Mine eyes have seen the glory

Today's papers, "Metro to Exceed Capacity In 12 Years," in the Post, and "Metro eyes building Rosslyn-Georgetown line," in the Examiner, claim that WMATA transportation planners are raising the issue of the need to increase heavy rail capacity in the Downtown core, as well as across the Potomac River from Arlington County to DC.

This has been the subject of countless blog entries here for a couple years. They have been codified into a "fantasy transit system" map graciously produced by David of Greater Greater Washington, into the map below.

What the "Silver Line" does in this map, explained in the Revised Revised People's Transportation Plan, is (1) combine the Dulles Rail extension (2) with the need to add river crossing capacity and (3) the need to add capacity in the Downtown core, by continuing the Silver Line on through DC along an alignment proposed by WMATA seven years ago, led by the since-dispatched P. Takis Salpeas, as the separated blue line.

The separated blue line is depicted in the Washington Post graphic below, from 2001.



Proposed routing Map for the Dulles Rail Extension. Washington Post graphic.

Arlington County's Master Transportation Plan still acknowledges the importance of the separated blue line, even though it has been off the radar of WMATA for the past few years. The DC Comprehensive Plan mentioned it cursorily, focusing more on the introduction of streetcars.

I'd like to think that my focusing attention on this for the past couple years, like Action Committee for Transit's focus on reviving the Purple Line, has had some impact. But what helps more is that Chris Zimmerman of Arlington, is this year's chairman of the WMATA Board of Directors. Plus the reality of increased transit demand, use that is likely to continue to increase, given the cost of gasoline.

After awhile, even local politicians can't ignore the reality of the necessity of heavy rail transit expansion, particularly in the core of the region. This matters a lot, because in 2003, WMATA devolved primary responsibility for transit expansion planning to the individual juridictions. Of course, I think that is a mistake because WMATA can be a bit more even handed and focused, while it is very difficult for DC, MD, and VA to truly work together, and set priorities according to regional needs, rather than the preferences of individual states.

A sign advertises gas prices at a BP gas station April 11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts appeared more likely Wednesday after government reports showed a modest rise in inflation and that the housing market remained mired in a deep slump.(AFP/GETTY IMAGES/File/Scott Olson)