In Northern Virginia, where D.C.'s suburbs dissolve into rural landscape, the state's Department of Transportation is planning the Bi-County Parkway. Opponents question whether the state should provide a multi-billion dollar subsidy to developers.
"The debate over whether Northern Virginia needs a new highway is central to a larger question facing a region whose existing transportation infrastructure is bursting at the seams with finite funds to fix the bottlenecks: are more roads that cost billions of dollars to build the answer to fulfilling the Washington metropolitan area’s economic potential?" asks Martin Di Caro.
"Depending on who looks at these maps, the Bi-County Parkway is described in dramatically different ways. To [Ed] Gorski and his fellow environmentalists, the roadway is a boon for developers, a potential six-lane, divided highway with designs to leap across the Potomac River into Maryland."
"To supporters, the Bi-County Parkway is the culmination of years of planning and studies, a four-lane road that has been on both Prince William’s and Loudoun’s county-wide transportation plans for decades, designed to connect commuters to future job centers in a region expecting a population explosion over the next half century."
FULL STORY: Developers, Environmentalists Battle Over New Highway in D.C. Suburbs
Might Virginia's New Governor Halt a Controversial Highway Project?
Depending on who you're asking, Virginia's proposed Bi-County Parkway is either critical to supporting the state's growth or a sprawl-inducing gift to developers. With a key milestone in limbo, Governor Terry McAuliffe will have a chance to weigh in.
Northern Virginia Counties Not Happy With State Changes to Zoning Laws
Suburban housing construction has ground to a halt in Northern Virginia, according to county officials from the region, due to a law that changed the state's proffer system.
I-95 Widening Breaks Ground in Virginia
A mile-and-a-half-long section of Interstate 95, which handles 80,000 vehicle trips a day, will be expanded in Virginia. The project includes a new shoulder, lighting, and noise walls.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
New Jersey Affordable Housing Law Turns 50
The Mount Laurel Doctrine tasks each city and town with creating enough affordable housing to meet their needs, but half a century after its passage, the law still faces opposition in some parts of the state.
NYC Outdoor Dining Won’t Include Booze — For Now
Hundreds of restaurants will be unable to serve alcohol in their outdoor dining areas this summer due to a delay in permitting.
San Francisco Turns On California’s First Speed Cameras
The city is the first in the state to use automated traffic enforcement to reduce speeding and traffic deaths.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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