Dulles Transit Extension - Case Study Example

First Number Event Summary (Urban Planning) INTRODUCTION The objective of the study is to have a comprehensive understanding of transportation planning and environment that leads to urban development. In this regard, the recent metro transportation project of “Dulles transit extension” is selected. Dulles is one of the cities in the US and the introduction of metro rail is an important factor that contributes to the development of the city along with the nation. However, there are certain issues related to the project, which are elaborately discussed in the study. BACKGROUND OF THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED The Dulles metro transit extension has encountered major planning problems in the recent days. One of the major issues encountered in the planning process is the structural imbalance in the storage capacity of the trains. The western part of the metro yard has more capacity than the eastern part of the metro corridor. This has significantly led to a structural imbalance in the Dulles metro transit extension planning. Resolving this issue related to limitations of train parking spaces, the US government has been considering profound strategies. One of the strategies that the authority is considering is the acquisition of the parking space for cars, buses and other vehicles. However, there are certain arguments suggesting that the acquisition of the parking space for other vehicles would cause significant issue. Another proposition made suggesting the acquisition of surrounding land through the support of municipal corporations (Johnson, “Metro needs more space to park its trains”). Another major issue discovered in the Dulles metro transit extension project is the lack of finance. The project needs a significant amount of financial support for the effective completion in a timely manner. In this regard, certain proposals are made to address the issue. One of the most convincing is the public-private partnership, which would lead to a significant cash inflow for the project (Johnson, “Metro needs more space to park its trains”). Moreover, there are propositions of committing effective financial support by the local, state and federal government agencies. Moreover, the report of Olivo (2014) conveyed that the nation needs further development in transportation and communication. This is highlighting the city of Dulles. The author also pointed out that extension in the metro transit is of more importance. In addition, Olivo (2014) also conveyed that there would be certain problems related to urban planning. OPPOSING STAKEHOLDER-GROUPS INVOLVED In the Dulles metro transit extension project, there were several opposing stakeholders involved for resolving the issues mentioned in the above discussions. Although there were several opposing stakeholders who significantly attempted to resolve the issues, but still there are certain stakeholders that exaggerated the same. One of the most decisive stakeholders in the project is the support of the government in different forms that include local, state, and federal government agencies. It also includes the common civilians that were in desperate need for the completion of the project through resolving every issue. Moreover, it includes the media personals that greatly exaggerated the issue. However, there are certain media professionals who desperately attempted to resolve the issue based on the ides and thoughts of the experts. Media personals have also been effective in communicating the voice of the common citizens to the higher authorities who are directly associated in the planning process (Olivo, “Fairfax’s Bulova on state of county: ‘We can’t stop pedaling’”). Another major opposing stakeholders involved in the planning process is the municipal corporations. The municipal corporation is being the major opposing stakeholders. This is because the Dulles metro authority may demand for the acquisition of surrounding lands, which the corporation may not entertain. Similar opposition is also expected from the common citizens near the metro corridor, who too may not entertain the proposal of the metro planning authority to acquire their land. Moreover, the private enterprises that are offered to deal with the government in effective completion of the metro extension project may oppose on the ground that there may be a lack of profit in the project (Johnson, “Metro needs more space to park its trains”). CONFLICTING VALUES OR BELIEFS THAT ARE GENERATING CONTROVERSY In the context of Dulles metro transit extension project, it is notable that there certain significant issues related to the project. Moreover, based on the above discussion, it is also evident that several stakeholders who are directly or indirectly related to the project. It is also evident that there are certain stakeholders who have significant oppositions related to project. This is prominently noted with the common citizens residing near the metro corridor in the eastern end. Along with these citizens, the municipal corporations are also the strong opposing stakeholders (Johnson, “Metro needs more space to park its trains”). The strong opposition from the stakeholders like the citizens and the municipal corporations would certainly have an effect to the project. According to these opposing stakeholders, it is arguable that acquisitions of land by the government would lead to significant loss for the people, as they would be homeless. Several entrepreneurs would lose their businesses and be jobless. Considering these consequences of the project, it is asserted that the project would be hampering the ethical and moral values (Johnson, “Metro needs more space to park its trains”). It is also arguable that the incompletion of the project would also affect the ethical and moral values of the people associated with the project and the community as a whole. The incompletion of the project would lead to a significant loss to the government and the proposed private enterprises that have invested in the project. It is also unfair from the perspective of the rest of people of the city, who are deprived of the benefit of the project. Thus, it is evident that several conflicting values and beliefs among different stakeholders of the project that results to the generation of controversies (Olivo, “Fairfax’s Bulova on state of county: ‘We can’t stop pedaling’”). CONCLUSION From the course of the study, it is evident that the metro extension project of Dulles has certain issues related to the lack of land for train parking and others. In this regard, in order to resolve the issue, certain strategies are proposed, but these lead to the generation of several other ethical concerns. It is also notable that the incompletion of the project also hampers ethical and moral values considering its effect to the shareholders and other people in the city. Works Cited Johnson, Matt. “Metro needs more space to park its trains.” Greater Greater Washington. 2015. Web. 09 Feb. 2015. Mazzei, Patricia. “Big ideas abound for better Miami-Dade transit service — but how to pay for it?” Miami-Dade County. 2015. Web. 09 Feb. 2015. Olivo, Antonio. “Fairfax’s Bulova on state of county: ‘We can’t stop pedaling’.” The Washington Post. 2014. Web. 09 Feb. 2015. Read More