On Tuesday, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 to support extending D.C.'s Metrorail to Dulles Airport, ending months of uncertainty over the project's fate.
The narrow vote was crucial to securing the extension of Metro's Silver Line to some of Northern Virginia's fastest growing suburbs, and to D.C.'s only airport not served by rail. "Without Loudoun's commitment to contribute nearly $270 million toward construction costs, the second part of the long-planned project would have been in jeopardy," writes Caitlin Gibson.
"For a once-rural community that has become one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, it is a significant step for Loudoun - one that has been championed by many Loudoun residents and business leaders and especially by young adults, who have said that access to the District is a key factor for 20- and 30-something professionals looking to settle in the suburbs."
"When completed, at a projected cost of $6 billion, the Silver Line will span 23 miles of rail between East Falls Church and Ashburn, providing Loudoun with a rail link to the rest of the metropolitan area."
FULL STORY: Loudoun board votes to support Silver Line
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An already difficult project received bad news at the end of April in the form of long delays and huge cost overruns. Now Phase 2 of the Silver Line extension is expected to arrive in Loudon County, Virginia in 2020.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service