New Transportation Projects at GMU/CUE Study

This is my weekly column that runs on Patch.com. This week I focused on two transportation projects that could have an impact on the City. Since I wrote it we have had a council meeting and on CUE we are asking for a new plan that is less a of "wish list" and more accurately relates to the Council's vision for the bus system, which is for it to be primarily used for rush hour service.

Mason also said at the Council meeting that their projects don't have any funding identified with them, but they are still looking 4 to 5 years down the road to get started. I'll be writing more about this later as I think there are some issues - like their desire to build a bridge/fly-over 123 - that give me pause. Then again, this is a state/County decision since it's their land, but I'm hoping we will have input and be able to have an impact on the final outcome.

New Transit, Transportation Projects Could Change Fairfax City
http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/articles/new-transit-transportation-projects-could-change-fairfax-city

Editor's Note: Fairfax City council members are considering two university-city transportation projects that would have long-term implications on city traffic, business and other quality of life issues. Here's what councilman Daniel Drummond wrote on the subject:

"It's time to start thinking of transit and infrastructure projects less in political terms and more as a set of strategic investments, as fundamental to the speed and scope of our economic recovery as they are to the emerging shape of the economy, society, and communities of the future."

These words weren't written or spoken by a president, governor or any politician. They are from "The Great Reset," a book describing the economy we live in now and how we can prosper in the post-economic crisis era.

This book is relevant to two major transportation initiatives–George Mason University's road network expansion and the CUE bus system's six-year capital improvement plan (2011-2016).

Author and University of Toronto professor Richard Florida tells political leaders to view infrastructure investment as a business proposition where the benefits must outweigh the costs. He cites the 1950s construction of the U.S. highway systems as an example. In 2009 dollars that project would cost about $610 billion, a lot of money for sure. But just think of how many times over that investment has paid off when you consider the economic development that came from the project.

Beside the Holiday Inns, McDonald's and other trappings of highway travel, the highways created new centers of economic activity around the country and opened up once-remote and depressed regions to more prosperous economic opportunities. While there were negatives that came about as a result of the highway system's expansion–more air pollution and suburban sprawl to name two–the overall benefits still outweighed the costs.

Now in the City of Fairfax we find ourselves facing two projects that could alter our own economy.

The first is Mason's proposed expanded road network. By 2012 the university wants to build an east-west connection that links the main campus, Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) and Braddock Road through the western portion of the campus.

In concept, I understand their needs. The university is growing by leaps and bounds. However, the road network will need to provide significant benefits to the city, especially adjacent neighborhoods, and not create increased traffic back-ups along Route 123. At the same time, I'm not a fan of options that have Mason traffic completely bypassing the city, which would hurt local businesses who depend on the university students, staff and visitors.

I see there being an opportunity to do what Florida argues, which is to harness the power of a university community for the benefit of a locality by generating increased economic activity. The new road network, in this case, could be a positive for the city.

The second is the future of the CUE bus system. This is one of the best local bus systems in the country and it provides "Cadillac" service. With our hybrid buses, plentiful routes and great customer service, we have set the bar very high. But it's come at a price as the city provides an annual subsidy of about a million dollars.

I think it's worth it, especially when you consider how many people rely on the service as their only method of transportation. The CUE bus system is an investment in our economic development strategy. Started as a collaboration between the city and Mason, the service thrives. According to city data, in 2009 more than 300,000 trips were taken by Mason students and faculty while more than 710,000 trips were taken by non-Mason riders.

As the university and city grow, the CUE Transit Development Plan will help define the bus system in the future. Key things the City Council and staff are looking at include the possibility of taking over the current Mason shuttle service to the Vienna Metro around 2012 or sooner, as well as increasing frequency of bus stops in the evening as soon as 2011 and expanded weekend service by 2015.

Based on various surveys as shown in the plan presented by city staff, it looks as though riders use CUE most during the rush hours. Hence, reducing the wait time for a bus in the evening hours is a good economic investment as more people either work late (and know that they won't have to wait an hour for a bus) or have a flexible schedule that allows them to come in later, but work later in the evening.

Even with all of the changes in our economy, the city will still retain its small town feel and charm by encouraging development that's the right size and scale for our community. But we will still want to take advantages of economic opportunities afforded us by having Mason so close and a local transit system that attracts new residents and families. I think it's a balance we can achieve.

About this column:Fairfax City Councilman Dan Drummond writes the weekly column "Corner Of" for Patch.com about life and workings of local government in the City of Fairfax. He and his wife, Kerry, and three children live in the Green Acres neighborhood. In addition to serving on council, Dan is the director of public relations at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Dan coaches Fairfax Little League t-ball (Go Cubs!), represents the city on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors and is on the Board of Trustees for the Barter Theater, Virginia's state theater. Follow him on his blog and website at www.councilmandan.com, on Twitter (@councilmandan) and on Facebook.