Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.
.

A study was done a few years ago. Most of the traffic across the river is along the beltway. Lower MoCo and PG to Tysons. Upper MoCo to Tysons. Lower MoCo to Reston, etc.

There is really not that much demand for upper MoCo to points west of Tysons. So there is not much advantage to an outer crossing, over improving and expanding ALB.

Plus there is the threat of sprawl (and limits on exits have historically not worked). And the direct impact of a new highway on the Ag Reserve, and on landowners in the highway path in NoVa.

In fact the current govt of the Commonwealth opposes an outer crossing. AFAICT Fairfax County opposes an outer crossing.

An ALB expansion could easily include HOT lanes, which would serve express buses to Tysons (they could also leverage the HOV lanes on 270, and the proposed MoCo BRT network)

That makes sense right now as that is where much of the population is, but NoVa is growing out that way and there are a lot of tech jobs, not to mention the rest of central MD. 200/ICC is already there and Route 28 is being upgraded and both are busy. I guaranteed if they were connected people would use it, especially as an alternative to 495. Especially traffic coming from Baltimore, PG, HoCo, and Anne Arundel would use it to get to Dulles. Right now I use the ICC as an alternative to the beltway during rush hour to get to Gaithersburg.

The ALB expansion doesn't address the single point of failure problem. What happens if God forbid something happen to that bridge the area would be SOL. It can happen, look what is going on with I-85 in the Atlanta area now but in their situation they are lucky and don't have any major river crossings.

How would limited exits not work? If there is no way to get on the highway why would developers build there? Also if you have a strict land use plan (like MoCo does with the agricultural reserve) and stick with the plan and not allow developers to develop it why again would sprawl be a problem? The whole sprawl because we build a highway argument doesn't make sense to me, because that really comes down to ultimately land use policies and zoning. Also the argument that it would cause more pollution doesn't hold much water. People are going to drive regardless even with mass transit options, but I would argue that cars idling in traffic (like what is happening now at that the ALB) is worse for the environment than having an optional new crossing.

Anonymous wrote:MagLev would be a massive boon for Baltimore property values and MD tax receipts. If it gets built, we are moving to Baltimore. We love Baltimore (so much more enjoyable QoL), but can't fathom the current commute.

-DINK DC Couple

We'll join you.

The maglev project is a two stager, first to Baltimore on to New York.

Anonymous wrote:MagLev would be a massive boon for Baltimore property values and MD tax receipts. If it gets built, we are moving to Baltimore. We love Baltimore (so much more enjoyable QoL), but can't fathom the current commute.

-DINK DC Couple

Do you realize how expensive the maglev would be from Baltimore to D.C.? It will be more expensive than the Acela (which as it stands is a short commute from Baltimore to Washington but is cost-prohibitive for most daily commuters).

And the only stop in Baltimore would be Penn Station. Parking is not cheap. Add to that the amount to travel the maglev daily. Does it really change the dynamic for you?

Acela is about a half hour from Baltimore to Washington. The maglev won't be much faster because it will stop at BWI, so that slows it down, but it will be a lot more expensive.

And there is little in the way of practical transit that links Penn Station to other sections of Baltimore, so you'd still have to drive through Baltimore traffic to get to the train station on a daily basis (unless you live on the light rail line, but that's pretty limited).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.

The maglev is a complete waste unless it goes to NYC. The money would be better spent on improving the Northeast corridor line including a new tunnel to replace the old one in Baltimore and better improved MARC service.

These politicians are clueless, don't know why people keep electing them.

I agree with you on having a second Potomac crossing, but the issue is MoCo. Virginia's side is basically done (route 28). MD's side would require taking a lot of land under eminent domain, and there will be lots of outcry from NIMBYs and well as environmentalists.

It took what.. about 40 years for the ICC to be built due to hold-ups like these. I'm not optimistics about another Potomac crossing, even though we desperately need it.

The Maglev thing is specificlly to connect DC and Baltimore for commuters. The Japanese manufacturer of the trains is ready to provide sweet financing on the equipment. Think of it as part of MARC, not part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Any Northeast Corridor updates (which I agree should be done) would fall under Amtrak not MD.

No, it's not. It will be too cost-prohibitive for most commuters (sort of like Acela is now).

It is for wealthy businessmen. It's a test case in the hopes that they'll extend it to NYC. It's a waste of money. They should figure out a funding stream to maintain Marc and Metro.

And the financing is just that -- a loan. We still have to pay it back. It will never make enough to pay for itself, but it won't be practical enough for most commuters.

Anonymous wrote:A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.

The maglev is a complete waste unless it goes to NYC. The money would be better spent on improving the Northeast corridor line including a new tunnel to replace the old one in Baltimore and better improved MARC service.

These politicians are clueless, don't know why people keep electing them.

If there were a second crossing, you are correct that the exits should be limited just like the PA turnpike, to avoid creating sprawl of subdivisions and strip malls in western MoCo. Have no exits west of the MD 28/Quince Orchard area until the road crosses other side of the Potomac.

MagLev would be a massive boon for Baltimore property values and MD tax receipts. If it gets built, we are moving to Baltimore. We love Baltimore (so much more enjoyable QoL), but can't fathom the current commute.

-DINK DC Couple

Anonymous wrote:A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.
.

A study was done a few years ago. Most of the traffic across the river is along the beltway. Lower MoCo and PG to Tysons. Upper MoCo to Tysons. Lower MoCo to Reston, etc.

There is really not that much demand for upper MoCo to points west of Tysons. So there is not much advantage to an outer crossing, over improving and expanding ALB.

Plus there is the threat of sprawl (and limits on exits have historically not worked). And the direct impact of a new highway on the Ag Reserve, and on landowners in the highway path in NoVa.

In fact the current govt of the Commonwealth opposes an outer crossing. AFAICT Fairfax County opposes an outer crossing.

An ALB expansion could easily include HOT lanes, which would serve express buses to Tysons (they could also leverage the HOV lanes on 270, and the proposed MoCo BRT network)

We REALLY need a second crossing!!!! Hogan should work on that.

Anonymous wrote:He's getting defeated in two years. What difference does it make?

Rushern Baker is going to be the next gov of MD

That's what Governor Brown thought too.

He's getting defeated in two years. What difference does it make?

Rushern Baker is going to be the next gov of MD

Anonymous wrote:A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.

The maglev is a complete waste unless it goes to NYC. The money would be better spent on improving the Northeast corridor line including a new tunnel to replace the old one in Baltimore and better improved MARC service.

These politicians are clueless, don't know why people keep electing them.

I agree with you on having a second Potomac crossing, but the issue is MoCo. Virginia's side is basically done (route 28). MD's side would require taking a lot of land under eminent domain, and there will be lots of outcry from NIMBYs and well as environmentalists.

It took what.. about 40 years for the ICC to be built due to hold-ups like these. I'm not optimistics about another Potomac crossing, even though we desperately need it.

The Maglev thing is specificlly to connect DC and Baltimore for commuters. The Japanese manufacturer of the trains is ready to provide sweet financing on the equipment. Think of it as part of MARC, not part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Any Northeast Corridor updates (which I agree should be done) would fall under Amtrak not MD.

A new Legion bridge? How about a new crossing entirely? Why do we have basically a single point of failure? They should find a way to expand the ICC to Route 28 in NoVa.

If they are concerned about sprawl, cost, & environmental issues. Limit the exits on the new road and make it a toll road with incentives for carpoolers like the express lanes in Va for HOV-3 cars.

The maglev is a complete waste unless it goes to NYC. The money would be better spent on improving the Northeast corridor line including a new tunnel to replace the old one in Baltimore and better improved MARC service.

These politicians are clueless, don't know why people keep electing them.

Here are some additional details:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/maryland-governor-lists-transportation-priorities-meets-top-trump-administration-officials/2017/03/22/f86e20f6-0f2a-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html?utm_term=.7604677e3a95

Any ideas on what the timeline for the Legion Bridge would be?

http://wtop.com/traffic/2017/03/md-gov-hogan-lists-new-legion-bridge-maglev-priorities/