Comments on: Virginia is the New California http://dc.thecityfix.com/virginia-is-the-new-california/ Sustainable Mobility in the District Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:14:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Immigrants and the Future of Sustainable Transportation | TheCityFix DC http://dc.thecityfix.com/virginia-is-the-new-california/comment-page-1/#comment-967 Immigrants and the Future of Sustainable Transportation | TheCityFix DC Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:42:45 +0000 http://dc.thecityfix.com/?p=1411#comment-967 [...] particularly true here. It’s well-known that the good Asian food in the region is in Maryland and especially Virginia and usually not transit-accessible. On the other hand, Southern California, at least, probably has [...] [...] particularly true here. It’s well-known that the good Asian food in the region is in Maryland and especially Virginia and usually not transit-accessible. On the other hand, Southern California, at least, probably has [...]

]]> By: Daniel M. Laenker http://dc.thecityfix.com/virginia-is-the-new-california/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Daniel M. Laenker Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:00:37 +0000 http://dc.thecityfix.com/?p=1411#comment-113 I would think Northern Virginia was more like the East Bay and parts of Silicon Valley than anywhere else. But yes, southeastern Virginia (Norfolk and Virginia Beach in particular) is very much like southern California, and San Diego in particular, in terms of industrial base, infrastructure issues, and even the car culture. I would think Northern Virginia was more like the East Bay and parts of Silicon Valley than anywhere else. But yes, southeastern Virginia (Norfolk and Virginia Beach in particular) is very much like southern California, and San Diego in particular, in terms of industrial base, infrastructure issues, and even the car culture.

]]> By: Ingsy http://dc.thecityfix.com/virginia-is-the-new-california/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Ingsy Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:51:50 +0000 http://dc.thecityfix.com/?p=1411#comment-114 I agree with this assessment. I moved to the MD suburbs from Silicon Valley in 2005 and I've been to LA too many times to count. I'll add some more parallels that I see: > In CA and NVa, you can get within a couple of miles of anything interesting via a limited access highway (95/395/495/267/66/GWP/HWY27/HWY29/HWY50). (Compare that in MoCo there's really only 270 and Clara Barton HWY for a limited-access highway). > In CA and NVa, all of the land is spoken for. The real growth is in infill redevelopment rather than adding more ring roads further out. (Notice that MoCo is just now adding another ring-ish road via the ICC...) > In CA and NVa, lots of single-family-house NIMBYs are finally coming around to accept greater densities, reduced parking requirements, need for transit, etc. > And, for the worst parallel: CA and VA both suffer from having too many fiscal conservatives fighting with people who want public infrastructure, and in both cases the state capitol is far removed (physically and ideologically) from the transportation and land use choke points. The legacy of defense industry is a good parallel too; I'm happy you brought it up. A lot of Los Angelinos forget that their city was basically founded as a center for the defense industry. And how does this fit? MoCo = San Francisco Bay Area? NVa = Southern Cali (LA, OC)? Suffolk/Norfolk = San Diego? I agree with this assessment. I moved to the MD suburbs from Silicon Valley in 2005 and I’ve been to LA too many times to count. I’ll add some more parallels that I see:

> In CA and NVa, you can get within a couple of miles of anything interesting via a limited access highway (95/395/495/267/66/GWP/HWY27/HWY29/HWY50). (Compare that in MoCo there’s really only 270 and Clara Barton HWY for a limited-access highway).

> In CA and NVa, all of the land is spoken for. The real growth is in infill redevelopment rather than adding more ring roads further out. (Notice that MoCo is just now adding another ring-ish road via the ICC…)

> In CA and NVa, lots of single-family-house NIMBYs are finally coming around to accept greater densities, reduced parking requirements, need for transit, etc.

> And, for the worst parallel: CA and VA both suffer from having too many fiscal conservatives fighting with people who want public infrastructure, and in both cases the state capitol is far removed (physically and ideologically) from the transportation and land use choke points.

The legacy of defense industry is a good parallel too; I’m happy you brought it up. A lot of Los Angelinos forget that their city was basically founded as a center for the defense industry.

And how does this fit?

MoCo = San Francisco Bay Area?
NVa = Southern Cali (LA, OC)?
Suffolk/Norfolk = San Diego?

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