Arlington streetcar plan dead (for now) (Washington, Columbia: 2015, maintenance, property taxes)

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by kieplangdu

The haves kill it for the have-not.

In Arlington, unsettling questions about divisions between the haves and have-nots - The Washington Post

The haves probably saved or at least held off the have-nots from being priced out of Arlington County. Speaking as a have not who lives off the Pike.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

The haves probably saved or at least held off the have-nots from being priced out of Arlington County. Speaking as a have not who lives off the Pike.

Perhaps, but realistically these articles (and the Post has run two about the purported North/South Arlington "divide" in the last week or so) are not really about the tremendous hardship that South Arlington residents will face without a streetcar running down Columbia Pike. They are more about confronting North Arlington residents with the fact that their neighborhoods are getting wealthier and whiter, while most high-income areas in the region are becoming more diverse, to see how they'll react.

[coolio69]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Uh--no.

uh-yes. The districts in and around Columbia pike voted for the streetcar (Howse)! YIMBY (yes in my backyard).

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by coolio69

uh-yes. The districts in and around Columbia pike voted for the streetcar (Howse)! YIMBY (yes in my backyard).

Read what I posted in post no. 17 above. The sweeping generalizations in that article (e.g., N. Arl is all wealthy, S. Arl is mostly poor, the streetcar would have somehow preserved affordable housing, all of S. Arlington was for the streetcar, all of N. Arlington was against it, and affluent people won't ride buses) are completely wrong.

It's your right to support the streetcar if that's your view, but at least choose reasons that are based in reality--e.g., you would like Columbia Pike to look more like Clarendon.

[gomason]

I think people are making a mistake of equating streetcars with Metro. Streetcars will lead to some development, but it's nothing like Metro. H Street & Benning Road NE DC looks nothing like a gentrified fairyland and young 20 something-year-olds aren't dying to live on H Street.

Tempers remain frayed over Arlington streetcar abandonment - The Washington Post

With the opening of the HOT lanes, I started to ponder the county's "transportation plan." We all know they won't support widening 66 and they hate HOT lanes because they support "multimodal transportation that emphasizes transit-oriented development" (not that I'm enamored with HOT lanes either). Then, when they have a chance to do that, they back down because they don't have the political backbone. So basically their version of multi-modal transportation are the cute little green buses?

And, on a side note, I hate how the local government is set up. Seems like "everyone" is represented so in actuality no one is represented.

[Joke Insurance]

There are a lot of people on here who seem to be against the streetcar, but have offered nothing in terms of an alternative, just like Vihstadt and Garvey.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by Joke Insurance

There are a lot of people on here who seem to be against the streetcar, but have offered nothing in terms of an alternative, just like Vihstadt and Garvey.

I am neither for nor against the street car. Actually I would have to admit I am a little bit more for it than against it. But I lived close to Columbia Pike in the late 80's and there are so many buses that go up and down to and from the Pentagon I am not sure what a street car would accomplish. I know this is still the case because I frequently get caught behind 3 buses at a time. Also buses have the advantage of being able to modify routes rather quickly.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I am neither for nor against the street car. Actually I would have to admit I am a little bit more for it than against it. But I lived close to Columbia Pike in the late 80's and there are so many buses that go up and down to and from the Pentagon I am not sure what a street car would accomplish. I know this is still the case because I frequently get caught behind 3 buses at a time. Also buses have the advantage of being able to modify routes rather quickly.

The advantages of a streetcar are that they have more capacity and will lead to more redevelopment than articulated buses will.

Also, Columbia Pike as it's currently built can't even handle articulated buses .

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Joke Insurance

There are a lot of people on here who seem to be against the streetcar, but have offered nothing in terms of an alternative, just like Vihstadt and Garvey.

Metro is the best alternative. Sure wish they would build a new line that way.

[beerpromotion]

they should rename this thread A Streetcar Named Undesirable.