Funny, I almost mentioned this

When I was writing about the Purple Line this week, I almost said that though I wouldn't oppose that, I would oppose any attempt to do the same on the W&OD. But I didn't, because that would've been silly. No one would propose something so crazy. Then I read this..

Though it may not be considered until 2008, Del. Robert Marshall (R-south-central Loudoun) has introduced legislation into the General Assembly to look at the possibility of building a light rail system along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.

It doesn't seem to be a likely event,

Some of [the challenges such a project would face] include a Dominion Virginia Power easement along the trail that prevents uses other than a park; since the park authority bought the land with federal land and water conservation money, if turned into a rail corridor, the park authority would have to be compensated with money and substitute land; also, there are now 60 "at-grade" crossings along the trail that would make building a light rail system a costly endeavor, the park authority said.

And it appears to have been tabled,

A House of Delegates joint resolution to form a subcommittee to study the feasibility of running light rail along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail was "left" in committee last week. The move means the General Assembly will not consider the proposal, made by Del. Robert Marshall (R-south-central Loudoun), this year.

Here's why I don't think it's a double standard. The Georgetown Branch was purchased to be a transit route with a trail and the W&OD was purchased to be a park with a trail. Hopefully the state won't even waste its time on this one.

Comments

[Ian]

It really make me wonder what they are thinking? At some point the orange line will be extended out to reston and dulles what purpose would there be in building another fixed rail project that will travel in almost the same direction. On a technical note I am not sure the 60 crossing mentioned would pose a huge issue since crossing signals would be put into place and the train would cross at street level. It all depends where it starts and ends.

[w]

we should take out ALL railroads all over the USA and make them into bike paths for weekender /recreationalists or turn them into highways.Railroads are a waste of $$$ that could be better spent supporting the governments of Saudi Arabia,Nigeria, Russia, and Venezuela- not to mention Texas.