The real answer is to build development that is dense enough to pay for its own infrastructure. We can't keep building out at the current rate because there will never be enough money for the roads needed. And even when new roads are built, it doesn't solve the problem--just look at how traffic is still bad on I-66. Even if they expanded I-66 to 20 lanes there would still be backups.

No, I'd don't think we should all live in cramped highrises, but we need to return to the more sustainable and less sprawling suburbia you can find in Takoma Park or Upper Northwest DC. We cannot all live in McMansions on 1.5 acres and expect the tax money in the area to build six lane roads to all of our front doors.

Regarding the I-66 widening being done in phases, let's look at it this way--VDOT originally refused to do any of it at all until the entire project was funded all the way to Gainesville. Apparently that was their long-standing rule--all or nothing. Gov. Warner told them to get their butts in gear and do the part that was funded, saying that some improvement was better than none. Hard to argue with him on that front, I think!

Free country we can all live where we want to live. Not everyone wants to live in Takoma Park or NW DC with the crime, taxes and crummy schools. and I forgot to mention corrupt politicians. Not everyone wants to live on top of one another. And Chris not all the house out in Bristow and gainesville are Mcmansions. And Takoma Park, MD isnt much better. And the politicians are even more corrupt than DC.
Shame the current gov didnt mention the gov elects offshore accounts! Yeah he earned all that money from his music!

I find it unbelieveable that the next 1 mile expansion from exit 44 to 43 will take two years when it took that long to do the 3 miles they just finished. And quite honestly, McMansions on some land puts far fewer cars on the roads than putting townhouses up on the same amount of land. And I can't/won't live in a townhouse.

Densification only reduces traffic for those who can afford to live close to work. Most blue-collar construction, custodial, etc workers can't afford to live in Arlington. I'm single with no kids and I could barely afford to buy a condo there, much less a house for a whole family!

To dancermommd:
Clearly you find some sort of need to defend you McMansion living lifestyle, since you just cannot live in a townhome (boo hoo). McMansions don't reduce congestion, they ADD to it. If there are X amount of jobs and some multiple of X amount of people to live near there, if you build less densely via your precious McMansions than that pushes more people further out meaning more person-miles traveled via cars and more congestion! Also you can't build mass transit to McMansions easily either, not that you would want to take it anyways

If "McMansion" means "anything other than a crappy-looking, small, 60-year old house in a ratty area of Arlington or Southeast DC with window unit AC, no garage, and a rednecky-looking driveway that takes up the lawn but doesn't lead to anything," then bring on the "McMansions"!

I live in a townhouse in Kingstowne just outside the Beltway, BTW, so spare the flames.

Big Ben Free country dancermom can live whereever she wants. And you really need a course in planning etc. Same 1.5acre lot can hold 10 or more townhouses or maybe a hundred condos. At 2 cars per TH or condo you are adding lot more traffic. Sounds like someone doesnt like living in his Arlington 500sq ft studio apartment. Less crime out in Gainesville too and better schools. And gas at the local Safeway In Bristow has been $1.89 for almost 3mos now.
Now maybe Grand Mullah Pelosi or Imam Reid will force us all to live in East german style socialist apartment buildings but that day hasnt come yet.

Mr. Annonimous poster thinks Big Ben needs a course in planning? Quite funny. Here are some facts:

If there are jobs people have to live somewhere. You don't want the DC region to have jobs, fine I know of many places in this country that would die to have the jobs oppurntunities the DC region has. If everyone lives in their McMansions, everyone has to drive to work and the land area that they occupy is much greater than the townhouses or condos close in. This equals more miles per person than the townhouses or condos which could include mass transit or be more likely closer to places of enployment. So, in summary, if the number of people who have jobs and want to live in a area is a fixed number is constant, it's a bunk argument to say McMansions decrease traffic. That argument is born out of NIMBYism plain and simple.

I realize I'm 3 days late to the comment party on this post, so few may ever see it, but I've got to say that the Manassas-to-234 bypass widening is a HUGE benefit, at least in the mornings. Gainesville has been a whole lot more open coming up 29 from Warrenton than in the past. It used to take me almost 20 minutes just to get from the Gainesville post office to 66, now 5 minutes is the norm. Yes, it will be even better when the widening is extended all the way to 29, but let's not pretend that it's just the same now as before the new lanes opened.

Evenings are a different story, and I continue to take alternate routes home unless I am coming home after 7:30pm. I just found out that you can get on Sudley Manor Dr. and into the Linton Hall Rd. communities from 234 Bypass now, which I was unaware of. Perhaps if more folks knew about that, they would exit at 234 Bypass instead of going all the way to 29 and then down Linton Hall? Or maybe that's just as bunged up as anything else already, a week after it opened.

"Densification only reduces traffic for those who can afford to live close to work. Most blue-collar construction, custodial, etc workers can't afford to live in Arlington. I'm single with no kids and I could barely afford to buy a condo there, much less a house for a whole family!"

Good point.

I find the smug city/inner core dwellers who like to congratulate themselves for their "choice" and put everyone else down for not making the same choice quite ludicrous.

Isn't it something how these affluent people who can afford to live in the high-priced density always put down the "sprawl" suburbs and try to make us accept tired cliches like "you can't build six lane roads to everyone's door" while they demand transit to THEIR door that's being subsidized by ALL of us?

Funnier still, are the users of subsidized transit who claim to be upset about their "paying for other people's road-dependent lifestyle" as if people who don't or hardly ever drive are paying much in tolls and gasoline taxes.

They're a joke.

To the haters:

Before you go knocking those of us who live the "Mc Mansion" lifestyle you find so objectionable, remember WE'RE the ones paying for your nearly free ride on mass transit. Even a stray dog has sense enough not to bite the hand that feeds it.

One more thing: We're just about fed up with being deprived of the roads we need.

Decided to check back after a few days to see if this conversation resumed some form of intelligent dialog, but alas, no. Thanks to all for hijacking the comments on this one, to debate the inane subject of McMansions vs. who knows what.

Sorry, Lou, but the discussion took that turn in the first comment by Chris.

Some excerpts:

"The real answer is to build development that is dense enough to pay for its own infrastructure...we need to return to the more sustainable and less sprawling suburbia you can find in Takoma Park or Upper Northwest DC... We cannot all live in McMansions on 1.5 acres and expect the tax money in the area to build six lane roads to all of our front doors."

That statement is totally ridiculous. I'm sorry if I seem hostile or offensive to some, but I simply will not let garbage like that go unanswered.

The fact is, MOST people who live in the suburbs DON'T live in "Mc Mansions on 1.5 acres"; they can't afford to. Another fact is the middle class are in the exurbs because they simply can't afford to live in "the more sustainable and less sprawling suburbia you can find in Takoma Park or Upper Northwest DC".

Guys like Chris know that, thereby making their comments all the more elitist, condescending, and insensitive. His opposition to improving transportation infrastructure in the farther-out suburbs adds insult to injury.

Back to the topic: The widening of I-66 in Prince William was long overdue, as is widening I-66 inside the Beltway.

The 20-odd-year-old deal with the North Arlington NIMBYs is obsolete and never should have been made in the first place. It's time to scrap it and do the sensible thing.

If they REALLY wanted to do the sensible thing, they would extend the Orange Line from Vienna out to Centerville or Route 234 in Manassas instead of wasting money on rail to Dulles.