A decision by Arlington County to cancel plans for the Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar projects has dealt a blow to Fairfax County's redevelopment efforts. The line was expected to open in 2020.
"Arlington County announced Tuesday that it is canceling the long-planned Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar projects in the face of strong and vocal opposition from county residents," according to Patricia Sullivan and Antonio Olivo. The decision came as a surprise to officials from Fairfax County. Fairfax County supervisor Penelope Gross (D-Mason) is quoted in the article, saying she was "terribly, terribly saddened and deeply disappointed," by the Arlington Board’s decision.
The streetcar plan had been in the works for 15 years, according to the article. "The $333 million Columbia Pike streetcar, and an adjoining $217 million Crystal City line, had been hailed by advocates as the linchpin of redevelopment efforts along the congested pike and in Bailey’s Crossroads in Fairfax County," write Sullivan and Olivio.
FULL STORY: Arlington officials to halt work on Columbia Pike, Crystal City streetcar projects
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