tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post2065821403914207072..comments2024-03-28T07:44:46.933-04:00Comments on Rockville Nights: American Legion Bridge shutdown paralyzes D.C. region with no alternative Potomac crossingRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-32244704395259982462019-04-05T07:36:48.968-04:002019-04-05T07:36:48.968-04:006:46: Given your 24/7 obsession with me, hanging o...6:46: Given your 24/7 obsession with me, hanging out trolling here all day and night, it's YOU who will be visited by the men in white coats.<br /><br />The Yellow Vests are coming, and you'll have a front row seat.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-17218026622905038632019-04-04T18:46:23.734-04:002019-04-04T18:46:23.734-04:00Bob, You're sick. The yellow vests are not co...Bob, You're sick. The yellow vests are not coming... just the men in the white coats for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-50870043389825480932019-04-04T10:18:29.187-04:002019-04-04T10:18:29.187-04:0010:09: Oh, but we will. We will. The status quo is...10:09: Oh, but we will. We will. The status quo is not sustainable. The Yellow Vests are coming.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-83544915112590460992019-04-04T10:17:11.787-04:002019-04-04T10:17:11.787-04:0010:06: Sprawl already happened. It's also call...10:06: Sprawl already happened. It's also called "the suburbs," and offered a better quality of life than the decaying cities. People have the freedom of choice, and they chose a better lifestyle, and more house for the buck. Now those folks need to get to and from work in a civilized manner every day. And we have the rights-of-way that were set aside for that very purpose decades ago. It's time to act.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-23685815846666954502019-04-04T10:09:35.685-04:002019-04-04T10:09:35.685-04:00Pontificate, stomp, scream, pinch loaves all you w...Pontificate, stomp, scream, pinch loaves all you want, you will never see a new bridge in your lifetime. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-80889353796756202019-04-04T10:06:52.105-04:002019-04-04T10:06:52.105-04:00"Socialist", the new radical, right-wing..."Socialist", the new radical, right-wing nut job term for anything of a liberal nature. The offensive fairies are at it again, and the local minions, like the above, are lapping it up. What is the socialist experiment of not wanting to create sprawl, and destroy nature resources. Perhaps you should stop taking a communist view of everything rational.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-89805026611658403252019-04-02T22:43:21.357-04:002019-04-02T22:43:21.357-04:002:37: I understand your frustration. It's a po...2:37: I understand your frustration. It's a powerful piece. Total victory.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-84472445468616032202019-04-02T22:42:50.446-04:002019-04-02T22:42:50.446-04:0012:00: It's not only true, but backed up by hi...12:00: It's not only true, but backed up by historical documents from decades ago. If I want people to listen and vote for me, you have to tell your bosses to allow for free elections again in Montgomery County, including a free, independent press with campaign coverage, and candidate debates.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-78189712416391712272019-04-02T14:37:20.938-04:002019-04-02T14:37:20.938-04:00Mr. Dyer, Do yourself a favor and post a new piece...Mr. Dyer, Do yourself a favor and post a new piece on anything... anything at all, so this sorry post scrolls onto the next page... so to be forgotten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-50712031136393011322019-04-02T12:00:45.137-04:002019-04-02T12:00:45.137-04:00Bob, I'd like to believe you on all this, but ...Bob, I'd like to believe you on all this, but hoping that something is true, does not make it so. We're going to have to agree to disagree. Lastly, if you want people to listen to you and vote for you, you're going to have to drop the unrelated Trump references.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-86474969103467139102019-04-02T01:03:00.344-04:002019-04-02T01:03:00.344-04:0010:55: Yes, that's the one. It was set aside a...10:55: Yes, that's the one. It was set aside as a highway facility, like many other stream valleys in the D.C. region.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-14043627837016532742019-04-02T01:02:12.156-04:002019-04-02T01:02:12.156-04:002:49: Think about the serious harm if we were tryi...2:49: Think about the serious harm if we were trying to evacuate the area during a terror attack with an inadequate freeway and river crossing network.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-73507751439303466082019-04-02T00:59:56.127-04:002019-04-02T00:59:56.127-04:001:13: This article wasn't published on April 1...1:13: This article wasn't published on April 1. Voters were definitely fooled in the 2018 election, though.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-38421880884320799122019-04-02T00:58:31.354-04:002019-04-02T00:58:31.354-04:001:12: Again, don't confuse I-66, Dulles Toll R...1:12: Again, don't confuse I-66, Dulles Toll Road or even the ICC with what I am proposing. In this case, with a private company in charge, the market controls how much drivers are charged. If no one uses the bridge, the private operator can't recoup their debts for construction. So they have to charge a market-rate toll, unlike I-66.<br /><br />I just explained the upfront financing and right-of-way in my comment above. Just look at the map and follow Muddy Branch. Developers won't get any of the land, as it is not buildable land.<br /><br />Your "job" comment gives you away as the troll, despite your protestations otherwise. The Yellow Vest uprising that's coming to MoCo may run you out of the County on a rail, so maybe you should just "move already" now on your own.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-40752992138602494552019-04-02T00:48:32.113-04:002019-04-02T00:48:32.113-04:007:54: Did Mueller charge Don Jr. with anything? (N...7:54: Did Mueller charge Don Jr. with anything? (Nope) <br /><br />1. Private companies are building toll roads and toll lanes around the world. They have something called "financing" they get from banks. Then they recoup their costs via tolls over time. <br /><br />When you think of absurdly-high tolls, you are probably thinking of projects that were NOT privately-built and/or are run by government or a government-created entity, such as the I-66 disaster. And that was actually MEANT to be a disaster by the folks behind it, to generate money for developer-sought transit projects while ensuring traffic misery continues with the insane idea that people will eventually cry uncle and "get out of their cars."<br /><br />The bridge and highway together would be under %10 billion. If you don't have a problem with the County's $10 billion BRT network, you shouldn't have a problem with a project that costs less, yet moves more commuters per day than the entire BRT network combined.<br /><br />You're correct - we would need County elected officials who support a new bridge in order to do this. That's why I'm saying we need to elect those people, such as myself, and we don't need Hogan or the feds. With private financing, we can do anything we want. <br /><br />BRT is a transportation project, and one that is far less efficient and cost-effective than any of the unbuilt freeways we could build with the same money. So it's definitely fair game to discuss and compare.<br /><br />2. Why would Virginia have spent hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading Route 28 to interstate standards near Dulles if they didn't support the bridge? In fact, the bridge would allow more development on the Virginia side, which is why a new crossing is supported by most moderate and conservative officials of both parties, and by virtually every business and trade group in Northern Virginia.<br /><br />3. I am absolutely correct about the highway facility set aside decades ago for extending I-370 over the Potomac. It's called Muddy Branch. It directly abuts the I-370-I-270 interchange, and goes all the way to River Road near the Potomac. Then you have more public parkland between River Road and the river.<br /><br />Don't smoke something - just read a map. Indeed, a privately-built road costs taxpayers virtually nothing. That's why Hogan is using the same concept to build what would be the largest Express Lanes network in the nation using private partners (and why MoCo politicians are going nuts trying to stop him).Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-15707812973219137592019-04-01T22:55:03.413-04:002019-04-01T22:55:03.413-04:00Two paths closer to 370: Muddy branch stream valle...Two paths closer to 370: Muddy branch stream valley (make it elevated) on the stream. Two trade high power transmission line closer to Watkins mill. Nothing is impossible, only obstructionists and spineless politicians. All green, environmentalists, tree hughers wipe there backside with paper and talk about going green.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-33290960584226157762019-04-01T14:49:49.103-04:002019-04-01T14:49:49.103-04:00Mr. Dyer, its very unsettling that you would procl...Mr. Dyer, its very unsettling that you would proclaim: "Total victory, total vindication for new bridge advocates," based on a serious beltway accident, which injured at least two people and could have caused serious harm to many others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-55352627647091048772019-04-01T13:13:46.744-04:002019-04-01T13:13:46.744-04:00Oh hold up a sec. Today is April 1st so you are h...Oh hold up a sec. Today is April 1st so you are having fun with us on this whole bridge to nowhere thing right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-50077017612825683122019-04-01T13:12:50.358-04:002019-04-01T13:12:50.358-04:00"...the bridge and required highway extension..."...the bridge and required highway extension from I-370 can be built privately as a toll facility, at virtually no expense to taxpayers".<br /><br />Sorry Robert try again. How can it be a toll bridge and not be at the cost of the taxpayers? Well sure we won't have to fork over the money to the DEEP STATE, but we would have to pay to use the road.<br /><br />With no controls on how much would be charged poorer people would be priced out of using it.<br /><br />Where is the money going to come from to build it in the first place? Don't say the magical toll company, because they aren't going to put the money up front and hope they will make a profit from tolls when completed.<br /><br />Tell us more about this mythical green strip? What is there now? Who owns it? Is it farm land, wet lands? Set aside for other purposes? You hate developers so much you want to give over MORE land to them? Are you set up to get kickbacks from the magical bridge construction?<br /><br />You hate it so much here just move already! It isn't as if you have a job here do you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-25526083813853471212019-04-01T12:45:59.602-04:002019-04-01T12:45:59.602-04:00"On your point three: You’re dead wrong. The ..."On your point three: You’re dead wrong. The land that you mentioned was NOT set aside, multimillion estates would have to be taken by eminent domain."<br /><br />Correct. There is no "right-of-way", "seekrit highway facility posing as park", zero, zilch, nada land reserved in any way between the south end of Sam Eig Highway and the Potomac River.<br /><br />"A $10B+ bridge/highway second Potomac River crossing will cost the taxpayers nothing"<br /><br />The only completely private toll road in this country is the Dulles Greenway between Dulles and Leesburg. That hasn't exactly been a smashing success.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-10757474049434784862019-04-01T09:43:41.970-04:002019-04-01T09:43:41.970-04:003/29 @ 12:38, dude, your tin foil hat needs a tune...3/29 @ 12:38, dude, your tin foil hat needs a tune-up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-5099492937522462922019-04-01T07:54:30.063-04:002019-04-01T07:54:30.063-04:00Robert,
I’m not one of your haters or trolls and ...Robert,<br /><br />I’m not one of your haters or trolls and was trying to keep an open mind with your claims. However, when you concluded your argument with, “"If it's what you say, I love it." - Donald Trump, Jr.,” you completely lost me. Why in the world would you introduce a statement from an email written by Trump Jr., as he was happily accepting a meeting with Russian agents in Trump Tower???<br /><br />As far as the rest of your argument is concerned, we’re going to have to agree to disagree.<br /><br />Your point number one: I have seen no evidence that a private firm has bid this to any local jurisdiction. Please provide concrete evidence to your claim. To what firm are you referring? As far as “virtually no cost to taxpayers,” I find this very hard to believe… Taxpayers ALWAYS end up paying. And as far as, “toll facilities” will pay for a $10B to $20B bridge and highway, the tolls would have to be out of this world high, which would discourage drivers from using it. Also, there’s a little thing about upfront financing to build the bridge/highway, which will cost actual dollars now, years before the first toll is collected.<br /><br />When you say, “We don't need Hogan, we don't need the feds - that's the beauty of it. We don't need their money to build the crossing.” With all due respect, that’s delusional. Of course you need local politician buy in and support.<br /><br />Why would you conflate the BRT with a second crossing? The two are not related.<br /><br />Your point two: Virginia politicians are, at best, tepid about a second crossing. They know that it would help Maryland a lot more than Virginia and they also know that Maryland would probably bear the brunt of its cost.<br /><br />On your point three: You’re dead wrong. The land that you mentioned was NOT set aside, multimillion estates would have to be taken by eminent domain.<br /><br />To sum up your claims: ‘A $10B+ bridge/highway second Potomac River crossing will cost the taxpayers nothing and not plow through multimillion dollar estates.’ Bob, I don’t know what you’re smoking… but I want some.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-75705441808832332202019-03-31T22:33:27.850-04:002019-03-31T22:33:27.850-04:001:19: It will happen, as soon as enough voters inf...1:19: It will happen, as soon as enough voters inform themselves about the very stupid and corrupt people we currently have in elected office.<br /><br />1) The bridge and highway can both be built by a private firm at virtually no cost to taxpayers, as toll facilities.<br /><br />We don't need Hogan, we don't need the feds - that's the beauty of it. We don't need their money to build the crossing.<br /><br />Even if built privately, it would only cost a fraction of the $10 billion MoCo is spending on the BRT boondoggle.<br /><br />2. Virginia's top leaders have mostly been in favor of a new crossing. That's why they've spent big bucks preparing Route 28 to connect to it. Look at all of the cloverleaf interchanges on 28 to verify.<br /><br />3) Wrong. The right-of-way is there from I-370 to the river. Virtually no demolition, if any, will be needed. There's a green strip you can follow on the map from Sam Eig to the Potomac, and there are no mansions on that land. It was set aside decades ago.<br /><br />Due to these reasons, a second river crossing will happen, as soon as people like myself are elected into office, or the County goes bankrupt from what are already the worst economic development numbers in the region.<br /><br />"If it's what you say, I love it." - Donald Trump, Jr.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-35332183021173011562019-03-31T13:19:46.753-04:002019-03-31T13:19:46.753-04:00A second crossing of the Potomac River may never h...A second crossing of the Potomac River may never happen… Why?<br /><br />1.) The cost of a bridge and associated highway (mostly in Maryland) would be in the tens of BILLIONS. The fact that Maryland owns the Potomac River, up to the shores of Virginia may mean that the cost of a bridge is borne mostly on Maryland. And who’s going to pay for this? The feds? Trump hates the state of Maryland… he’d block it, if it ever got that far. The State? Tens of Billions… I don’t think so. Montgomery County… we can’t even pay on the pensions we own to our retired employees.<br />2.) Virginia doesn’t really care about another crossing… The jobs are mostly in Virginia, hence the traffic is the problem of Maryland commuters going to their Virginia jobs. Also, Virginia businesses have nearly exclusive access to Dulles Airpot; why provide that access to a competitor state?<br />3.) THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON: It’s too late… By this I mean, the land that a second river crossing and associated highway would take (by Eminent Domain) has been developed… mostly hi-end residential. If poor people lived there… no problem… Eminent Domain… take the land… Done. Unfortunately for the second crossing crowd, RICH people live there… VERY rich people. Go ahead draw a line between Rt 28 in Virginia and I-370 (Rt 200, Intercounty Connector in Maryland). What lies on that line? VERY RICH AND POLITICALLY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE. Most of the lavish estates along any of the second river proposed crossing points are valued between $2M to $30M each. There’s no way you’re going to bulldoze through or near hundreds of multimillion dollar estates without a huge amount of pushback from people would can and will fund candidates that will prevent this from ever happening.<br /><br />Due to the above reasons, a second river crossing anywhere south of Point-of-Rocks will never happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128562743162979576.post-24237717499852378932019-03-29T19:14:02.083-04:002019-03-29T19:14:02.083-04:00A new bridge is needed period. All the drum beatin...A new bridge is needed period. All the drum beating greeny, nimby, socialists, transit lovers should chill out and move. This region is tired of their social experiments. Families needs cars, people move jobs and transportation by car is still the future. Enough road projects have been hijacked by this groups, incomplete 95, 270 through the city, outer beltway, GW parkway, uprade of us 29,MD 97 and the list goes on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com