Wells Applauds Office of Planning's Streetcar Land Use Study Findings
January 25, 2012
Councilmember Tommy Wells Applauds Office of Planning's Streetcar Land Use Study Findings
Announces Joint Roundtable Discussion of Findings
Today, the District's Office of Planning released a much anticipated Street Car Land Use Study. This groundbreaking report investigates how the proposed streetcar system will affect access to jobs, quality of life, housing affordability, and economic development within DC.
Councilmember Tommy Wells, who chairs the Committee that has Oversight for the Office of Planning, praised the study stating, "Our streetcar system is the next generation of public transportation for DC. This research confirms that investing in this new transit option to connect DC's neighborhoods will create more jobs, new local economic development, improved transportation choices, and a more livable, walkable city."
The study examines the complete 37-mile proposed network, highlighting benefits for individual sections of each proposed streetcar line. The study also identifies where the District government must take action to protect affordable housing and potentially adjust routes to minimize parking and congestion impacts.
"I continue to work with DDOT to ensure that our first streetcar line on H Street - Benning Road begins operation in 2013," said Councilmember Wells, "but at the same time, we must lay the foundation to successfully expand the transportation network - particularly to transit dependent neighborhoods such as those east of the Anacostia River. Streetcar investments not only connect people to existing jobs, but also create jobs in the neighborhoods where people need them most."
Included in the study's findings, the report states that the proposed streetcar network will:
- Improve access to transit for more than one-third of DC residents, including 100,000 residents along streetcar corridors who do not have access to a car;
- Reduce overall transportation costs for DC residents with additional access to public transit choices;
- More than double the number of public and charter schools within one-quarter mile of rail transit;
- Inject more than $300 million in retail spending into local and small business commercial districts;
- Improves access to DC jobs for more than 72,000 households;
- Returns premium transit choices to historic districts that were disinvested in the past;
- Increase District revenues by attracting new residents, mixed housing, local jobs, and retail development.
"New transit capacity isn't just a good idea," added Wells, "it's a necessity. Metrorail is expected to hit capacity as DC continues to add jobs and residents. Digging new Metrorail tunnels is extremely expensive, so we must plan new ways to increase public transit capacity."
Councilmember Wells, together with Chairman Kwame R. Brown and Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, will host a roundtable discussion on the Streetcar Land Use Study on Wednesday, February 1, at 10:30 am, in the Council Chambers, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
The public is invited to testify. Please contact Ms. Tawanna Shuford if you wish to speak at this hearing: tshuford@dccouncil.us, 202-727-8232.
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