How about Metro lines to more of the suburbs -- lines that people can, you know, use when the oil isn't flowing like it is these days? Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
Drew you say that either because you don't live anywhere near National Airport, like thousands have for years and years, and therefore don't mind the unrelenting noise of jets passing overhead, or you haven't tried flying non-stop from Washington to anywhere overseas (forgoing the pain, inefficiency, and overcrowding of JFK or Atlanta). National airport can only handle small numbers of 737s and smaller sized planes due to runway and space restrictions.
Now, the need for a light rail expansion to Dulles is debatable, but it could also service the communities between there and Vienna and help reduce car traffic to and from Washington. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
I could get on with rail service beyond Vienna, but not when we've left so many suburbs inside the Beltway -- the entire Southwest portion of the Virginia suburbs, for example -- uncovered by Metro. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
The "pain, inefficiency and overcrowding" of ATL is greatly overstated.
This is, by the way, especially the case if you're flying out of Concourse E, where the international flights go out. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
On the other hand, I have done just about anything to avoid JFK. Each and every time I've had to stop over there enroute to or from Europe, it's been a disaster.
The noise in and around any airport is a major problem, thus the farther they can be efficiently placed from residential areas the better. I worked in Rosslyn for 15 years. Inside office buildings the noise wasn't bad, but out on the street one couldn't carry on a conversation when planes flew right over head every three - five minutes on some days. I also live in the Dulles flight path now. Fortunately, we are about 25 miles away so while the noise is there it's not like closer in. The flight path was changed to its current one (directly over our house) two years after we bought the house. I still feel for those who live under the National AP flight path.
BTW, I agree that Dulles is a lousy airport. It has been under renovation for at least the last 15 years. I was embarrassed every time I arrived there and watched the hordes of international travellers get their first experience of the nation's capital. It is getting better, so I'm told - I avoid it whenever possible now - but it's about time.
All that said, National airport is not and never will be a reasonable substitute for an international airport for Washington.
You are correct, of course, about No. Virginia being under served by metrorail. My understanding is that it all happened because the Va. suburbs didn't want to pay for the extra lines. Nevertheless, I think the line out to Dulles will be an overall plus for efficient transportation in the area. Many other large metro areas have such service from their international airports and I've found it to be a joy to use vs. taxis in most cases. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
Hartsfield-Jackson's going to become more crowded as long as Atlanta's becoming more crowded, I'm afraid, and -- assuming they don't run out of water (which, granted, seems to be an increasingly stupid assumption) -- that's not going to stop anytime soon. Atlanta's fortunate to have a lot of unused land (its greatest asset and greatest roadblock to serious urban planning) around that section of town, so the option to continue expanding the airport is at least there, unlike in New York.
I'm not sure how much say the suburbs have on Metro, though. Don't the Virginia DOT and the WMATA decide that? I agree on the whole that the line to Dulles would be a plus, but the city is leaving itself wide open to the energy crisis by not building lines into the suburbs. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
but it appears (and I recall) local government participation. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
