Silver Line Struggling to Attract Riders (Leesburg, Tysons Corner: renting, tenants, construction)

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

OK that definitely makes sense - and since Tysons Corner station is where the mall is, it makes sense that it would be doing relatively well too. I've never used that specific stop so I have no idea. I have used Spring Hill twice and there were no more than maybe 5 people on the platform either time.

I'm also surprised the Silver Line actually lost riders on any level between 2014 and 2017, especially considering how much more development there is around the station now than there was then. But I guess when you're simultaneously cutting hours and frequency during this growth, that's possible. I think long term, the line will be fine though.

It will be fine. Tysons is adding something around 2000 residents a year, mostly people specifically buying for access to metro. If they brought back normal headways on the weekends, the entirety of the losses would be returned. The vast majority of losses have been on Saturday/Sunday ridership, and the majority of those because of the loss of late night hours.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by leighland

I did not say I agree with it.

I can certainly see FC trying it.

It is foolish to believe that government will not try anything to get what it wants.

Porc


In any case, the SL will languish if the stops are far from development that has lots of parking.

You failed to address my questions. You make accusations and fail to address the questions. I see nothing stating that they will use Eminent Domain to get this land. Do you have any information on this? I know a few dealerships that have cashed out and moved to new locations with seemingly little impact so I am not sure why Koon's would not sell if the offer were lucrative enough. Also I am pretty Sure TJ Maxx and DSW lease. The landlords may wish to develop the land themselves when those leases are up. This just seems like an out of the blue "evil gubment" post with no basis.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

You failed to address my questions. You make accusations and fail to address the questions. I see nothing stating that they will use Eminent Domain to get this land. Do you have any information on this? I know a few dealerships that have cashed out and moved to new locations with seemingly little impact so I am not sure why Koon's would not sell if the offer were lucrative enough. Also I am pretty Sure TJ Maxx and DSW lease. The landlords may wish to develop the land themselves when those leases are up. This just seems like an out of the blue "evil gubment" post with no basis.

That's how I see it going down. All those strip centers and dealerships will be gone in 5 years.

[gutter2d]

The counties can encourage development by raising the property assessments. If there's a used car dealer or Self Storage facility located next door to a Metrorail station, the County can raise their property value until it becomes unsustainable for that land use to remain there.

Imminent Domain no longer exists in VA. None of the northern VA counties would ever condemn a property.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by gutter2d

The counties can encourage development by raising the property assessments. If there's a used car dealer or Self Storage facility located next door to a Metrorail station, the County can raise their property value until it becomes unsustainable for that land use to remain there.

Imminent Domain no longer exists in VA. None of the northern VA counties would ever condemn a property.

In Tysons, that's not the dynamic. The land has become so valuable, that if you are holding onto a property like that, that can be upzoned for high rises, as the land owner you are going to be offered somewhere between 3 to 15 million dollars per acre depending on it's actual location. These property owners are also actively part of rezonings, because if they can get the rezoning passed with allowance for a 30-40 story building, now that property is worth even more, upwards of 20 million per acre I believe is the current high point for barren land thus far.

[17thAndK]

Originally Posted by gutter2d

Imminent Domain no longer exists in VA.

It's Eminent Domain, and it exists everywhere. Typical modern uses involve road-building projects and expansions in public utility networks.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by 17thAndK

It's Eminent Domain, and it exists everywhere. Typical modern uses involve road-building projects and expansions in public utility networks.

No one is debating the presence of eminent domain, atleast I'm not (they used it for the Fairfax County Parkway connection if I recall correctly). I'm pointing out that the use of it by private developers has been done less than a handful of times in the entirety of the countries modern history, and never in Fairfax or Virginia to my knowledge.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

No one is debating the presence of eminent domain, atleast I'm not (they used it for the Fairfax County Parkway connection if I recall correctly). I'm pointing out that the use of it by private developers has been done less than a handful of times in the entirety of the countries modern history, and never in Fairfax or Virginia to my knowledge.

I believe they used it for the Sprigfield interchange but those were major transportation projects. I do not know of any use in the Tysons area.

[NeganGrimes]

I was in my 20s when they first started talking about a metro to Dulles. I'm 50 now

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

I believe they used it for the Sprigfield interchange but those were major transportation projects. I do not know of any use in the Tysons area.

I believe TE's point is that eminent domain isn't used by private developers to ascertain land; which was the allegation in an earlier post.