[202_Cyclist]

Group seeks streetcars to help solve N.Va. transportation woes


The Washington Post
December 3, 2009
Alcindor, Yamiche


A coalition aimed at building a streetcar network across Northern Virginia
held its first meeting Nov. 18.

The group, the Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition, is made up of present
and former officials, developers and others. Its members say they hope that
traveling across the region will become easier and transportation will be more
accessible in the coming years.

"No one can solve transportation" by himself, said coalition member Timothy
B. Lovain, a former Alexandria City Council member. "We can all pull together to make progress."

The coalition wants to have streetcar service in Alexandria and Arlington and
Fairfax counties and have the systems connected throughout the jurisdictions. Supporters say streetcars would enhance the region's economic competitiveness.

Presenters at the Nov. 18 meeting said that streetcars would make traveling
short distances easier and help reduce congestion.

Dozens of people interested in learning about the coalition's plans gathered
for about two hours at the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community
College. Alexandrians Delivering Smart Growth Around Metro Stations, a citywide coalition of neighborhood representatives and officials interested in
development, supports the streetcar proposal.

Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman (D) presented plans for
building a streetcar line along Columbia Pike. "This isn't just about
transportation," he said at the meeting. "This is about development-oriented
transit."

Activists, such as Stewart Schwartz from the Coalition for Smarter Growth,
presented a case for making streetcars and other forms of transportation
affordable.

Schwartz said communities must incorporate trains, buses or streetcars. "They don't exist in a vacuum," Schwartz said of the transit options.

Some at the meeting said they hope Alexandria's streetcars would run though
the Alexandria campus of NVCC, in addition to connecting various parts of
Virginia.

"We are excited to be a part of this new streetcar initiative," said Jim
McClellan, a history professor at the college, which he said "would be a logical destination on a streetcar route." He also said streetcars would be "a
convenient transit option for our students."

Alfredo Ramirez, an NVCC student, said streetcars would make his and other
students' lives easier. "I think it's a great idea," Ramirez said. "I know
students and many other people who would benefit."

The coalition has yet to determine the cost of the streetcar project and how
systems would be connected among the jurisdictions. Its members will continue to meet in the coming months.