as a way to pick their pockets for community benefits in exchange for site plan approvals.

The Planning Commission has already been told to approve whatever the County Board pre-approves behind closed doors in the County Board Offices. 'Coordinators' who report to Barbara Donnellan have been assigned to monitor the Planning, Housing, Transportation, and other advisory commissions to ensure their members don't stray from what was agreed-to by the County Board.

Few County Staff (including Donnellan) who are implementing the changes live in Arlington County. It's obvious that the County's bloated CPHD and DES staffs will be among the primary beneficiaries of the changes.

Michelle, 22207