Not used to NoVa traffic, are you?

Imagine 45 minutes to drive 7.5 miles. That was my daily commute in Los Angeles. People do not believe me when I draw comparisions to the sprawl there and the sprawl here in Charlottesville. But we are headed in that same direction especially if the rate of development continues as is and unabated. Unfortunately I do not see any remedies to it.

As to your question who’s responsiblity is it to plan appropriately? I think using broad political stereotypes that question could be answered 2 different ways.

Republican: It is the individual’s responsiblity to properly plan for what he/she needs. This includes anticipating that one day as a retired person one may no longer be able to drive, and the obligation to plan accordingly making decisions to “affect” the market by “choosing” to purchase in developments that provide alternatives like being close to “public transportation” or some similar sort of alternative. And it is not the place of government or private industry to bear the burden of an “Individuals” failure to plan. The “individual” is responsible for the consequences of their own choices.

Democrat: It is government’s obligation to regulate private industry and plan for these sorts of eventualities. That the government should realize that with all these new developments the needs of the public for transit alternatives will be increased. That it is the governments responsiblity to require (by providing incentives and/or penaties) that developers plan their developments accordingly.

However do not have the confidence in either the individual or government to plan as they should. Both entities seem to default to “Reactive” instead of “Proactive.” And the sensible thing would for both to be “Proactive”.

I don’t think “this evolution is acceptable” if by that you mean that traffic and commute times should increase, and a 20 to 60 minute jump is okay. I think it’s inevitable but not acceptable.

Jim wrote:

We as a locality/region seem wholly unable or unwilling to provide any solutions. I fear that government by its nature is inefficient and not sufficiently equipped to make the kind of decisions/planning that will effect adequate change. That leaves the private sector.

My vote would be for “Unwilling to provide any solutions”. And yes I agree with you that government by it’s nature (and because of the population it serves) is inefficient and not equipt or prepared to effect change.

Unfortunately the private sector (especially developers) have proven time and time again that they will not do the “socially responsible” thing, Which is why government is needed to put into place those regulations needed to hold the private sector responsible. (One of the things government could do would be to start making developers responsible for the cost of the infrastructure costs of those new developments.)

Currently the only solution I could suggest for your customers is Jaunt. Right now it’s the closest thing to an “on demand” shuttle. They are a paratransit service which is designed to remove high risk riders from the city’s public transit services (by high risk I mean riders with disablities requiring extra attention beyond which cannot be given by a regular public transit driver).

However according to their website they also act as an extention of the CTS for people who must take public transit but live outside of the city. Their FAQ answers a few questions. They seem to have service in Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, and Louisa counties, and reservations must be made at least a day in advance. However right now they don’t have service in Green County and I don’t know what would be involved in getting them to set up service. Traditionally paratransit services are to some extent subsidized by the local and state governments.

While It doesn’t really solve the issues you were attempting to address, I suppose it’s better than nothing.

Jim wrote:

I don’t yet have a solution to the transportation issues we are facing, but I believe that the longer we wait the more difficult change is going to be.

I agree.

Ray, you make some good points in your post.

However I’m a one note monkey on the single issue of what the developer should be responsible for,

You wrote:

The other thing that is interesting is that we think we can get someone else to pay for it. Developers don’t pay the impact fees and proffers. Economists will tell you that half the money for impact fees comes out of the price developers are willing to pay for land, and the other half gets added to the cost of the house. That half of the costs are reflected in assessments which affect existing residents, and the lower costs offered for land also affects existing residents.

I think developers should pay the impact fees and proffers.

Real Estate in the Charlottesville- Albemarle area is now comparable in cost with Las Vegas, Chicago, and parts of the Los Angeles area. And I’m not exaggerating. Developers are reaping huge profits turning land into homes. Homes that most *real* area natives cannot afford. Most of their buyers are relocating from out of area or out of state.

When a new development is built the cost of infrastructure should not be passed on to the area’s (county, city, town’s) existing residents. That’s a subsidized give-a-way for big developers. I think the infrastructure costs that a new development would generate should be born entirely by the developer. If that developer passes those costs on to the purchaser that’s fine with me. I can live with it. But as a taxpayer I shouldn’t have to subsidize the additional infrastructure needs of a new development so a developer can make an even larger profit. It’s an estabished practice in other states, the cost of doing business. It should be one in Virginia as well.

My position on this issue isn’t at all about land conservation. It’s about ending the free ride developers have enjoyed in this state for way too long, and holding them financially responsible for their share of the problems they’ve helped create.

Here is an example of trading one kind of transportation cost for another. Washington city paper reports a 2240 sq ft, 4 bedroom, row house for sale near 13th St NW – for $1,795,000.

As reported by Brian Beutler-

“You’ll have to make one or two sacrifices, though, such as accustoming yourself to the worn-out wood floors that give way to rot as they inch toward the tile in the kitchen. And the cabinets near the downstairs bathroom have come unhinged. But don’t forget the perks: The Metro is nearby, the street is quiet, and the low-end carpeting upstairs is as easy on the eyes as the faux-antique sink unit in the master bathroom is.”

Ray Hyde wrote:

If a suburban home costs a half million, how much time and money can you afford to spend in and on your car for the difference in price, particularly considering that you will probably have a car in the city anyway?

I think I see the point you’re trying to make.

However for half a million, I’m eating raman noodles for every meal, cooked on a propane camp stove because I’ve had to do with out electricity to make the mortgage payment. And then if there’s no public transit nearby then I’m also driving to work every day in an uninsured beater that I payed $500 dollars cash for which burn’s oil and needed new brakes 3 months ago.