November 24, 1975 Request Local Jurisdictions Question 2: Please provide any studies done by the Authority on driving disincentives, e.g., parking spaces, gasoline taxes, automobile excise taxes, etc. The Authority has not undertaken specific studies on driving disincentives. It has, however, promulgated programs and policies which will provide a viable alternative to depending upon the automobile. In addition, NVTC has developed a paper on parking policies and the Authority is coordinating with a District of Columbia study of staggered working hours. The Authority believes that driving disincentives should be initiated - after a viable alternative is available. Consequently, the Authority feels that driving disincentives must be closely correlated with the completion of Metrorail. November 24, 1975 Request Submission #4 Local Jurisdictions Question 4: Land around a proposed Vienna subway stop was rezoned to increase its value as a means of cutting Fairfax County's financial obligation to Metro. What action has the Authority taken to assure this does not happen in the future? Please include a description of the process Metro uses in acquiring land. Re: Rezoning Actions by Fairfax County: On August 25, On the De Luca Tract (Parcel 2, Block 1), the County On the American I.H.M. Province, Inc. (Parcel 89), the County granted townhouse zoning for 8 units per acre (on January 12, 1976) with the owners dedicating to the State all right-of-way for Metro access roads. All the property required for the north side of the Re: Land Acquisition Procedures: Negotiations with property owners as well as all other acquisition actions are conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Act of 1970, P. L. 91-646. (continued) November 24, 1975 Request Question 4 continued Local Jurisdictions Submission #4 The quantum of the estate acquired for stations, station entrances, permanent parking facilities and locations where substantial permanent improvements and other transit facilities are conducted takes into consideration planning, architectural and operational factors necessary to exercise control over the immediate environment as well as purely physical requirements. Generally, where possible, fee estates are acquired. Action to acquire an interest in real property (whether a fee or a lesser interest) is initiated when the Director of Engineering certifies to the Director of Real Estate that the interest is necessary to lay-out, construct, operate or maintain the rapid transit system. After a property interest is certified, appraisals by an independent contract appraiser and by a staff appraiser are obtained and acquisition negotiations are started. To the extent possible, all property interests are acquired by voluntary conveyance through negotiations based on fair market value as estimated by the appraisals. If acquisitions by eminent domain proceedings are necessary, the Department of Justice acts for WMATA, filing the condemnation assembly and handling the case in the same manner as for Federal agencies. |