Slowing Growth

Three local jurisdictions made moves yesterday to limit growth as a way of controlling the increasingly out of control traffic in our area. Or, in the case of Loudon County and Prince William County in Virginia, they hoped to send a message to the Commonwealth that the time has come for action on the issues of traffic, infrastructure and mass transit.

Loudon County and Prince William County are two of the fastest growing counties in the nation. You'd be hard pressed to find a local who feels good about that.  From the increase in gridlock to the higher taxes to pay for infrastructure, local residents are yelling "enough already"!

The question isn't whether a problem exists. It clearly does. The real question is whether their efforts to slow that growth by delaying future housing development is going to fix it. By itself, these moves won't do much of anything. Passing these pieces of legislation won't take a single car off the road tomorrow or next month or even next year. It may slow down how much additional traffic is added in future years. But with infrastructure already years behind current needs, that's small comfort.

The only way these measures are effective is if they produce action in Richmond to remedy this situation. Odds of that aren't great, despite clear signs in the most recent elections that in Northern Virginia this is a pressing voter issue. But Virginia's delegates don't always agree on either the problem or the solution. Compromise will be needed by all parties and it's yet to be seen whether either political party has the sense to put aside partisan bickering and get something accomplished.

What do you think? Will these latest measures to slow or limit growth make any difference? What are the effects likely to be, intended or otherwise? I look forward to your input!