Political Strong-Arming

Anyone who knows anything about the long-in-coming Tysons Metro project knows that if one thing has been constant in it's construction, it's been delays and questions regarding funding. For years there was debate over whether it would be an above ground or below ground system, whether it would reach Dulles or only about halfway or whether it would even be built to begin with. Now, so many many years later, work is underway, traffic is suffering because of it yet it seems that our political leaders in Richmond feel that it's the perfect time to try some political plotting in an attempt to Shanghai Metro and its Board of Directors.

It seems that recently, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell recently threatened to withhold the matching funds which the state had previously promised the Metro Transit Authority for the project. The argument being put forward by the Governor and his supporters is that Metro has long been known to have problems with regard to their regulation and upkeep. Evidence of this is the recent spate of problems that have plagued Washington's only subway system such as the Red Line accident of a year ago and continued safety problems. Now while I agree that this is a problem, I don't agree that this is the means by which McDonnell can get what he and his supporters want which is two seats on Metro's Board. If he believes that by attempting to hold the transit company hostage in this manner, I'm afraid he's going to be sadly mistaken.

It isn't the first time that Metro has dealt with such cases (i.e., funding being withheld) so why would they deal with it any differently than they have any other time, which is basically to shrug and wish the State well? It's not a very big thing for the state to demand from Metro, after all, perhaps the Metro extension is what's needed to boost ridership again. After all, the Tysons corridor is where a great deal of business is done and if they actually finish the Metro up to Dulles, I think there will be a great deal more business. I mean I think the saddest thing is that Washington is practically the only capital city in the world (the world!!) that doesn't have direct train access from the city to the international airport. Isn't that pathetic? I think so.

Now McDonnell can argue that he wants to add a bit of governmental control to Metro and that will help the beleaguered agency but I don't really buy it. I can see Metro simply walking away from the work and leaving the mess for Virginia (and specifically Fairfax) to deal with. And what mess would that be? How about incomplete Metro pylons dotting the landscape? An incomplete tunnel linking Route 123 and Route 7? What about all the land that's been torn up and dug up in preparation for various stations? What's going to happen with that? I suppose McDonnell would argue that Metro would be held accountable. Perhaps, but Virginia was the state that promised to match funds to begin the project. Sure, McDonnell (or his party) may not have been the ones to make that promise, but just like Obama, McDonnell is inheriting a project that he didn't start; now he's got to deal with it, not threaten a mess that will be worse.

Gridlock Our Way to the Future?

Route 7 in Tysons Corner, Virginia. A stone's throw from my home of these past many years. When I first moved in my realtor kept telling me that the area would soon become a center of commerce given the fact that the Metro was due to open within a year. Flash forward nearly seven years later and the people of Tysons are still awaiting the arrival of the Metro. That's not to say that things aren't happening to help the Metro become a reality. Construction has been going on at a feverish pace for over a year now and slowly but surely we're starting to see signs of that progress coming to the area. Unfortunately along with it comes gridlock that was bad to begin with but has been becoming worse day by day.

Take for example the times of day when I dread driving through Tysons Corner which are morning and afternoon rush hour. I hate going through the area around that time simply because I've seen that while efforts are being made to ensure that traffic continues to flow even with all this construction, it's not being handled in the most efficient manner. For example, you end up racing from one traffic light to the next (a few hundred feet down the road) only to end up waiting there for that light to change to green. Add a couple of hundred cars and you can see how quickly the gridlock and mayhem can add up. I have previously left nearly 45 minutes ahead of time to reach a place five miles away simply because traffic is so bad that I couldn't afford to leave any later.

And before any of you eco-friendly types take it upon yourselves to lecture me about riding a bike the five miles rather than sitting in a car polluting the environment, you can keep your comments to yourself. I had considered that option in the past and very nearly did it until I saw that many bike riders in the Tysons area ride with one foot in the grave given that drivers rarely ever yield let alone 'share the road' with cyclists. That being said, isn't it safer staying in a larger piece of metal rather than protecting the cycle with your much more fragile body? Perhaps those environmentalists figure that the needs of the environment far outweigh those of humans but then I'm not here to argue for or against that point.

Still, the problem as I see it in Tysons Corner at present is the fact that proper study hasn't been done on the traffic patterns. I mean I have waited on the corner of Route 7 and Westfields Boulevard for nearly three minutes with no one moving and that wasn't because the intersection was blocked, on the contrary, it was because the traffic light cycle was completely out of whack and was allowing vehicles to turn left despite the fact that all two cars which had previously been waiting had long since turned. Rather than allowing traffic to progress for at least three or more traffic lights (thus keeping traffic moving) by only having it move from one traffic light to the next leaves a great deal of residual traffic behind. Now I know dealing with traffic isn't going to get any better (at least not for a few more years when all construction is done) so I think the least those in charge of road logistics on the project could do is try to make improvements now before things get worse.

The Great Debate Continues

What I term as 'the great debate' continues in Fairfax County, Virginia today with the likely approval by the Board of Supervisors of close to $3.5 million to study and propose plans of how to improve commuter life in the Tysons Corner area. Having lived in the Tysons area for going on six years now I have seen how the landscape has been changing over the past few years and while I understand the desire to change the landscape to be more friendly to commuters as part of a lure intended to increase the status of Tysons Corner and continue the development from a fringe neighborhood to something to rival the urban live/work/play communities of other cities. Unfortunately it seems that the timing couldn't be more off.

With the current state of the economy it isn't surprising that many businesses are looking to downsize or lose employees in an effort to cut down on costs. While this would seem to make sense, it also makes sense to cut down on office space if you know you can consolidate your remaining employees at existing sites and cut costs until the market improves. That being said, it's no wonder there are a dearth of slowly emptying office spaces in the Tysons Corner area. Perhaps many people aren't noticing the 'For Lease' signs located all over the place but for those of us who live and work in the area, they are kind of hard to miss.

Now I know that some would argue that part of the reason for the amount of businesses leaving Tysons Corner at present is because of the construction related to the Tysons Metro project and the Beltway HOT-lanes making driving in Tysons Corner (an already messy proposition) even messier by tearing up roads and medians. Sure the loss is likely to be temporary and some of the exodus is likely more for that reason than any economic downturn but isn't it time to think about how changes can be made to improve things now rather than later?

The purpose of the study is to seek and determin alternatives to cars commuting around Tysons. The hope is that by building on the forthcoming expansion of the Washington Metro by adding local commuter rail that will potentially encircle the area and encourage additional people to take public transportation. The other hope is that by making Tysons a hub for public transportation will mean homeowners (current and future) will be encouraged to live in the area as opposed to commuting to the area. Some estimates have shown that approximately 17,000 people live in the Tysons area on a permanent basis and that during the work week, approximately 117,000 people can be found there. That being said is it any wonder that the roads are congested.

I'm sure the study will find wonderful ways in which to create a light rail system and commuter buses that will circle the area or how the addition of sidewalks will make pedestrians feel a little more comfortable walking around the are considering that right now there are absolutely no (well maybe a few) sidewalks to be found in the area. However, I'm sure they haven't taken into account the way that many of the companies in the Tysons area work. Most companies that can be found in Tysons may be headquartered there but most of the employees are located on site and are required to come to the headquarters on an occasional basis (if at all). The rest of the employees come in and work there but that is the support arm of the company so perhaps that would be the segment that would make full use of the public transportation network being envisioned.

However, I think it's safe to say that most working indvididuals would continue to drive on their own if their work made it easier to do so. I also drive from site to site on multiple occasions and so while I wouldn't mind taking public transportation it isn't practical. I would continue to commute as I'm sure many others would do too. There would undoubtedly be a significant portion of people who would use the transportation being proposed but even the hope that many planners have at increasing shoppers through Metro and public transport seem not to realize that most of the people who shop at higher end stores in Tysons would not 'stoop' to riding the subway. Perhaps that's a snooty assumption but next time you're in the area, check out the zsa-zsa cars that you see and tell me what you think? It's a good plan but I think if we spend more on improving the infrastructure in and around the area (expanding Route 123 to three lanes all the way from Tysons to the GW Parkway and to Route 66 would be a major step in the right direction) then perhaps that will help to ease traffic too.

Ho Ho...Uh Oh...Oh No

There are very few rites of passage that are as ingrained in my childhood memories as the memories of going to the mall and getting a picture taken with Santa Claus. I can remember going to PG Plaza or Beltway Plaza or New Carrollton Mall and having my photo taken along with my brother sitting on Santa's lap. We probably did that ritualistic act a handful of times in my childhood but seeing Santa sitting in the mall as Christmas approaches is always something that stirs those memories for me. And even though we only have a few of those actual photos tucked away somewhere, the standards that some of those Santa's set always set a standard for me by which I would later judge all Mall Santas.

Now it seems like a stretch to imagine that such a thing should matter to anyone but it most certainly does. When you are a child and you still cling to that belief that Santa is indeed real then I know that many parents want to ensure that the experience of seeing the 'big man' is as close to expectations as possible which is why the 'authenticity' of mall Santas is important. I mean I remember one year where my brother and I had our photo taken with Santa and though this Santa had a snowy white beard and a sizeable stomach, we were rather surprised to find out that Santa was in actuality a woman who was wearing a fat suit and a fake beard. It freaked me out somewhat to consider that Santa would actually allow a woman to play his role. I say Santa would allow because at that point I still believed in Santa Claus but I also knew that there was no way he could be at all malls simultaneously if he was supposed to be making the toys for Christmas. Still, I figured that perhaps times were tough and actors hard to come by so he hired a woman.

But it seems that times are still rather tough and even mall Santas are feeling the downturn in the economy. Case in point is the Santa who has worked at Tysons Corner Mall for the last 18 years. Michael Graham is a carpenter from Tennessee who has worked a temporary gig at Tysons Corner Mall for a long time and has counted on the $30,000 he makes for the role to help keep he and his family afloat. He's what I would term a 'good Santa' in the sense that he takes the role seriously. He is a bit rotund, and sports an actual snowy white beard. He has three suits to account for normal wear-and-tear and the occasional accident (some kids are not yet potty trained when they first meet Santa and the excitement is a bit much to.... contain). And by his own accounts, he takes the role quite seriously. He isn't involved just to make the cash and 'waste' a few weeks listening to kids talk about what they want for Christmas. He listens to the kids and 'looks them in the eye' to make each and every one of his visitors feel important and so that they feel that indeed, Santa has heard their wish.

Unfortunately, it seems like Michael Graham's time at Tysons Corner is finally up. Although his contract with the mall was set to run until 2012, he was recently told that he would no longer be needed at the mall as the mall was going with another company to set up shop in the mall center to take photos and play the role of Santa. Now not to knock the new Santa even before he (or she... don't want to be accused of sexism) takes on the role, but is that the way you want to treat someone given that for some kids, he has been the epitome of Santa at their local mall for so long? I can remember seeing different Santa's every year that I took photos with one but having one that would have been the same for so long would have been 'comforting' in a way. As it is reality sinks in fast for so many kids so it's nice to have some permanancy in fantasy and imagination for a while. Kids eventually learn the truth but why spoil it for them? Let them enjoy the fantasy for a while and let someone who appreciates and understands the role continue to fulfill so many kids imaginations.

At this point in the year it is already too late for Michael Graham to sign with another mall. When he first took on the role 23 years ago in Tennessee it was because his local mall's Santa had suffered a heart attack and he was a last minute replacement. Since then he has worked consistently for many years and now can relate to Terrance Howard, the actor from "Iron Man" who was similarly removed without prior knowledge or warning from the "Iron Man" sequel even though he had a contract. Now with the market in flux and the fact that he is suddenly $30,000 short of his yearly income, Graham faces foreclosure on his home. I realize that times are tough and everyone has to take a hit now and again but I don't think its fair to end his contract the way it did without any prior warning. Even though Christmas is still two months away, it's already like the Grinch has taken control. Bah Humbug.

Creating a Cityscape in Suburbia

Now that the plans to finally build the Metro through Tysons Corner is lurching forward with the momentum of a toddler learning to walk, it seems that the plans to develop Tysons Corner into a model version of the uber-suburban-meets-city region is under way as well. Earlier this week the Tysons Land Use Task Force recommended to the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County that they take efforts to turn Tysons into a concentrated hub of jobs and shopping from which homes in high rises would dominate the landscape and turn the area from the loggerjam that it is today into a pedestrian friendly mecca for the eco-friendly future that we all want. The trouble is they haven't really spelled out how to go about doing that.

While I applaud the ideas and the efforts that these proposals and studies are putting forward, I still think that the key issue is that the infrastructure isn't currently built to support the existing traffic all that well and the completion of the Metro is still a long way off but plans are going forward at full speed to add more homes and more apartments to the area. That's great but what about those of us living in the area who have been complaining about the infrastructure for years already. At the height of the housing boom a few years back, developers and builders couldn't keep up the construction fast enough to support the demand for houses. Everyone from first time homeowners to retirees seemed to want to buy up property or move into new homes and as the current state of companies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac tells us, in most cases, people bit off more than they could chew and so now there are tons of homes sitting empty, waiting for the market to stabilize and for people's confidence to return.

For example, there is a complex behind mine that has been under construction for the past year or so. They began work on it right when the market was peaking. At that time they had plans for two high rises and one low rise building. All the units were to be condos and they key selling points were that they were new, located close to businesses in Tysons, it would have a Harris Teeter grocery store (which means those of us in Tysons wouldn't have to go to Vienna or McLean for groceries anymore) and it would be in close proximity to the new Tysons Metro stations. Flash forward a year and one housing market crisis later. While sales are relatively brisk, they aren't what the builders were anticipating and some of the units have already changed from condos to rental apartments due to decreased demand. So now we have and abundance of housing already but no ready stream of buyers. I don't know but I don't want to live in a landscape that resembles the abandoned Manhattan of "I Am Legend" which is what could happen if we continue to see homes built in Tysons and no one to buy them.

What about all the office and retail space being proposed as part of this cityscape. I think it's fine but then again we are at the brink of a regime change in Washington. The past eight years have been good for certain industries such as the Defense industry and defense contractors and government consultants are in abundance in the Tysons area but what happens if the priorities of the next administration doesn't support so many companies? Then again you have tons of real estate but no one to move into it. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae both have massive campuses in the Tysons area and though I'm sure they'll remain in business in some way shape or form, I doubt they'll want to purchase more property or rent more space at this time.

Shopping is something that Tysons has long been known for and I think retail will continue to do well but already we are hearing that sales for this winter's Christmas and New Year's sales will not be as significant as in previous years. Retailers are also feeling the crunch of the faltering economy and they can't pass on savings to customers if they are already in the hole. I don't think shopping will stay away from the area, on the contrary, I think it will help people keep coming to the area though I think people are being a little more spendthrift in the current economy. So then do we need to add more retail space? Do we really need massive art museums and performing arts centers? They add culture and give the impression that the area is refined but is it really what we need at this time? I think we need it eventually but first we need to support the existing infrastructure. We need to support what exists today.

I think it's great that the Metro is finally making inroads into the area. It's been a long time coming and will undoubtedly help ease some of the burden of getting to and from the area into DC and vice versa. People who currently commute will have the option of taking the train into work or out to Dulles (once it finally reaches out that far) but what about the meantime. Do we need more growth or should be focus on the infrastructure? Routes 7 and 123 are jammed from about 2:00 in the afternoon until well after 7:00. The Dulles Toll Road tends to back up almost daily in the evenings to say nothing of Route 66 which is almost always backed up. Most of the non-highway routes around the area are filled with traffic lights and are generally no more than two lanes which back up very quickly. I don't think anyone ever imagined that Tysons would grow as fast as it has but before we see visions of people walking to and fro in a jolly way, we need to see if we can fix things now.

Slowly Metro-ing On

The veritable tennis match that has been going on over the progress of the planned Metro extension through Tysons Corner all the way to Dulles Airport appears to be making some headway again. For the past few months, utility work has been progressing at a steady pace with intermittent road closures affecting the commute in the area. Having lived around the area most immediately affected, I can tell you that they are doing a decent job of keeping the area as trouble-free as they can when it comes to delays and diversions. Still, one hopes that this is finally a sign that the work will continue on.

There are some who are still upset that the path of the metro through Tysons will be above ground and while I do agree that it will definitely be a pain in the butt for those of us who live in and around the area to see bridges carrying Metrorail cars as we drive through Tysons Corner and the surrounding areas but is it really that big a deal? If one looks at the path the train is to take at this point, there is a brief underground passage that will take place as the train transitions from Route 123 onto Route 7 before making the turn to the Toll Road. You can already see work being done in this area to stage it for work to construct the eventual tunnel that will be in place. Now what some people have been arguing vehemently is that the tunnel is the only way to maintain the 'visual beauty' of the area or at least ensure that the urban landscape is not adversely affected.

Honestly, I think that's probably one of the last things that we need to be that concerned about at this point. The portion of the proposed Silver Line that will be making it's way from Vienna to Tysons and beyond is not going to be cutting through any neighborhoods. No one's backyard is going to become a trainyard or anything of that ilk. The areas that would be most directly affected are the businesses and malls directly along the path proposed for construction. Even now as utility work proceeds to move many of the power and communication lines underground, some businesses are being blocked off temporarily while digging and burying goes on. I don't think it will be a long-term problem so I don't think many of them are complaining. Talk to any of them and they'll mention the inconvenience of having roads to their businesses blocked but then they also acknowledge that these construction efforts are for the greater good.

The project is slowly making it's way to the last station. It's been many years in coming and while it's been a worthy fight to get the tunnel moved underground it's time for the objectors to move on from their perches and help garner support for the continuation of the work. Calling the current plan for the stations an eye-sore is a misnomer as I don't think Tysons is known for it's visual beauty or its landscape. Don't get me wrong; I think it's a great place to live otherwise I wouldn't have been there for the past few years but it's definitely not like any other neighborhood from the surrounding areas. Most of the area is dotted with shops, malls, and office complexes. Most of the residents live away from that area so its not like the area is going to be disturbed at all hours of the night by trains rumbling through.

They have been talking about this project for almost as long as people have been talking about going back to the moon and finally there is progress being made on at least one of these worthy efforts. I think it's time that people move forward with it and accept that these are the ways things are going to go for now. Route 7 already is a parking lot entering the area from either the Beltway or coming from the Leesburg direction in the morning and the reverse in the evenings. Route 123 backs up for miles at the same times. You can't enter or leave without sitting for at least sometime. Wouldn't it be enticing to see how quickly a train moves through the area? Wouldn't that be worth thinking about as an alternative to sitting in traffic and burning fuel? I think it would be.

Does Tysons Need Metro?

Metro in Tysons Corner is fast becoming in danger of being termed a myth. For decades people have been talking about how the Metro transit system would soon start work on an extension of the Orange Line from Vienna through Tysons Corner and eventually stretching 23 miles all the way up to Dulles Airport. Dulles is currently one of the only airports in the region (which includes National and BWI) that does not have rail access. I mean even the oldest continuously operating airport in the world, College Park Airport, has access by rail (the Green Line stop at College Park is less than a quarter mile from the airport). That being said, I am beginning to wonder why it is becoming so hard to get funding for a worthwhile project.

Now that 'going-green' has become the catchphrase and mantra of every major industry and politician, it's obvious that a mass transit project like Metro would do wonders for the transportation situation in and around the Tysons area. If one were to look at the way Fairfax County has literally exploded in the last decade or so, you wouldn't be suprised to find that traffic has become a bear. I have lived in Tysons Corner for several years now and I can tell you, if you are looking to go anywhere out of Tysons on a Friday evening... you best be prepared to hit some traffic. Though I have learned to live with the heavy traffic volume associated with incoming workers in the mornings and the mass exodus of workers in the evening, I find that it's a hassle getting anywhere out of the area after about 3:00 PM on weekdays. Trips into Vienna take me no more than ten minutes (counting stopping at all traffic lights) on a normal day. During rush hour, that same journey can take upwards of 45 minutes. Why? Simply because there are too many commuters, too small roads and not a great infrastructure to handle it all.

People opposed to the project in Tysons altogether argue that there is no real proof that the Metro will do anything to alleviate traffic problems or such. I can tell you this, if I had to option of catching the train to Dulles or driving I'd catch the train every time. An average cab trip to Dulles from Tysons can run you about $30. For that much, I can probably ride the train several times. Plus from a driving perspective, if I am simply going to drop someone off at the airport it's fine, I can get off by paying a couple of bucks for tolls and getting on the express lanes but if I'm picking someone up, I can be almost certain to pay $4 at a minimum to deal with parking. After all, Dulles has a 'smart' system of giving you up to 20 minutes of free parking before nailing you with parking fees. Unless your party is already there you rarely ever leave before that 20 minute window expires and if you do, you end up in a mad dash to get out before the time expires. I've once seen the machine tell me I had three minutes to exit before being charged. I ran and drove like a madman. Is that necessary?

Metro fares may be on the rise but I can tell you that it will probably help save money for a lot of people in the long run if they have the option of taking the train vice a cab. But airport travel isn't the only reason to do it. All along the Dulles Toll Road are literally a "who's who" of major companies and industries. From Microsoft to Oracle, Fairfax and Loudoun County are literally becoming the hotbeds for tech companies in the region and the growth only continues. Just along the edge of the Toll Road in the last two years there has been such a tremendous growth in the number of offices being built that it's an indicator of just how big the area is for companies of this sort. That being said, not everyone taking the train lives in the area. There are people from Maryland and elsewhere coming to the area for work. Many of them are leaving before the crack of dawn in order to beat traffic and get to work on time. Wouldn't it be appealing to them as well to take the train, save gas money and frustration by making the journey out that way for what will likely be less cost?

Already there have been so many compromises on this project. I had always been in favor of a tunnel underneath the Tysons area for the metro but since that idea was more or less shot down last year it's moot to continue to argue for it. Nonetheless, now this new call by Congress to say that this money would be better spent elsewhere is a surprise. Rather than looking at the positive results that would come from doing something so needed and environmentally beneficial, I can't help but wonder where their reluctance is coming from. Have you been to Tysons at Christmas time? It's a mad house! So many people coming to do their shopping and fighting for parking. If they could take the train to the mall wouldn't they do it? That one season would probably help pay the cost of the addition in no time. Tysons and its surrounding area continues to grow and gain in popularity and unfortunately the infrastructure for the area is not keeping pace. We have such gridlock on weekdays that I sometimes dread getting out of the area in the evenings. Have you seen the Metro in the mornings leaving Vienna? It's packed to the gills! The system will be used; they just need to fund the damn thing.

A Metro for Tysons

I have lived in Tysons Corner, Virginia for almost four years now. At the time that I purchased my condo, the sales associate told me of the planned metro rail extension that was due to be constructed within a short time. Although I don't commute to DC all that often during rush hour it would be a convenience for going to the airport without having to drive or arrange for a taxi every time. This planned construction had been in that stage for years before I got there and it appears that it may remain there for a while longer simply because the left hand doesn't know what the right hand wants or is doing. The hands in this case being the Fairfax County Supervisors and the Virginia State Legislature.

It seems that the Supervisors are backing a plan to build the extension through Tysons underground while the state is ready to approve a plan for an above ground extension. Both plans have their positive and negative sides but it seems that the state is not backing the plan that the 'locals' are pushing for. Tysons Corner is a very busy area what with hundreds of shopping venues plus many of the major corporations that support and work with the government can be found in and around the Tysons area. It's hard to believe that a little more than ten years ago the area was considered the end of the line and nothing more than a shopping area. Since that time it's become a hub of activity whether it is shopping or work. As such the growth has not been without its pains. The largest of these being the commute in and around the area.

One of the major problems in the Tysons area is the fact that many of the roads and arteries feeding cars into the area were designed with the landscape of the time in mind. Take a drive on any of the roads in the area during a week day and you'll see literally hundreds of cars nose to tail trying to get around whereas on the weekends it is much less congested due to the fact that most of the offices are closed. The roads leading off into the surrounding neighborhoods are often not more than a lane or two wide simply because planners at the time had no idea that the suburban sprawl was going to explode out to the west and that people would seek alternate routes to get onto route 66 and the surrounding roads. The two major arteries in the Tysons area, Route 7 and Route 123 are just two examples of bad cholesterol. Traffic is the bad stuff that clogs up passage from one destination to the other. The metro is supposed to be like the angioplasty done to make the commute a bit easier.

Unfortunately this angioplasty could end up making the traffic worse rather than better. The construction of an aboveground route would not be an overnight pop-up book type of construction. There would be a great deal of work along the route where the train is proposed to be passing through. Since the train is assumed to be an elevated train running high above the normal traffic in the area there would be a great deal of work needed to get the bridges running in the Tysons area. It would disrupt traffic to the point that people will leave even earlier to avoid the traffic early on so that they can leave earlier to avoid the traffic later in the day. I've been there and done that before and I know what a pain that can be.

This is not to say that the underground option would be any better. There too there would be construction requirements that would undoubtedly disrupt traffic as well but given an option, I would choose the below ground option simply because it will not add to the 'clutter' that already exists above ground. The state is giving us here in Northern Virginia a reminder of sorts. In Northern Virginia, many residents tend to forget that the majority of the state lies south of Dale City and the like. And while it is a good sign that the state is pushing for the project, it will be difficult to get them to commit the extra revenue needed to cover the cost of an underground option unless they can be convinced of the need for it. If it is a matter of inconvenience for a few months, it would be worth it for them if it means cost savings in the long run.

Perhaps the hands do know what the other is doing. In one sense the decision making by both parties makes sense. The metro authority itself is supporting the above ground option as well simply because the state is backing it and the fact that it would mean the project gets off the ground that much sooner. Fairfax County is holding back simply because the people have spoken and like me, the majority are wary of making traffic even worse through the Tysons area. The debate continues and it seems that we may get that metro by the time I'm ready to sell my place a few decades from now. Maybe I can reuse the sales ploy they used on me that time!

Tysons Corner - Where the Gridlock Is

I have been living in Tysons Corner, Virginia for about three years now. Technically I can say that I'm in McLean since that's what my address says but I'm so close to the mall that it's easier to tell people that I live in Tysons Corner. For those of you who aren't from Washington or aren't familiar with the area, Tysons Corner is the largest retail shopping mall in the Washington, D.C. area. With all the major stores, the original Tysons Corner is the place to go shopping. About a year ago, they expanded the mall tearing down the old JC Penny and adding dozens of new stores and restaurants. It's quite convenient for those of us who live close by. But it's the rumors that this is just the beginning that is worrying me.

Like I said, I have lived in the area for three years so I have come to accept some of the quirks that come with living in the area. What do I mean by quirks? Well, for example; I attend a martial arts class in Vienna, a mere 5 mile drive away. On a normal day, it won't take more than ten minutes to make the drive. That's typically how long my commute is on a Saturday morning for class. On a weeknight? Better multiply that time by almost five. That's right; it can take up to 45 to 50 minutes to make the same 5 mile drive. The reason? There are dozens of high-rise offices in the area in addition to the shopping and residences so around rush hour there is a mad exodus to get out of the area. The traffic on the roads is so bad at times that you can sit there and see little kids learning to walk faster than you may be driving. This is on a normal day, during Christmas and holiday shopping time it can get even worse!

I am all for improving the area and bringing in new business and revenue provided the infrastructure is improved as well. I pay a sizeable sum in property taxes and I'm sure I'll pay more as the area goes up in cost but I don't see why I should be paying more if nothing is being done to improve the roads. The proposed Metro stops in the area are still years away. Heck, they haven't even broken ground on the project yet. We're still debating on who will be paying for what! In the meantime, roads such as Route 7 and Route 123 remain in the same form they have been for decades which is two or three lanes wide with traffic lights one after another.

The plans that have been drawn up seem to only add to the problems if this infrastructure isn't fixed at the same time. In the drawings you see a utopian landscape of wide avenues and happy families walking with a handful of cars along the roads. This is either because the shoppers and residents alike are using the Metro or that gas prices have gone so high that no one but the uber-rich are willing to drive! Meanwhile, every bit of currently-unoccupied space will then give way to high-rise office buildings, multi-story condos and apartments and a brand spanking new 300-room hotel right in the area that's indicated.

In math you use ratios to determine the order of magnitude to which a number is increased. For example, let's say you take the fact that traffic is currently bad enough to multiply travel time by five; if we increase the number of homes and offices in the area by a factor of ten then you can just imagine, even without any knowledge of math, what that will mean to the traffic in the area. We have bottlenecks galore and with no end in site. A little over a year ago the county extended the length of the merge lanes from the Dulles Toll Road onto the Beltway. This was meant to eliminate bottlenecks. All it did was move it a little father along. By about 100 feet or so. The problem has decreased, but only by an inconsequential amount. Not enough to get excited about and nowhere near enough to think that things will improve with the addition of more retail and residential space.

Perhaps the thinking is that with more residential space, those regular shoppers at the mall will no longer need to commute but will walk to and from their place of work and leisure. I can just hear the cries of horror from so many spouses! I am hopeful that this plan will be delayed a bit before being executed. Currently the housing market in the Washington area is slowing after record highs and homes are taking longer to sell. The condo market is the first one being affected. Those in existance aren't selling all that well so the new ones are taking even longer to go off the market. If this trend continues perhaps the planners of the future of Tysons Corner will see the wisdom in not expanding for the sake of putting money in their pocket. And then perhaps this once-quiet corner of Northern Virginia will remain somewhat civilized as opposed to turning into George Lucas' vision of what a city should be like.