Virginia

A diagram showing the street lanes for a proposed bus rapid transit route.

Fairfax County Makes Space for Bus Rapid Transit

A recent decision by the Fairfax, Virginia County Board of Supervisors will ensure that any widening of Route 7 will be reserved for bus rapid transit (BRT).

August 3, 2023 - FFX Now

Two-story houses on tree-lined street in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Poised to Make ADUs By-Right

A new ordinance would reduce costs and delays for building or converting accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods.

July 18, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

A pergola with a grill is located in a grassy park, across the street from single-family housing in a suburban style.

New Public Hearing Requirements Delay Completion of Reston’s New Comprehensive Plan

One of the country’s most prominent master-planned communities has spent several years working on an a comprehensive plan update. The plan will have to wait a little longer as the Fairfax County, Virginia community adjusts to new state laws.

July 16, 2023 - FFX Now

View of blurry speeding cars on freeway at sunset

National Mileage Fee Pilot Program Late to Launch

EV sales are increasing–good news for the environment but bad news for road funding, as they pay no fuel taxes. Fortunately, the bipartisan infrastructure law has $125 million earmarked to "demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee."

June 29, 2023 - The Associated Press

Stormwater Infrastructure

50 Years Later: Anacostia River to Welcome Swimmers

The Washington, D.C. region has accomplished a major environmental victory, cleaning up the Anacostia River enough for humans to swim in for the first time in five decades.

June 28, 2023 - WJLA

Close-up of black parking meter with blurred street in background

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit

The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

June 6, 2023 - Next City

Aerial view of manufactured home being dropped off or moved by red truck in mobile home park

In Spite of Affordability Crisis, Richmond Rejects Manufactured Housing Plan

After declaring a housing crisis, the Virginia capital’s city council voted against a proposed manufactured home warehouse that would distribute replacements for aging manufactured housing stock.

June 4, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Google street view of multistory brick public housing building in Gilpin Court complex, Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Banks on Private Redevelopment for Aging Public Housing Complex

The city hopes to see a mixed-use,mixed-income project replace the aging, “physically obsolete” Gilpin Court complex.

May 23, 2023 - Next City

Wide asphalt road with "North Route 1" sign

Virginia DOT To Reduce Speed Limit on Richmond Highway

The Alexandria-to-Mount Vernon corridor has one of the highest crash rates on the roadway.

May 18, 2023 - Greater Alexandria Patch

Downtown Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Launches 'Pay-per-Mile' Pilot

Mileage fee programs go by different names. In the West, it's the road usage charge or RUC. Oklahoma adopted a simpler term. What most have in common, though, is the for-profit company helping to manage them.

May 8, 2023 - Cities Today

Memorial stone plaque at Mount Vernon commemorating the slaves who died on the plantation

Honoring a Complex History at Mount Vernon

Those tasked with interpreting the significance of historical sites like Mount Vernon must weave together the often contradictory threads that contribute to the nation’s story.

May 7, 2023 - Discourse Magazine

A map of the area of Virginia near Occoquan, Virginia shows. stretch of Interstate 95 that will be widened.

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.

May 1, 2023 - WTOP

 Red brick homes with blooming wisteria in foreground in Arlington, Virginia

Lawsuit Challenges Arlington County Zoning Reforms

A lawsuit brought by residents charges the county with failing to follow statutory procedures and provide accurate information about recently passed ‘missing middle housing’ reforms.

April 25, 2023 - The Washington Post

Pile of Lego bricks lined up by color

LEGO Building Carbon-Neutral Factory in Virginia

The Denmark-based toy company just broke ground on a new carbon-neutral run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Virginia.

April 24, 2023 - The Construction Specifier

Restored white two-story historic home with black trim in Roanoke, Virginia

Restoring the Vacant Middle: Creating Middle Housing Through Historic Preservation

How flexible zoning in historic districts can support preservation and create affordable housing.

April 24, 2023 - Maribeth Mills

Richmond skyline with multistory parking garage and office buildings.

Richmond Poised to Repeal Parking Minimums

The city’s planning commission recommended that the city council eliminate parking mandates that limit housing production and increase housing costs.

April 19, 2023 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

MARC train going through the Gaithersburg, Maryland train station

Maryland Moving Forward with Inter-State Partnerships for ‘Run-Through’ Rail Service

The great unification of D.C.-region rail transit is well underway, thanks to recent agreements between transit planners in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

April 16, 2023 - The Washington Post

Green and blue GRTC Pulse bus in Richmond, Virginia

Greater Richmond Announces Microtransit Program

The three-year program will expand transit to rural and suburban areas that currently lack access to the region’s fixed-route bus lines.

April 3, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Large historic homes and white picket fences line a street.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

March 23, 2023 - The Washington Post

A toll payment facility in Florida.

Tolling All Lanes

Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.

March 21, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

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