U r b a n T r e k k e r

511..

va511.org,  is a public service from VDOT.  It's a cool website, where you can do a couple of things: check the road conditions, plan your trip, and see live cameras from different locations around Northern Virginia. 

Besides the web, you can also call 511 to check the traffic before you go. Or, sign up for traffic alerts via text messages. Whatever way you prefer.

You see No.Va has 7 (seven) mega projects going. Yes, you read it right. And these are: 

1. BRAC 
2. I-495 HOT Lanes
3. Widening I-95
4. Dulles metrorail
5. I395-495 HOT Lanes
6. Fairfax County Parkway
7. I-95 Telegraph Road

click the map for more info..

So you can imagine what kind of traffic challenges we have - just to get around! At least having 511 service is good way to help commuters plan ahead for their trips.

Safeway Goes Big in Pimmit Store Redevelopment?

The old Safeway store sits in a big lot at Colshire Drive off Anderson Road in McLean -Falls Church neighborhood, approx. less than a mile from the proposed first Dulles rail stop on 123, Tysons East station. The place has been demolished. So was the gas station next to the store. There's a banner that sez about the coming of a Safeway gas station.

The scene from a month or so ago.

From a few weeks ago.

A copy of a letter via Pimmit Hills Dispatch, a quarterly HOA newsletter, sent to Safeway HQ pointed to the fact that Safeway receives overwhelming support from the community for the store redevelopment. However, the Association is against the land swap deal between Monument Realty and Safeway.

Is this part of the land swap deal? Monument Realty upcoming project, the Commons of McLean. Project is thin with data. It says only '569,000 s.f.'  (Via Monument Realty)

When I called Board of Supervisor office to dig for more info, no one seems to know what's happening over there. In short, it sure look that Safeway is rebuilding it by-right (no rezoning needed) - since no one has inside knowledge about the plan.

If you hear anything about their plans, send us your news tip.

Technorati Tags: safeway,redevelopment,revitalization,commons of mclean, dulles rail,mclean,pimmit hills,fairfax county,real estate,monument realty,metro accessible,smart growth,TOD

Future of Tysons Corner & Dulles Rail Update

This video was produced to document the transformation of Tysons Corner. Here is the link to view clips of the 'Future of Tysons Corner.'

The latest update from Dulles Rail for Tysons Corner area in its entirety.  

Utility Relocations and Right-of-Way Acquisitions Proceeding in Tysons Corner 

Construction crews, cranes, and bright orange cones along Route 7 signal progress on the relocations of utilities along the Route 7 and Route 123 corridors in Tysons Corner. This is in preparation for the future construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

This work increased after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the request by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to move the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project into the Final Design phase of the FTA's New Starts process on May 12.

Project officials work daily with businesses near the construction zones to minimize disruptions. Traffic patterns are changing, but access to all businesses remain open.

The project team is also working to update its financial plans and is following the FTA process for obtaining a $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreement.

When FTA approved the project into Final Design, they committed approximately $159 million for continuing project design, utility relocations, engineering, and project administration.

For traffic update, check here.

TLC's Moving Up is coming to MD/DC/VA

TLC needs home BUYERS and SELLERS in MD/DC/VA!

TLC's hit show MOVING UP is looking for great families in MD/DC/VA  to appear on the show.

TLC, the network that brought you Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, is now producing 13 fresh new episodes of their breakout home design hit, Moving UP. We are looking for people who are moving between July and August of 2007.

Each episode follows three families as they move into their new houses, while struggling to leave their old homes behind. We will watch as they each spend the next few months remodeling, decorating and transforming their new spaces into their own.  Moving UP is ultimately about the choices we make to turn a house into a home. After a few months, we will bring the former owners back to see what they make of the new changes.

Trading Spaces designer Doug Wilson hosts Moving UP, guiding our homeowners through the moving and remodeling process. He will meet the families before they move, and visit over the next few months to observe how the renovations are coming along.

How it Works:

We will follow the 3 (A -> B -> C) families through these basic stages:

• Family A is the buyer of Family B's home and Family B is the buyer of Family C's home.
• Film all 3 families, A, B and C before they pack and move out of their old house.
• Film all 3 families packing and moving out of their current homes.
• Film only the A and B families in the process of into their new home.
• Film the A and B families as they renovate their new home.
• After 3 months, we film the B and C families as they return to their former home to see what they think of how the new owners have renovate/redecorated.

For more information on the program please visit our website at http://tlc.discovery.com/guides/property/moving-up/moving-up.html or contact our casting department directly via phone 212-974-9050 or email Tom Langan TLangan@bbcnyproduction.com, Nicole Ford NFord@bbcnyproduction.com, Sabrina Bove SBove@bbcnyproduction.com and Jessica Winton JWinton@bbcnyproduction.com.  To apply for consideration to appear on the show please fill out our online application at http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/apply/getontlc.html.     

Any realtor that helps us cast an episode will receive a text credit in the episode they help cast as well as $150 finders fee.

UPDATE: Somehow, the links don't work. Moving Up website, click here. To apply, click here. 

Rethink Tysons: A TOD Public Workshop

Last night, I attended a community workshops planned for, as part of the planning and urban design for the future of Tysons Corner. The purpose of these workshops is to, "assist the Tysons Land Use Task Force and the consultant team in defining, examining, and contrasting Alternative for Growth in Tysons." The alternatives for growth is none other than what is it that we want to achieve with urbanization of Tysons. Two of the key assumptions are: 1) Tysons will grow, 2) metro is coming.

Fairfax county has already have the base map [below]. The base map shows the current Transit Oriented Development surrounding the four proposed metro station, is where we start before mixing it up to create something that represents housing, commercial and retail density growth. Think of it as -- BEFORE vs. AFTER.

BEFORE

As you can see from the map, there are four circles. Those circles are where the proposed stations stop. And redevelopment will be centered around the stations, with some have more density than other stations. What they're doing now -- is rethinking Tysons by getting input from the public.

To create a true T-O-D environment, we should maximize the use of transit. However, because Tysons is the largest employment center in Northern Virginia, employees coming from different directions. At the present time, there are more commuters than residents living at Tysons. That -- will change in the future with population projected to double from 116,000 to 212,000 people.

By offering "other attractive" amenities, like green space, retails, etc., Tysons wanted to create a livable and vibrant environment that continues after working hours.. much like Clarendon, or Ballston in Arlington. Arlington, is "the best practice" when it comes to TOD for this area.

With that in mind, the "Alternatives for Growth" for Tysons, offer three possibilities:

1. Housing -- emphasizes on residential growth
    
2. Employment -- making sure that we're keeping Tysons as the economic engine of Northern Virginia
    
3. Pushing the envelope -- bring more jobs and housing

For example, in the base case scenario, an employment focus alternative will create 31,000 dwelling units - which eventually double from the base case at 16,000 dwelling units. (The base case is what is allowed under the Comprehensive Plan with modifications). Pushing the envelope is truly pushing the limit without considering other socio and economic impact for the neighborhoods.

Towards the end of the meeting, we had the chance to listen each group presenting their best case scenario, whether it is housing focus, employment focus or pushing it. And this is what the solutions our group came up... (blue=non retail commercial, yellow=residential, white=retail, black=civic uses).

AFTER

The public will have the opportunity to hear an overview of all six workshops on Thursday night, March 22, at Capital One building, 1630 Capital One Drive in McLean. By the way, Capital One is one of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in McLean.

Links:

* Tysons Land Use Task Force Meeting Summary Jan.22.2007 [pdf]
* Taming Tysons Corner [pdf]
* Vote for Tysons Corner Proposal May Upset Work on Master Plan [Washington Post]

Tysons Tunnel Gets Private Financial Backers

A coalition of Tysons landowner willing to chip in the cost of building Tysons Corner tunnel.

Via DC Examiner.

A major Tysons Corner landowner has offered to foot the extra cost of building a Metro tunnel under Tysons, one of the boldest bids to date to resurrect the nixed underground route.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, West*Group CEO Gerald Halpin offered to “join other community leaders in an effort to cover” the added price of the tunnel, an alternative to the planned aerial track.

Building tunnel is preferable for a couple of reasons: 1) avoid five years of traffic nightmare; 2)  Tysons can go up vertical -- using smart growth plan; 3) more density for residential or commercial brings more tax revenues for Fairfax.

* Leaders Offer to Pay for Project Overruns [DC Examiner]

$2.4B for Tysons Tunnel?

According to TysonsTunnel.org, based on their preliminary engineering study -- the cost for Tysons tunnel (phase 1 of the Dulles rail) actually less than originally projected at $4 billion. And, it could be draw down by an additional $209 million, if the rail extension is put out to competitive bidding. However, Virginia still going to go ahead with elevated tracks. At least for now.

Now, that's an interesting study! I don't know if the study will influence Gov. Kaine to reverse his decision. FTA [Federal Transit Administration] clearly sends the signal to our Virginia congressional delegation -- to not *$&!# up the plan. Between no funding at all from the Fed and the timing -- it's a big risk to reverse what's already decided. So, let's move on, and get the development going.

* Tysons' Corner Supporters Unveil Price Tag $2.4 billion [DC Examiner]
* Tysons Corner Supporters Release Plans [Fairfax Times]

Tysons Urban Plan Moves Forward

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the urbanization plan of Tysons Corner Center that will start next year and will take 10 years or more to complete.

From Washington Post.

Fairfax County's evolution into a more urban suburb advanced last night as the Board of Supervisors approved plans to overhaul Tysons Corner Center by surrounding the mall with a ring of eight towers containing offices, more than 1,000 apartments and at least one hotel.

The vision for the transformation according to Tysons Future, includes four office buildings for a total of 1.4 million s.f., 1385 new homes (124 of which is affordable units), a-300 room hotel, under 200,000 s.f. service oriented retail, street-level restaurants, parks and rec center. The development -- and Dulles metrorail with four metro stops for Tysons... will be so welcome for this burb!

Rendering of the future of urban Tysons.

Looking at the master plan, urban Tysons redevelopment will be divided into four phases. The first phase looks like will be around Tysons 1 Lord & Taylor with office, hotel, residential and retail (close to the parking garage). The second phase is to develop the area that connect Tysons 123 station to the mall with retail, office and residential. Phase three is to develop near the parking garage over at Bloomingdale's side with offices. The last phase, phase four -- to build office towers around where Macy's is along with residential.

Examiner: GOP Accord Endangers Dulles Metro Plan

A little known legislation buried in the 38-page bill could threaten the funding for second phase of plans to extend Silver Line aka Dulles Rail from Wiehle Avenue in Reston all the way to Loudoun County.

From DC Examiner.

The legislation includes language that forbids the Virginia Department of Transportation from finishing its agreements with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Under those agreements MWAA would assume responsibility for operating the Dulles Toll Road and use the toll revenue to fund construction of a Metrorail extension from the East Falls Church station to the airport.
........
“We do not have the financial resources in the commonwealth to build Phase 2,” he said. “We do not have any way of extending rail beyond Wiehle Avenue given our financial situation.”

What are they trying to prove? Pow-wah show off force, maybe. Whoever they are -- these legislators have problems to see the big picture and the vision for Dulles Metro! Read more....

United Wins Beijing-Washington Dulles Route

Great news for Washington Metro! In a tough competition with three other airlines with hubs in East Coast, United Airlines beats out the other airlines to fly direct from Washington to Beijing. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded United Airlines to begin nonstop flight to Beijing from Washington Dulles, as soon as March 25, 2007.

Connecting the two capital cities in the world is very important. With China growing economy, the economic impact for this area will be huge, especially for the surrounding area, Dulles tech corridor which is located in Fairfax. The same is true for Loudoun County. Think about the upside potential. In 2005, a total of 27 million passengers (international and domestic) passing through the airport. A long shot from 52,846 passengers when it opens in 1962! And serving some 32 airlines later...

Fairfax County EDA [Press Release].

“Business people in the Washington area that want to do business in China will be the big winners here, and the community wins too,” Gordon said. “Whenever air service to new markets opens up, there is a significant increase in activity between local businesses and those markets. That new business will translate into new jobs, wealth generation, and additional tax revenues from which the county can provide public services.”

United called its proposal the capital-to-capital route and beat out three other airlines for U.S.-Beijing service. Washington Dulles International Airport, on Fairfax County’s western border, is 21 miles from Washington, D.C. It handled more than 21 million passengers in 2006, including more than 4 million passengers on international flights. Airlines serving Dulles offer non-stop Non-stop service to 78 domestic and 39 international locations. [...]

More jobs coming to the area, more housing is needed. Now, Virginia you hear that -- we need the Dulles metro to start construction as soon as possible. Anything..to keep thousands of cars off the road to help dealing with traffic congestion we already face it daily.