Streets, transit, walking, biking, and other mobility issues
Lately I’ve seen a lot of letters to the editor and social media posts with anger and frustration over the scooters that have inundated Alexandria. The city is currently conducting a dockless mobility pilot program, and 7 scooter companies are now operating in the city. It’s important to keep some perspective on the phenomenon. 1. … Continue reading The Scooter Surge
In 2014 I authored a letter to the editor making the case for some type of paid parking restriction on residential blocks in Old Town. Now, the City of Alexandria is considering making this program permanent. Parking is a scarce resource, and cities must manage supply to balance demand. There are a number of potential policies … Continue reading Alexandria’s Pay-by-Phone Parking on residential blocks better manages a scarce resource
The City of Alexandria is prioritizing long-range planning activities for fiscal year 2020, which begins July 1, 2019. Activities will address Amazon HQ2 and the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, equity and housing affordability, mobility initiatives, and continuation of planning efforts along transit corridors and in the city's Growth Crescent. The item is one of the … Continue reading Prioritizing Long-Range Planning in Alexandria
UPDATED: May 28, 2019: With all Metrorail Yellow and Blue Line stations closed south of National Airport for Metro's Platform Improvement Project, here's a helpful reminder of an alternative way to commute to Washington, DC from Alexandria. One option often overlooked by inner-suburban commuters is the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which offers commuter rail service … Continue reading Using VRE to Commute from Alexandria
Earlier today Amazon.com, Inc. announced that it had selected Arlington County, Virginia for a major new headquarters facility. It's a huge economic development victory for Northern Virginia and the Washington region, bringing more than 25,000 high-paying jobs over a 12-year period. Northern Virginia and New York City, which will also host a new headquarters, emerge … Continue reading Amazon selects Arlington for HQ2 – but what Alexandria lured to town may be the biggest benefit of all
The City of Alexandria is presently soliciting public feedback on a variety of issues, including transit service, combined sewer tunnels, residential parking, landscaping guidelines, and a name for new park space. This is an important way to provide feedback as it helps the city make decisions that are informed by public opinion. Alexandria Transit Vision … Continue reading City Surveys and Requests for Comment
On Thursday, October 4, 2018, the Alexandria Planning Commission considered a unique request to amend a Development Special Use Permit for Chatham Square, 409 North Pitt Street, to allow residents to be eligible to receive on-street residential parking permits. The commission voted to recommend approval on a particularly close vote. Background on City Residential Parking … Continue reading Chatham Square Amendment Regarding Eligibility for On-Street Parking Permits
Some links to interesting articles that recently caught my eye: A Short Guide to Tulsa’s New $465 Million Park This Citylab article by Nicole Javorsky highlights the cool things a public park can be with a little creativity (and admittedly, a significant amount of funding.) The 65-acre Gathering Place features gardens, multiple themed playgrounds, pathways, … Continue reading Nate’s Takes – September 28, 2018
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, the Greater Washington Partnership issued the briefing paper Rethinking the Bus: Five Essential Steps for Improving Mobility in the Capital Region. The super-regional business group advocates for investments that would prioritize and facilitate bus transportation, which is estimated to carry approximately half of the public transit trips in the region. … Continue reading Better Bus Transit in Alexandria and Across the Region
Some links to interesting articles that caught my eye this week: The electric scooters swarming our city won’t solve our commuting calamity This column by Petula Dvorak of the Washington Post highlights the challenges faced by the private fleets of electric scooters that have suddenly descended on Washington and other cities (including some recent sightings … Continue reading Nate’s Takes – September 14, 2018
PlanAlexandria 