Arlington County and the Smart Growth Era By Erin Daniell

Arlington County came up with the smart growth plan in the late 1970s, it included routing the new mass transit system (Metro)underground along the Rosslyn-Ballston and Jefferson Davis corridors. Arlington County then wanted to concentrate on the redevelopment of the areas surrounding the new stops. The county wanted to create pedestrian friendly environments and preserve residential areas.

While the Smart growth plan was ultimately very successful, it still met resistance. This was described by Elizabeth Weihe, a former Arlington County planning commissioner. She says that the home owners association was very against the whole plan, Carl Spece specifically. He mounted a loud speaker on his car and drove around the block where important metro votes were being placed. Through this loud speaker he said "Vote Against the Metro!"

To get federal funds for the metro in Arlington, the county had to compromise on allowing I-66 to be built through Arlington. Immediately after this they had to choose where to put the metro line, the cheapest way to do this was to build it above ground on the new I-66. But the county fought for it to be built underground along 2 corridors. Arlington wanted as many stops as they could get.

Brosnan, Robert . Arlington County. 30 Years of Smart Growth. , Web. 26 May 2011. .

Primary source: "Smart Growth Bonus scene - Bond issue." Arlington County. Web. 26 May 2011. .

"Arlington's Smart Growth Journey ." Arlington County. Web. 26 May 2011. .