TIGER on the I-66 Corridor?

Last week was the deadline to apply for grants under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, part of the federal stimulus packaged passed earlier this year. The criteria by which TIGER grant proposals are judged are many, but long-term benefit gains with short-term implementation (i.e., projects that can begin now), economy-stimulating potential, and innovation look like they lead the list. The Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments put together a proposal of three packages, each with some impact on the I-66 corridor.

The first package describes a network of priority bus corridors, the centerpiece of which is the K Street Transitway subpackage focused on improving accessibility and mobility in the city core, the final destination for many surburban commuters. The only component actually on I-66 is a ramp in the median of I-66 providing direct access to and from the left express (HOV) lanes to the Vienna Metrorail station. That could mean big time savings for commuter buses that get caught in the rush-hour backup around the Nutley Street exit. It can also mean less disruption to traffic and a safer situation for buses trying to weave from leftmost HOV lane to the rightmost turn lane.

Also mentioned in the package are new park-and-ride lots and information technology improvements such as real-time bus information (with a mobile web application), bus information displays, cameras on buses, computer-aided distpatch and automatic vehicle location technology, and clean-fuel bus replacements.

The second package is a regional bicycle-sharing program that would put bike-share stations across the region, including Arlington County and the City of Fairfax. The region-wide program also includes so-called high-tech intermodal smart hubs that provide transit information and facilitate transfer from different modes (such a bicycle to Metrorail or Zipcar).

The third package details some accessibilty and capacity improvements to the overcrowded Rosslyn Metrorail station.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will announce which projects will receive TIGER grants between September 22, 2009, and February 17, 2009.

• U.S. DOT: "TIGER Grants Frequently Asked Questions"
• MWCOG [PDF]: "Priority Bus Transit in the National Capital Region" (proposal overview)
• BeyondDC: "TIGER!"
• Greater Greater Washington: "Regional Plan Recommends Regional Bike Sharing but Disjointed Bus Improvements"
• The Washington Post: "A Fast Track to a Busway" (July 15, 2009)

Graphic credits: diagram of proposed priority bus corridors by MWCOG, Montreal Bixi bike-sharing by Comrogues).