Virginia land use to follow road plan

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

Virginia's governor said this week new real estate development would follow the transportation plan he is trying to get approved for Northern Virginia.

The plan includes building a 23-mile passenger rail line from Tysons Corner to Washington Dulles International Airport and improvements to roadways through the area.

"We're trying to better match transportation and land-use planning," Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said during a meeting with business leaders Tuesday in McLean.

Northern Virginia's real estate development is spreading out in a patchwork of office parks and other projects but lacks a clear plan, he said.

Transportation planning, particularly the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, would focus the development between Tysons Corner and Washington Dulles International Airport, Mr. Kaine said.

"It will create more opportunities for development," he said.

Although few lawmakers doubt the need for a comprehensive transportation plan, Northern Virginia's real estate developers are waiting anxiously as state transportation department officials juggle the options. Billions of dollars in real estate projects depend on their decisions in the next few weeks to months.

Mr. Kaine said he was adding a few modifications to the state budget, which includes a transportation plan for roadways, while it is before the Virginia General Assembly. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project would be funded separately by toll-road revenue.

"The rail project is the kickoff for big redevelopment," said Donna Shafer, vice president of West Group, a McLean real estate development company.

Her company owns 142 acres in Tysons Corner that it plans to turn into "a real city," which she defined to mean parks, residential areas and retail outlets instead of just large office buildings.