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Morning Notes

by ARLnow.com | July 2, 2012 at 8:45 am | 2,290 views | 87 Comments

I-66 HOV Restrictions Lifted — To ease congestion on arterial routes, which might be affected by traffic signal outages from Friday’s storm, VDOT lifted the HOV requirement for I-66 inside the Beltway during the morning rush hour.

Federal Gov’t Under Unscheduled Leave Policy — With nearly a quarter of all electricity customers in the D.C. area without power, the federal government is operating under a Unscheduled Leave/Unscheduled Telework Policy for today, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Tejada Still Thinking About Streetcar — Walter Tejada says he still hasn’t decided whether he supports the planned Columbia Pike streetcar line. Tejada says he’s concerned about the streetcar’s impact on affordable housing. ”Transit-oriented development has been cruel” to low income people in Arlington, Tejada is quoted as saying. [Arlington Mercury]

Bolivian Parade Held — Despite the sweltering heat and continuing storm cleanup, Saturday’s AGROBOL Bolivian heritage parade was held as scheduled on Four Mile Run Drive. [Sun Gazette]

Flickr pool photo by ddimick

Hikin the pike

The streetcar, HOV lanes and I-66 in one morning notes piece and no comments….just proof that way too many people still don’t have power.
- JamesE
  
  It was just posted, give it time
John K.

That may not be it, completely. Some of us just had our heads explode from the combination of topics.
Enough already

What? Tejada can’t make a decision, much less a sound one. Hey Walter, go ask your big brother Zimmie what he wants you to do…….
- Opie
  
  You know the South Park where Ike is hooking up with his teacher, and Kyle tries to tell their parents at dinner, and Ike shoots Kyle that super-evil look across the dinner table? That’s the look Zimmerman just gave Tejada.
  - Newbs
    
    Niccccccceeeeeeee…..
Perplexed

By the fact that the parade still went on. It was surreal to see so many cops shutting down those stretches of road so that a parade could be held while people all over the county were in a free-for-all at major (and minor) intersections. Not like we were in the middle of any type of major emergency or anything.
- Bluemontsince1961
  
  I forgot about the parade. Maybe that is why I didn’t see any police at major intersections in my area of Arlington directing traffic where the signals were out on Sat., Sun. and this morning?
  - bobco85
    
    Would the police officers be allowed to do that? I mean, standing out in the heat would be unsafe for long periods of time. I wouldn’t expect them to be out at those intersections for very long, if at all.
    - BreakPause02
      
      Construction works all over Arlington have been out in the heat all summer, why couldn’t police officers?
      - neutrino
        
        Construction workers are contractors, police are not.
- South Side Chris
  
  The parade was an epic show. My wife and I went down to see it, not like there was a ton else to do.
- Loocy
  
  I’m stunned that the Bolivian parade went on. There were tons of police cars accompanying the parade, they were blocking intersections and clearing roads for the parade — while, in the meantime, the rest of us were white-knuckling it through dangerous unlit intersections as we crossed town to check on elderly relatives who couldn’t be reached by phone. Really, really, poor move. The police should have cancelled it due to the emergency.
Tre

*yawn* well that was an uneventful weekend
drax

High of 61 in La Paz today.
CW

As someone generally supportive of social welfare programs and other societal measures to help the poor, I think Tejada’s comments are pretty ridiculous and myopic. Wouldn’t it be better to think about the opportunities that development could provide for new jobs, chances for people to work their way up the ladder, open their own businesses, etc. rather than just focusing on this one rather pessimistic position?
- FrenchyB
  
  Myopic is the ideal word to describe Tejada – he’s a one-trick pony.
- Eric
  
  Tejeda would criticize a comprehensive plan that didn’t provide for a ghetto.
  - neutrino
    
    I understand his concern, but there will still be many other parts of the county that primarily speak housekeeper. This is but one corridor.
South Awwlington

If Walter won’t support the Streetcar, maybe he’d like to find another job.
meh..

Let’s start a post about how POORLY Dominion is doing on this power restoration!
I need an explanation how/why we had power ALL day Saturday until around 6:30pm when it suddenly went off….that’s around the same time that ALL of the businesses along Columbia Pike had their power restored. ..
- South Awwlington
  
  Park Glen hasn’t lost power at all. Cable went out a few times. Other than that, we have been very lucky.
- WeiQiang
  
  WAMU reported this morning that damage to some lines – downstream of a more major equipment failure – doesn’t become apparent until the major equipment failure is repaired. There are reports of fires in electrical lines after power is restored. So, power is restored, electricity flows, and then damaged lines/eqpt fail after that.
- CW
  
  This stuff is not as easy as you and a lot of other ill-informed people are making it sound. At best, there is a LOT of tedious, high-manpower physical labor needed. However, what is exacerbating this in many instances is that it is not just simple lines that are down, but transformers, switches, and other pieces of the control infrastructure that are destroyed. Some of this equipment is not just held in stock and has to be brought in from far away.
  - CrystalMikey
    
    Well said, CW. I know it’s hot and it sucks, but Dominion does good work and they have a TON of outages statewide. I mean it could be worse, we could have Pepco!
    - Bluemontsince1961
      
      Pepco………now that outfit is one hot mess. Dominion isn’t perfect, but I’d rather have them than Pepco. Some work colleagues told the team at our morning meeting that they don’t expect to have power before this coming weekend!
      - CW
        
        I think a lot of it has to do with the infrastructure too. Montgomery County has a lot more single family homes with above ground lines. So they’re having to go house by house restringing the lines. Here in Arlington, it seems that a lot more of the damage was on larger lines and also transfomers, etc.
    - neutrino
      
      My brother has Pepco and they said his repair date estimate is Friday.
- John K.
  
  You might want to tell that to the businesses on the Pike that still don’t have power this morning (McD’s, the 7-11 next door, the businesses at Four Mile Run and Columbia Pike, etc.)
- Seriously????
  
  @meh … we’ll get everyone on the phone to Dominion right now to ensure that your sense of entitlement is satisfied … pinhead!!!
- http://cache.ohinternet.com/images/2/24/I_see_what_you_did_there_super.jpg BoredHouseWife
  
  because they had to switch the flow to necessary infrastructure.
Joe Hoya

Still no word from folks in Donaldson Run? I assume the entire neighborhood has been wiped off the map.
- South Awwlington
  
  thankfully. Maybe the comments will die with it.
U ROY

I didn’t see police all weekend. Let’s see, try to take care of a free-for-all at major (and minor) intersections or work a parade. You know most cops don’t want to do hard work, they took the easy way, go to the parade. Just put down some traffic cones and maybe a stop sign in the middle of the intersection “PEACE OUT!” You all handle this, I’m going to the parade!!!
- Maria
  
  Yeah, they totally get to pick and choose like that.
say say

is QUINCY PLAZA still out?
- BallstonNOTBoston
  
  Yes Quincy is still down – per another poster who had interaction with DomP last night claimed that they were unaware that QP was w/o power until last night around 11:30pm.
  
  I suggest contacting their (Dittmar) main office 703.356.6900 and voicing your concerns.
  
  And before I get slammed on here about complaining. The issue is not AC, non working elevators, etc. This building has been abandon for the past 48+ hours. No mgmt/security – the trash is piling up, it reeks and it is not inhabitable. I can deal with lack of power but no oversight from the Property Mng and/or Dittmar is unacceptable.
  - Clarendon
    
    That really sucks, can’t blame anyone for complaining about that situation (especially compared the the stuff people complain about here). Dittmar’s Quincy Plaza is probably one of the largest single apartment buildings around in terms of number of units (isn’t it close to 700?). You would think they would pay some attention to it.
    - CW
      
      They probably are paying attention to it. I don’t believe Dittmar has the level of vertical integration where they own their own garbage trucking company, or can replace their own transformers. So, like all of us, they are at the mercy of their contractors and the utility company.
  - Quincy Residents Unite!
    
    You’re absoutlely right and no you are complaining…….The manager (Bonnie) was “nowhere to be found” (over the entire weekend) and she lives in the building! Talk about a Captian abadoning their ship! The (poor) front desk staff looked like “deer caught in the headlights” (with no direction of leadership). The “word” is that a transformer has been shipped up (from Richmond, VA this morning) to Arlington and that the management (@ Quincy) have their maintenance folks preparing for its (transformer) installiation so we’ll see……..? As my (knucklehead) Arab friends say “Inshalla”!
    - CW
      
      If punctuation could run air conditioning, Quincy would be at 65F right now.
- Safety_First
  
  Just spoke with Quincy people. Dominion is there and working on the problem. “Sometime today” is the answer I got when asking about power restoration. I’m personally very curious what happened as whatever they’re fixing isn’t related to a tree falling and every other building around Quincy is fine. Anyone have any ideas?
  - JohnB2
    
    I lost track of which thread it’s in, but someone said how the building’s transformer blew when the power came on briefly after the storm. Maybe because it’s literally right next to a substation, the surge was too much once the power went back on. Then the nearest replacement had to be shipped up from Richmond.
  - WeiQiang
    
    http://www.arlnow.com/2012/07/02/utility-companies-still-working-to-restore-service/comment-page-1/#comment-186558
street car

Would the street cars be DOA with this power outage?
- Bender
  
  And would they be dead and BLOCKING THE STREET if power went out?
  - Eric
    
    In the future if there were streetcars on the Pike when the power went out then the Pike would be the first to have power restored if only to keep the street clear.
- South Awwlington
  
  No. They won’t be DOA. They, like METRO have traction power facilities which draw electricity for several suppliers. In the even one of those utilities went offline, power would be back filled, just like METRO.
  
  Now – whose next with the asinine anti-streetcar posts???
  
  I’m Bryce bro and I can hit whatever you throw.
  - Becoming indifferent
    
    What if the overhaed lines supplying the street car were knocked down?
    - South Awwlington
      
      Assuming the Columbia Pike Streetcar used overhead lines, the trees along Streetcar routes would need to be maintained in a way that would prevent them from falling on the lines. Managed growth and maintenance of trees is very important and would have prevented some of the power outages in North Arlington and Southern Montgomery Counties.
      
      Are you concerned about a tree falling and taking out the overhead wires?
      - Becoming indifferent
        
        How else would they be powered? A third rail would be too dangerous. Power lines can also be blown down with nothing falling on them.
      - South Awwlington
        
        Via a conduit in the tracks.
      - Keith
        
        On-board battery storage with quick recharge at each station stop. Considering that higher efficiencies in battery storage is a technological development that will benefit a vast number of industries and applications, it is probably in the future of commuter rail too. It already exists, but can not be applied everywhere.
      - Insane Clown Posse
        
        Magnets!?!?
      - drax
        
        LOL,
  - bringmetheyuppies
    
    unless your a Yankee..hehe couldn’t resist.
- drax
  
  How are those traffic lights working out for ya?
  - neutrino
    
    We need wider roads and less traffic lights!
    - drax
      
      Wider roads are why you have MORE traffic lights, genius. And more traffic.
Justin

The best part is I don’t see any SIGN of Dominion in Arlington anywhere…for 3 days now.
- WeiQiang
  
  This morning there was a subcompact car with Dom logos riding around Arlington Ridge with two guys chillin in the AC. Damage assessment? Pre-repair advance team? Bill collectors? who knows.
- drax
  
  So no power has been restored in Arlington for 3 days, Justin?
  - Maria
    
    Obviously he’s been in all places in all of Arlington at all times for the last 3 days, so I’m sure he’s right.
    - drax
      
      Or he has a person drone with a camera and scans every street daily.
Tejada with the wind

Tejada hasn’t seen which way the wind is blowing yet. That guy would vote for the Holocaust if he thought it would get him votes. I’d like to replace him with someone who has a spine.
Justin

Traffic lights are still out in the main intersections of Clarendon. No sign of police or electric workers anywhere.
Becoming indifferent

Wow, Walter Tejada might be an OK guy after all!

Yeah, I was wondering about how the power outage would affect the streetcar. Buses would not.
- South Awwlington
  
  You have to be kidding. This latest position or lack there of totally supports my theory that he is incapable of making up his own mind, conducting analysis or forming opinions. Instead, he parks orders at County staff as if they serve at his pleasure. WRONG. He serves at the pleasure of the Arlington County voters. I really do wonder how he ever got elected…No wait, I know how.
  - drax
    
    How did he get elected? Come out and say it.
    - South Awwlington
      
      Um, as a non-white hispanic in “diverse” Arlington?
      - Pander Much
        
        Blasphemy! How dare you!!! Wait a second…I take that back.
      - drax
        
        So the voters who voted for him don’t actually care about anything but his ethnic background, is that it?
  - Becoming indifferent
    
    It’s funny how a lot Arlingtonians didn’t seem to have a problem with that bobblehead Tejada until he stated his lukewarm support for the streetcar.
    - South Awwlington
      
      I never thought he was a good representative. There is no requirement that Arlington forego economic development to carve an artificial enclave for those who can’t afford to live here. He seems to think that I should be able to live at 1600 PA Ave just because I want to.
John Fontain

Anyone know where I can get some free firewood?
- Donna
  
  Where in Arlington do you live?
- neutrino
  
  A tree?
Aaron

Maybe the County board members could agree to take turns expressing skepticism about different aspects of the streetcar folly, but never enough to actually stop it. They’ll all look thoughtful (relatively) and still get their vanity project in the end.
- Arlingtonian
  
  What will happen when storms knock out power to the streetcars on Columbia Pike for a week or two?
  
  Will Arlington and Metro run extra buses?
  
  What will Zimmerman say?
say say

HEY HELLO IS QUINCY STILL OUT???
- BallstonNOTBoston
  
  Yes – just called the front desk.
  
  Me: “Ummm Hi, so like is the Power still out eerrr sumthin?
  
  QP: “Yes.”
  
  Me: “Soooo like what’s going to fix that problem?”
  
  QP: “They are working on it” CLICK.
Uncle Sam

The following message applies only to Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN and employees have the OPTION for UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK.
say say

WAT SAY NEED QUINCY UPDATE…POWER WE GOT OR NAH?
- U GOT
  
  Nope too many non Christians on that building
- BallstonNOTBoston
  
  Per comment on diff thread, below.
  
  girlFace:
  July 2nd, 2012 2:41 pm
  
  I live next door to QP and currently there is a crane and a flatbed truck with your new transformer(optimus prime?) sitting on it on the Pollard side of the building
  so, maybe soon ?
  - U GOT
    
    I DROVE BY, with nothing on truck meaning the new transformer is coming. They have to remove the old one between the pool by the open parking lot. Then install new one.
Mc

Tejada, like the Arlington Republicans, is anti- development and anti-streetcar. People have different reasons for wanting Arlington to stay in its seedy past state but the net effect is the same.

UPDATED: Pedestrian Killed by Car on Columbia Pike Utility Companies Still Working to Restore Service

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