Thursday, August 14, 2014
UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL POPS ON AUGUST 23 IN ROCKVILLE
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
ROBBERY ON FISHERS LANE + MORE - NIGHTSWATCH: ROCKVILLE CRIME UPDATE
Theft from vehicle. 700 block Carr Avenue.
Theft. 100 block Virginia Avenue.
Assault. 15900 block Somerville Drive.
Robbery. 5700 block Fishers Lane.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
MONTGOMERY COUNTY BRT BACKFIRE AT COUNTY FAIR
The latest gaffe in the effort to sell a skeptical public on Bus Rapid Transit was a photo op that backfired at the Montgomery County Fair. After several years of claiming BRT vehicles would be futuristic, and more like railcars than buses, a BRT vehicle presented to media at the fair looked...exactly like a bus! Inside and out, the vehicle resembled the Metro buses we ride all over the DC area today. Just how this would help overcome the lower ridership potential of buses versus rail was not explained.
I'm also curious - who paid to transport this vehicle to the fair, and for all of the display materials and signage? It would be very costly to do so. Was this lobbying by a company for the theoretical fleet contract? An organization (financially backed by whom?)? Or was it paid for by the taxpayers?
The media blitz contained no mention of the 155 homes and businesses that would be condemned between Olney and Wheaton alone to build the BRT line along Georgia Avenue. What would be condemned in Rockville and Bethesda for a line that duplicates the Red Line, and dumps downtown DC-bound commuters short of the DC-MD line?
Signage promoted "Rapid Transit" (note they dropped the "bus" part), but the vehicle screamed "bus." At a speed of 12 miles in 50 minutes, they may want to consider dropping the "Rapid" term, as well. While there was no indication of who paid for the BRT vehicle, there was also no indication of how the BRT system will be paid for.
Overall, there seems to be a much more compelling need to finance 8-car trains for Metro with some of the $5 billion that would be spent on BRT. We know Metro - as with rail transit in general - would have higher ridership than BRT. Increased capacity on the Red Line would be far more effective in accommodating current and future development in downtown Bethesda, and along Rockville Pike. It would also avoid the currently-planned seizure of automobile lanes for BRT, which would reduce auto capacity on that congested corridor by 33%.
Rail transit, and a new Potomac River crossing, would have far greater impact on economic development and job creation than BRT.
I'm also curious - who paid to transport this vehicle to the fair, and for all of the display materials and signage? It would be very costly to do so. Was this lobbying by a company for the theoretical fleet contract? An organization (financially backed by whom?)? Or was it paid for by the taxpayers?
The media blitz contained no mention of the 155 homes and businesses that would be condemned between Olney and Wheaton alone to build the BRT line along Georgia Avenue. What would be condemned in Rockville and Bethesda for a line that duplicates the Red Line, and dumps downtown DC-bound commuters short of the DC-MD line?
Signage promoted "Rapid Transit" (note they dropped the "bus" part), but the vehicle screamed "bus." At a speed of 12 miles in 50 minutes, they may want to consider dropping the "Rapid" term, as well. While there was no indication of who paid for the BRT vehicle, there was also no indication of how the BRT system will be paid for.
Overall, there seems to be a much more compelling need to finance 8-car trains for Metro with some of the $5 billion that would be spent on BRT. We know Metro - as with rail transit in general - would have higher ridership than BRT. Increased capacity on the Red Line would be far more effective in accommodating current and future development in downtown Bethesda, and along Rockville Pike. It would also avoid the currently-planned seizure of automobile lanes for BRT, which would reduce auto capacity on that congested corridor by 33%.
Rail transit, and a new Potomac River crossing, would have far greater impact on economic development and job creation than BRT.
Monday, August 11, 2014
HOST YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT AT MILLER'S ALE HOUSE IN ROCKVILLE
Miller's Ale House
1471 Rockville Pike
(301) 770-8535
Friday, August 8, 2014
ROCKVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS ZTA TO ALLOW BURGER KING DRIVE-THRU AT RED ROOF INN
The Rockville Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend the Mayor and Council approve a Zoning Text Amendment allowing drive-thru restaurants at hotels on major highways in the MXE zone. That ZTA would facilitate a proposal by Potomac Foods Group to construct a new Burger King restaurant in front of the Red Roof Inn on Shady Grove Road.
Other hotels in the MXE zone whose properties have 200 feet of a major highway along their property frontage would also qualify for a drive-thru restaurant, should the Mayor and Council approve the ZTA.
A public hearing on the ZTA is scheduled for September 15.
Other hotels in the MXE zone whose properties have 200 feet of a major highway along their property frontage would also qualify for a drive-thru restaurant, should the Mayor and Council approve the ZTA.
A public hearing on the ZTA is scheduled for September 15.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
NIGHTSWATCH: ROCKVILLE CRIME UPDATE
"Other sexual offense." Unit block of Columbia Court.
Assault. 2000 block Gaither Road.
Theft. 600 block Elmcroft Boulevard.
Theft from vehicle. 15900 block Indianola Drive.
Theft. Unit block of Owens Court.
Theft. Unit block of W. Montgomery Avenue.
Theft from vehicle. 200 block Congressional Lane.
Theft from vehicle. 1600 block E. Jefferson Street.
Theft. 12500 block Parklawn Drive.
Theft. 5700 block Bou Avenue.
Theft. 2100 block Veirs Mill Road.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
MOCO, DC DON'T MAKE TOP 25 TECH JOB GROWTH CENTERS LIST; VA EXURBS DO
An interesting piece in USA Today on the top 25 tech industry job growth jurisdictions in America ended up making the opposite point of its pro-smart-growth title. Currently-urbanizing Montgomery County failed to make the list, and so did the District, which is ostensibly the model MoCo is now following in regards to development and transportation policies. Not even Arlington or Fairfax are on it. Who in the DC region did make the list?
Exurban Loudoun and Prince William Counties. Neither of which is known for nightlife, transit-oriented urban centers, or other amenities that ostensibly draw "the young and the hip" to urban areas. While the article touts an "urban renaissance," the most recent data shows that urban growth has stalled or is going backwards, and the suburbs are now growing faster than cities. Did you know that, when you are using the internet, 70% of your data is streaming through Loudoun County? If anything, the establishment of Loudoun and Prince William as tech growth centers makes the case for an Outer Beltway even stronger, to manage the workers commuting there. It also again shows the foresight in the planning of the Silver Line through booming-but-squarely-suburban Tysons out to Loudoun.
The success of DC's exurbs - listed alongside New York City, San Francisco and other major urban employment centers on this Top 25 - proves the point again that all of the alcohol, nightlife and high-density development in the world won't assure economic development nor job growth. No one would consider Loudoun or Prince William a hot nightlife spot. Yet both are among the 25 most attractive places to skilled tech workers. That's because they have the companies - and most importantly, the jobs. Conversely, think about Las Vegas. Vegas has arguably the best nightlife in America. But young workers are not flocking to Vegas, because it doesn't have the corporate headquarters and jobs.
Jobs are the biggest draw for college graduates, making economic development - and the attraction of major firms with high-wage jobs - far more critical than high-density development or nightlife. That also includes considering what else Loudoun and Prince William are doing right, that Montgomery County isn't.
Exurban Loudoun and Prince William Counties. Neither of which is known for nightlife, transit-oriented urban centers, or other amenities that ostensibly draw "the young and the hip" to urban areas. While the article touts an "urban renaissance," the most recent data shows that urban growth has stalled or is going backwards, and the suburbs are now growing faster than cities. Did you know that, when you are using the internet, 70% of your data is streaming through Loudoun County? If anything, the establishment of Loudoun and Prince William as tech growth centers makes the case for an Outer Beltway even stronger, to manage the workers commuting there. It also again shows the foresight in the planning of the Silver Line through booming-but-squarely-suburban Tysons out to Loudoun.
The success of DC's exurbs - listed alongside New York City, San Francisco and other major urban employment centers on this Top 25 - proves the point again that all of the alcohol, nightlife and high-density development in the world won't assure economic development nor job growth. No one would consider Loudoun or Prince William a hot nightlife spot. Yet both are among the 25 most attractive places to skilled tech workers. That's because they have the companies - and most importantly, the jobs. Conversely, think about Las Vegas. Vegas has arguably the best nightlife in America. But young workers are not flocking to Vegas, because it doesn't have the corporate headquarters and jobs.
Jobs are the biggest draw for college graduates, making economic development - and the attraction of major firms with high-wage jobs - far more critical than high-density development or nightlife. That also includes considering what else Loudoun and Prince William are doing right, that Montgomery County isn't.
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