Dear Dr. Gridlock:
Regarding the response to the proposed development of eight residential towers around the Vienna Metro station, I wondered: What do the readers expect to happen if the development is denied?
My thoughts: The developers will build elsewhere, further causing sprawl. If there is more development in Prince William, Centreville and Fair Lakes, the traffic on Interstate 66, Route 50 and Route 29 will still be there, causing more congestion.
Our neighbors in Arlington have used Metro stops in a way that reduces the use of cars, builds a tax base and gives the neighborhood an urban feel. The people living in those neighborhoods walk to dinner and shopping, or walk because they choose to. They ride the Metro. That gets them off the roads. What could possibly be wrong with that idea?
Some of the writers suggest that we not build with mass transit in mind. We give Metro a lot of money for operations. Why can't Metro give two more cars during each run on the Orange Line?
I live around the station. However, I plan to purchase one of the condos in this new community. Hopefully, Fairfax will finally have the insight to reduce traffic, reduce pollution, get the community walking and create a great tax base.
Also, remember that citizens living in this type of community rarely use precious community services/resources.
One final thought: We need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This is a small step toward that goal.
Yvonne Potts
Fairfax
In theory, residential development should be clustered around Metro stops. But that was 20 years ago.
What has changed is that the transportation elements around the Vienna Metro station, the Orange Line and the adjacent roads -- I-66, Route 29, Route 123 and Nutley Street -- are at capacity.
There is no more room.
How much more discomfort are riders or motorists willing to sustain to accommodate yet more residential development in Fairfax County?
