Analysis of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a project that would add an additional bridge to supplement the rail capacity of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River.
Stephen Repetski reports on plans "to add another crossing to supplement the rail capacity of the 115-year-old Long Bridge and expand commuter, intercity, and freight rail service throughout the region."
The Long Bridge is currently a bottleneck for service on both Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express service. The project would allow both, as well as freight rail lines, to run more trains. In September, an article by Wyatt Gordon noted the improving ridership of Amtrak in Virginia and cited the Long Bridge as a key component for ensuring the national intercity line's ongoing success.
Repetski provides a lot of details about the current plans for the project: "The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has been leading planning for the bridge overhaul, while Virginia will be the entity in charge of doing the actual work." The DDOT released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) earlier this year, which received criticism for not including a previously planned bike and pedestrian trail on the new bridge.
Repetski also details the ongoing work of identifying potential funding for the project—the estimated price tag for the preferred alternative described in the DEIS would total $1.9 billion.
FULL STORY: Virginia plans to expand the Long Bridge connection with another crossing
Key Virginia Rail Bridge Project Completes Environmental Review
A $1.9 billion project to add a second set of rail tracks to the Long Bridge that connects Virginia to D.C. is ready to move forward with a recently completed Environmental Impact Statement.
Virginia Passenger Rail Sets Ridership Records, Seeks More Wins
Virginia’s commitment to intercity rail is paying off in record ridership numbers, but more work will be necessary to achieve the state’s ambitions for passenger rail.
After a Decade of Success, Amtrak in Virginia Poised for More Growth
After ten years of state-sponsored Amtrak service in Virginia, ridership is growing. There are also opportunities for more growth.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association