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Can Virginia handle 10 million more residents?
Virginia's population growth fueling traffic, development and pollution increase, warns Law Center study
Date published: 12/13/2007
By KELLY HANNON Virginia is on pace to develop more land in the next 40 years than in the previous 400. That is one conclusion in a report being released today by the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville. All that development brings extra vehicle and freight traffic to Virginia, with negative consequences for the state's air quality and environment, according to "New Directions: Land Use, Transportation and Climate Change in Virginia." Trip Pollard III, the study's author, said he worries people overlook transportation as a source of pollution. "Much of the climate discussion I've seen has moved quickly from climate change to what to do about controls on power-plant emissions, which is critical, but transportation is the single largest sector," Pollard said. Pollard, an attorney who heads the Law Center's Land and Community program, said the report is an effort to focus attention on the need to control development. Virginia has taken modest steps regarding land use and transportation, allowing some localities to impose traffic impact fees on developers, and form transportation authorities, he said. But "we've got to move further along these lines," Pollard said. Virginia's population grew from 6.2 million people in 1990 to 7 million in 2000. By 2030, 9.8 million people are expected to live here. That's like adding another Northern Virginia to the state, Pollard writes in the report. Population growth is driving development outside existing communities. Roughly 180 acres are being developed each day, he writes. That's a rate twice that of the state's population growth. To reach all the new homes, schools, offices and shopping centers, Virginians collectively drove more than 80 billion miles in 2005--that's farther than driving to the sun and back every day of the year. It took 5 billion gallons of fuel to power all those trips. Transportation consumes more energy than any other sector in Virginia, Pollard writes. And nearly 43 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels in 2004 came from transportation sources. People drive out of convenience, he said, and a lack of options. He'd like to see more money spent on rail, transit, bicycle trails and pedestrian walkways. "It gives people more choices. Do I take the train, or could I get on a trolley, or could I walk?" Pollard said.
Date published: 12/13/2007
It's just that the development thus far
(posted by
Tamerlane
, Dec. 17, 2007 11:23 am)
has been tempered with far too little regard for the people who live here. There is enough $ to go around because of the local economy. Why develop it like it is a rummage sale? People should want to live here because it is a nice place to live, not just because the economy suckles the Federal t4eat.;
If you don't like the idea of development, then move.
(posted by
Glamourcide
, Dec. 16, 2007 12:12 pm)
Fredericksburg is going to be developed regardless of whether you like the idea or not. The location of Fredericksburg is nice, therefore it draws people to live here. Yes, i agree that we need to have it more pedestrian friendly here, but i do not have any problem with Carl D Silver developing the area. People need to stop whining about it and get over it, or move somewhere else. If they continue with the idea of building WorldStreet in Central Park, you can forget about trying to keep the population low.
Test 123..
(posted by
freedomfirst
, Dec. 16, 2007 11:47 am)
More likely they take it up their pocket....
What's MEU?
(posted by
Tamerlane
, Dec. 14, 2007 5:46 pm)
Marine Expeditionary Unit?
Ask and ye shall recieve, now we are
(posted by
Justice1
, Dec. 14, 2007 4:15 pm)
gettin somwhere. I TOO am very displeased with lobbyists in general. However, all a lobbyist does is persuade, the politician acts. Alternate transportation is fine, as long as it doesnt cost more money than it saves. Dev to pay its way, very noble, this can be done but not adversely to home owners and consumers.The bldg industry is resp for more than 22% of the states workforce, it does what it needs to to keep people working.Enviro Shmenviro, that is a load of bull.I was in MEU and taught Jeet Kune Do
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