Politics & Government

Transportation Commission Wants to Maintain Trolley Headways

Commission members also discussed the Capital Improvement Program Wednesday.

Members of the Alexandria Transportation Commission voted Wednesday to request the city continue to run the King Street Trolley every 15 minutes instead of reducing service to every 20 minutes.

“I’m concerned about the ridership impacts,” said commission Chairwoman Jennifer Mitchell. “We see tremendous benefits to Old Town, and it really impacts the rest of Alexandria not having those trips being made by car.”

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Commissioner Kevin Posey asked why trolley service was being cut when the DASH subsidy was being increased, another feature of the fiscal year 2014-23 Capital Improvement Program. The service reduction is part of the city manager’s 2014 budget proposal.

“That does not seem very wise to me, taking money from them to fund DASH expansion,” said. “How much can we afford to expand DASH at this point? Because we have a lot of priorities.”

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Commissioner Kerry Donley, a former mayor of Alexandria, said trolley service was not slated to be cut due to DASH expansion, noting that DASH is reducing services in some areas. Transportation revenues simply aren’t meeting expenses, he said.

The proposed 10-year CIP includes $539.8 million in transportation and transit infrastructure spending. Of that, about half—$273 million—is budgeted for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station. Another $56.6 million is budgeted for the Transportation Improvement Program, and $20.9 million will go to transit operating subsidies.

Other than the trolley service cut and increased DASH subsidy, the following general fund changes have been made to the CIP: increased Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority operating subsidy, new bus rapid transit operating needs and canceled implementation of the Arlandria/Del Ray shuttle.

Also part of the CIP are capital investments in fiscal year 2014, such as street paving, WMATA capital investments, DASH fleet replacements and bus shelter upgrades, including accessibility for residents with disabilities.

The CIP also includes the city’s Transportation Improvement Program, DASH fleet and route expansion, continued implementation of Capital Bikeshare, upgrades to the Bicycle Master Plan and bus rapid transit.

One person spoke at a public hearing Wednesday on the CIP. Jonathan Krall with the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee asked for bicycle and pedestrian facilities to be included in the plan.


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