{"id":304,"date":"2016-03-16T09:58:35","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T09:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dc4reality.org\/updates\/?p=304"},"modified":"2016-03-16T11:42:20","modified_gmt":"2016-03-16T11:42:20","slug":"burn-after-reading-metro-office-of-planning-zrr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.dc4reality.org\/updates\/304","title":{"rendered":"Burn After Reading: Metro, Office of Planning, #ZRR"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ZRR expects more & more residents riding Metro<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the past several years, DC planning and zoning officials have been reviewing and changing DC’s real estate development rules, a process referred to as the Zoning Regulations Rewrite<\/a> (ZRR).<\/p>\n

The Office of Planning<\/a>\u00a0went hard during the #ZRR to\u00a0amend the zoning code\u00a0so that\u00a0the area known as Downtown DC is tripled in size<\/a>, and where\u00a0parking requirements<\/a>\u00a0are all-together\u00a0eliminated.<\/p>\n

Downtown DC has some of the\u00a0tallest buildings with most density, driving significant traffic, killing any remaining parking, even in garages, and abusing daily the city’s aging infrastructure, including the recent\u00a0troublesome time<\/a>\u00a0for Metro, a transit system routinely catching on fire<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Back in 2001,\u00a0WMATA conducted a Metro transit capacity study<\/a>\u00a0which had predicted the future, which is now:<\/p>\n

Expanding the capacity of the existing Metro system to accommodate a doubling of ridership, which will just maintain its vital market share in the region during the next 25 years, is a prudent and cogent investment. The existing system cost $9.4 billion to construct over a period of thirty years; the $4.5 billion investment in core capacity improvements represents half of that original cost<\/strong> and 20% of the price\u2013more than $22 billion\u2013that would be required to build it today. This investment is in the context of the $246 billion annual economy of the Washington Metropolitan area.<\/strong> The return on investment is compelling: an enhanced and expanded Metro system fully capable of meeting market demand, fostering economic vitality and an enhanced quality of life, meeting the mobility needs of this vibrant region as it continues to grow and providing requisite transit services during times of emergency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When do the Corporations kick in their fair share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using the\u00a0Zoning Regulations Rewrite<\/a>\u00a0process and tapping connections in DC’s planning offices, \u00a0“Smart Growth” associated agents,\u00a0Cheryl Cort<\/a> and David Alpert<\/a>,\u00a0have vociferously called for a zoning amendments wishlist serving DC’s real estate investment community<\/a>, i.e. the\u00a0loosening of standards governing parking<\/a>\u00a0in DC.<\/p>\n

Less parking requirements, they say means less cars on the streets and more people on public transit. \u00a0Perhaps this why Metro has reached\u00a0capacity in many parts of the system<\/a>. \u00a0Yet despite business being good, WMATA’s Metro system is bleeding money<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason for increased transit costs is liability. \u00a0In recent years Metro has demonstrated a keen ability to roll the razor edge of danger for\u00a0riders and residents who have witnessed high-profile Metro\u00a0incidents and accidents<\/a>\u00a0as part of the larger DC municipal systems collapse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is clear, the Metro system is aging and maxing out, leading to burn out and death.<\/p>\n

\"DC<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Questions:<\/em><\/p>\n