Updates on HB 2

General Assembly:

“The House and Senate are taking similar approaches to HB 2 concerning development of a prioritization process for allocating funds for the Six-year Program. Though worded differently, House and Senate-endorsed language in the bill directs the Commonwealth Transportation Board to solicit input from localities, metropolitan planning organizations, transit authorities, transportation authorities and other stakeholders in development of this process, which is to be based on analysis that assigns “weights” for key factors like congestion mitigation, economic development, accessibility, safety and environmental quality. Elsewhere on the transportation front, HB 975 and SB 127 were signed by the governor this week. The bills repeal the $64 annual license tax on hybrid electric motor vehicles that was imposed beginning last July as part of the 2013 transportation package. The tax had been expected to generate nearly $10 million for highway maintenance by 2018. The House Transportation Committee has approved SB 97, which increases from two to three feet the minimum clearance between a passing vehicle and a bicycle or moped. The bill awaits a vote on the House floor next week.”

~ David Blount, TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Fairfax City secures road money in roundabout way

City of Fairfax:

“The City of Fairfax is moving ahead with an arrangement that will allow the city to collect its full share of transportation funds without increasing taxes. Last year’s state transportation bill imposed new local taxes and fees for Northern Virginia, including a new local sales tax. Seventy percent of the new revenues are designated for regional projects, as selected by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and the other 30 percent is to be distributed to the individual jurisdictions to spend on transportation projects of their choice.

In order to receive their full share of those funds, however, localities must first maximize their commercial and industrial tax, a funding mechanism the General Assembly approved several years ago to allow localities to raise money for transportation projects by taxing commercial properties. The maximum rate is 12.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The City of Fairfax’s current commercial and industrial tax rate is 5.5 cents per $100 of value, and the City Council has been reluctant to increase the tax. It is the only Northern Virginia jurisdiction that has not already maxed out its commercial and industrial tax rate.”

~Writes Kali Schumitz of The Fairfax Times

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Developer wants parking deck at Spotsy VRE station

Spotsylvania County:

“Owners of the 25 acres that Spotsylvania County wants to buy for a Virginia Railway Express station parking lot say they have a better idea for land in Crossroads Business Park off U.S. 17. The property owners, George Lester and Fitz Johnson, say they have a vision for the development that would include parking decks for VRE commuters instead of a sprawling county-owned surface lot currently planned there.

However, Spotsylvania officials don’t agree with the developers’ plan to lease the parking lot property at the county’s first VRE station. The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors recently approved Crossroads Associates LLC’s rezoning for Crossroads Station, which includes 610 apartment units and commercial space next to the VRE station site. They also hope to develop another 650 acres they own in that area west of New Post. County officials said that while they understand the property owners’ interest, their offer to lease the land for the parking lot is not acceptable.

The county has asked the Virginia Department of Transportation to handle the property acquisition, through its power of eminent domain, if necessary. VDOT’s Kelly Hannon said the department plans to handle the land negotiations ‘as quickly as we can.’"

~Writes Scott Shenk of The Free Lance–Star

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Bicyclists getting tickets need to watch the road, and court computers

City of Charlottesville:

“With the Charlottesville Police Department handing out more tickets to bicyclists, riders should watch not only the rules of the road, but also the strokes on the keyboard. Bicyclists can receive demerit points if the police and courts don’t accurately document the offense. At the heart of the matter is the information contained on the summonses issued by a police officer and a computer database field recently added to Virginia’s court case management system. The field, when checked, is intended to prevent tickets issued to bicyclists from being sent to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

‘The courts have the ability to indicate in their systems when convictions are from bicycling infractions,’ DMV spokeswoman Pam Goheen confirmed in an email. Absent the database notation, bicycle convictions appear just like other traffic tickets, which can result in demerit points being added to the offenders’ driving records, a circumstance that can increase vehicle insurance premiums.”

~Writes Charlottesville Tomorrow

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Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study

City of Virginia Beach:

“HRT is conducting the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) to examine the best transit options for a former freight rail right of way in Virginia Beach. The property runs from Newtown to Birdneck roads roughly parallel to Interstate 264. The study includes options for extending high-capacity transit services east of Birdneck Road to 19th Street at the Oceanfront and for service to the Laskin Road corridor.”

~City of Virginia Beach

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HRT shares maps of Norfolk light-rail extension options

City of Norfolk:

“Hampton Roads Transit has released highly conceptual maps showing several ways the city might extend light rail to Norfolk Naval Station. The transit agency on Wednesday announced three public workshops it will hold next week to gather feedback on the alignments.

The routes grew out of past public workshops and do not consider cost or potentially fatal flaws, such as right of way problems, so several may prove unfeasible after a closer look. The maps show paths running along most major north-south corridors in the city, including Hampton Boulevard, Colley Avenue, Church Street, Tidewater Drive and North Military Highway, past Norfolk International Airport.

Analysis of the routes has begun and will continue, with HRT planning to have recommendations by summer of two to four alignments to study further, said Julie Timm, the agency's transit development officer. The agency is still willing to consider corridors that have not yet been proposed, she added. As staffers whittle the options, they will give extra weight to those that receive the most support from the public, Timm said.”

~ Writes Cindy Clayton & Dave Forster of The Virginian-Pilot

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State transportation officials given 30 days to present Western Bypass alternatives

Albemarle County:

“State transportation officials raced against the clock Thursday to produce alternatives to the derailed Western Bypass of U.S. 29. In a letter dated Tuesday, the Federal Highway Administration slammed the brakes on the project, citing numerous deficiencies, lack of local support and little regard for the growth and development along Albemarle County’s primary commercial corridor.

‘Our legal counsel has advised us to reassess the purpose and need of the project in light of the changes in the Route 29 corridor that have occurred over the past 20 years to determine if it remains appropriate,’ wrote Irene Rico, a division administrator with the highway administration. In light of the federal decision, state Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne accorded VDOT until March 19 to present alternatives to the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Rico’s letter casts doubt on the potential for a revived Western Bypass, or any bypass, and a resolution Albemarle County supervisors passed Thursday night requested that the state consider appropriating funds allocated for the bypass to other local projects.”

~Writes J. Reynolds Hutchins of the Daily Progress

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Routes proposed for Norfolk light rail extension

City of Norfolk:

“Public workshops will be held next week in Norfolk on proposed routes extending the city’s light rail to Norfolk Naval Station. Hampton Roads Transit has scheduled workshops Monday at Granby High School, Tuesday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University and Wednesday at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

The transit agency released conceptual maps of the proposed routes on Wednesday. The routes run along most major north-south corridors in the city. Transit development officer Julie Timm tells The Virginian-Pilot that the agency plans to have recommendations of two to four routes for further study by summer. She says the agency is willing to consider corridors that have not yet been proposed.”

~Writes the Associated Press, The Washington Post

Western Bypass called into question by Federal Highways

Albemarle County:

“On the eve of a major public hearing on the U.S. 29 Western Bypass, the Federal Highway Administration has weighed in with a request to reevaluate the project’s need and to consider potential alternatives to alleviate congestion on U.S. 29 in Albemarle County.

In combination with expected action by the Albemarle Board of Supervisors to withdraw its support, construction of the Western Bypass in the near future now appears very unlikely. ‘Our legal counsel has advised us to reassess the purpose and need of the project in light of the changes in the Route 29 corridor that have occurred over the past 20 years to determine if it remains appropriate,’ wrote Irene Rico, a division administrator with the FHWA, in a Feb. 18 letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT has been working with the FHWA on revisions to an environmental assessment required to see if previous federal approvals were still valid. The FHWA last issued an approval, known as a ‘record of decision,’ in 2003.”

~ Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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460 Connector, CFX construction projects moving forward in SWVa.

Dickenson County:

“Tucked away in a valley high above Grassy Creek in Dickenson County, the region’s first cantilever bridges are taking shape, foot by balanced foot. When they are completed, the twin bridges, both 265 feet above the ground and 1,728 feet long, will be the highest in the state, and will help bring four lanes of roadway all the way from Virginia Beach into Kentucky.

The bridges, concrete giants stretching into the sky, will represent half of the U.S. 460 Connector, also called Corridor Q. Kentucky is continuing to work on its side of the road, too, so that the two projects are in sight of one another. The project — one of two construction projects that state officials say are needed to break the isolation of the coalfields region of Southwest Virginia and opponents say are just mining in disguise that will bypass local communities — is moving along in Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties.”

~Writes Allie Robinson Gibson of the Bristol Herald Courier

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Influx of money kicks Virginia Beach roadwork into high gear

Virginia Beach:

“Streams of federal and state money have revived languishing road projects - from the widening of Princess Anne Road near the Virginia Beach Municipal Center to new on-off ramps at London Bridge Road. And the efforts to ease congestion are not done yet as the landscape for drivers in Virginia Beach continues to evolve. But the outlook wasn't always so good.

In 2008, the Great Recession gripped the region, and funding for transportation shrank. When President Barack Obama announced a federal stimulus package in 2009 that promised money for roads, and jobs to build them, time was of the essence. ‘Shovel-ready’ projects - meaning those where construction could begin quickly - took priority. The state received $694.5 million for its roads, with $40 million landing in Virginia Beach. The money helped pay for the construction of Interstate 264 ramps at London Bridge Road and the widening of parts of Princess Anne and Witchduck roads.

The city's good fortune during hard times had only just begun… Four new projects, fueled by the regional taxes, are ready to begin. Virginia Beach will be connected to Chesapeake with the Lynnhaven Parkway expansion now under way, and the Lesner Bridge will be replaced with a wider, taller bridge in a few years. Also, parts of Witchduck and Holland roads will be expanded.”

~Writes Stacy Parker of the Virginian-Pilot

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Work set to start on Culpeper’s inner loop

Town of Culpeper:

“For months, crews have been moving utilities. Now Culpeper’s real traffic headache is about to begin. Actual construction on the town’s inner loop (Colonel Jameson Parkway) is scheduled to start Tuesday. For the next 270 days, motorists who normally travel the Old Rixeyville Road and the Sperryville Pike should be prepared to wait or take alternate routes…

When completed, the six-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of road will link Sperryville Pike, with a roundabout at Virginia Avenue, to North Main Street, with a roundabout at the Wendy’s restaurant. The latter roundabout, on which construction began before Christmas, is part of a VDOT project to widen North Main Street to four lanes all the way to the town limits. That job, awarded to the same contractor, is not scheduled for completion until August 2015.

Colonel Jameson Parkway is planned to be completed before the North Main Street project is done. Weather permitting, the inner loop will be ready by Thanksgiving. While the inner loop is being built to alleviate backups at the Main and Evans street stoplight, this summer’s Old Rixeyville Road closure will burden that intersection even more—as will construction at the North Main Street roundabout.”

~Writes Donnie Johnston of The Free Lance–Star

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Visit VDOT's website to learn more, here.

Technology and Priority for Road Projects

General Assembly:

“This past week at the General Assembly, House Republicans pointed to legislation working its way through the legislature to promote greater use of technology, prioritize projects and using metric-based decision-making. Specifically, HB 2 as introduced, would have required each locality in a VDOT construction district to vote individually as to transportation priorities as to whether they prefer allocations for transportation projects that address congestion relief or that would promote economic development. The bill has been rewritten to have CTB cooperate with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in developing a prioritization process for allocating funds for the Six-year Program. It requires CTB and VDOT to develop and utilize a prioritization model for making determinations about all transportation projects. Stakeholders from various regions, including highway construction districts, MPOs and the CTB, will set “weights” for key factors like congestion mitigation, economic development, accessibility, safety and environmental quality. The House unanimously approved the bill on Friday. The House also has passed HB 1183, which creates the Virginia Transportation Solutions Working Group and authorizes it to advise the CTB on transportation policy, transportation innovation and technologies, and traffic congestion relief strategies, and HB 122, which directs the Secretary of Transportation and VDOT to create and implement statewide transportation technology goals and a five-year plan of action.”

~Writes David Blount, TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Transportation Revenue Lower than Expected

General Assembly:

“Transportation issues slowly are edging their way into the spotlight at the halfway point of this year’s General Assembly session, and from a funding standpoint, the news is not good. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials this past week shared with key legislators, and in separate meetings in Richmond, local transportation planning staff, that updated transportation revenue forecasts are anticipating a nearly half-billion dollar reduction in the preliminary Six-Year Improvement Program for FY15-20 when compared to the current (FY14-19) program. The anticipated drop is driven by lower-than-expected revenues from the sales tax on gasoline and other fuels approved by the General Assembly last year. This development means that the transfer of funds from VDOT’s construction budget to the highway maintenance budget would continue beyond the previously-anticipated end of the transfers in FY17, and that the distribution of funds to localities through the construction formula, suspended since FY10, also will be delayed further. State construction dollars will continue to flow under a 2012 formula that reserves these funding decisions to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB). Legislative leaders and local officials also have been told that federal funding is down, and at this point, it appears that the Highway Trust Fund will not be able to support any new obligation of federal funding in 2015.”

~Writes David Blount, TJPDC Legislative Liaison

FAMPO blesses parkway proposals

Fredericksburg Area MPO:

“A boisterous overflow crowd didn’t hear what it wanted at Monday night’s Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting. Several dozen residents took part in what has been a long-running battle over projects aimed at easing congestion problems along the Fredericksburg area’s Interstate 95 corridor.

Most of them spoke against a resolution to move forward with road projects estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, including a pair of parkways opposed by Spotsylvania County and Stafford County residents who would be impacted by them. But after all was said and done, FAMPO’s policy committee voted to approve the resolution.

The projects include the Rappahannock River Crossing, which would add collector–distributor roads and bridges along I–95 between the U.S. 17 and State Route 3 exits.”

~ Writes Scott Shenk of The Free Lance-Star

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House Transportation Committee upholds Local Authority for Red Light Cameras

General Assembly:

“HB 973  was defeated in the House Transportation Committee on a 13 to 8 vote. The bill would have repealed the existing authority for localities to establish and operate red light photo monitoring systems. Albemarle County Police Chief Steve Sellers testified on behalf of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police in opposition to the bill.”

~Writes David Blount, TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Vihstadt Acknowledges Election May Not Derail Streetcar Plan

Arlington County:

“Those seeking to position the upcoming County Board special election as a referendum on the Columbia Pike streetcar, Long Bridge Park aquatics center and other big-ticket government spending could conceivably win the battle but lose the war…

Support for the streetcar project on the County Board will be 3-1 in coming months, with Walter Tejada, Mary Hynes and Jay Fisette in support and Libby Garvey opposed. Chris Zimmerman, whose resignation has set the special election in motion, also was a booster of the project. Pro-streetcar forces got a boost in the recent Arlington County Democratic Committee caucus, which was won by Alan Howze, who supported – although not particularly forcefully – the streetcar project during the campaign. Adding in the votes of Peter Fallon, who also supported the project, and pro-streetcar candidates won 70 percent of the vote in the caucus, compared to 30 percent for Cord Thomas, whose focused much of his campaign on streetcar opposition.”

~Writes Scott McCaffrey of the Sun Gazette

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Vienna Road Projects Take Step Forward

Town of Vienna:

“The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week approved $1.4 billion to fund transportation projects for FY 2015 to FY 2020. Among them were two road projects in Vienna, plus one transit project in the local area. In fall 2012, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff held nine public meetings countywide regarding county residents’ transportation needs. It also conducted an online survey.

With the passage of House Bill 2313 by the Virginia General Assembly in spring 2013, Fairfax County was designated to receive an infusion of state transportation dollars. So FCDOT held additional public meetings in fall 2013 to garner community input to prioritize the unfunded transportation projects residents had requested in 2012.

The Supervisors’ approval of these and other transportation-project priorities, last Tuesday, Jan. 28, culminated a nearly two-year outreach called the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation. The Board’s action will move many of these much-needed transportation improvements from the planning stage to the construction phase over the next six years.”

~Writes Bonnie Hobbs of The Connection

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Fairfax to take expanded role in transportation projects

Fairfax County:

“An increase in available funding for construction projects has brought an accompanying spike in the workload for county and state transportation departments, Fairfax County staff said Tuesday. Last year’s transportation funding bill is expected to provide about $94 million for the county in fiscal 2014, according to previous estimates, and about $4 billion statewide over the next five years.

The county transportation department is planning to take an expanded role in executing local projects, according to Eric Teitelman of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Because of this, the department is working to streamline its processes and expand county staff capabilities to ensure that transportation improvements are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

State code caps the total number of VDOT employees, which has raised some concerns at the county level. In addition to possible delays in project schedules, county officials are concerned that more responsibilities could get pushed to the local level. Historically, road construction and maintenance has been a state responsibility in Virginia.”

~Writes Kali Schumitz of the Fairfax Times

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Metro could take control of the Silver Line this month

Northern Virginia:

“Metro officials could take over control of the first phase of the Silver Line rail extension this month — a move that could mean train service could start before summer. Dulles Transit Partners, the contractor responsible for building the first phase of the Silver Line rail project submitted documentation on Friday indicating they think they have completed construction and testing of the first phase of the $5.6 billion rail line, officials at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.

Officials at MWAA, which is overseeing construction of the rail line, which will be built in two phases, now have 15 calendar days to review the paperwork. Metro officials, who will manage and operate the line, also will take part in the review. Both agencies must agree with the contractor’s assessment of its work before the project can move to the next step — up to 90 days of testing and training conducted by Metro officials. It will be up to Metro to determine when passenger service on the rail line will begin.”

~Writes Lori Aratani of the Washington Post

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Four Contractors Vie For Silver Line Rail Yard Complex

Northern Virginia:

“The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced today that four construction teams have been approved to bid on the design and construction of the Silver Line rail yard and maintenance facility at Dulles Airport. The teams were selected following based on responses to a request for qualifications. The contractors are:

• Capital Rail Constructors—Clark Construction Group. LL and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co.;
• Hensel Phelps Construction Co.;
• Metrorail Constructors Group JV—Turner Construction Co., Southland Industries, and Freestate Electrical Construction Co.; and
• Skanska USA Southeast Co.

Capital Rail Constructors is the contractor team building Package A of the Silver Line’s Phase 2 extension from Reston to Ashburn. That contract includes construction of the rail line, stations and systems.

The award of the Package B contract, which is expected to cost between $260 million and $280 million, is anticipated in July with completion of the project anticipated in 2018.”

~Writes Leesburg Today

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Beach moves forward to widen busy intersection

Virginia Beach:

“One of Virginia Beach's most congested intersections, which snarls commuters heading to and from Oceana Naval Air Station, is finally on its way to getting some relief. The city has fully funded a $25 million project that will widen First Colonial Road at Virginia Beach Boulevard from four to six lanes to the Interstate 264 overpass.

‘There's a need for it,’ said Sam Reid, president of Oceana Gardens Coalition Civic League and a School Board member. ‘Especially in the morning and the afternoon. That whole corner comes to a standstill - cars backed up everywhere from base traffic. It doesn't matter what direction you're coming from. It clogs up the whole intersection in all directions.’

The city's acquisitions will affect about 30 properties in the project's path. Appraisals will be sent out this spring, followed by acquisitions and relocations. The city already has bought more than 30 parcels on the fringes of the intersection as part of the planned widening. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.”

~Writes Stacy Parker of the Virginia Pilot

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Va. Highway Safety Office accepting grant bids

DMV:

“The Virginia Highway Safety Office is accepting applications for safety grants. The grants are aimed at reducing traffic deaths and injuries, including programs that increase seat belt use, deter drunken driving and speeding and distracted driving, and promote motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, teen and senior driver safety...

The deadline for grant applications is Feb. 28. Nearly 400 grants are awarded each year.”

~Writes Newsleader.com

Interested applicants must attend a workshop and apply online at www.dmvnow.com

Supervisors Consider Western Bypass Public Hearing

Albemarle County

“The Western Bypass project could be back up for debate in front of the Albemarle County Supervisors. The board members are considering holding a public hearing controversial proposal. The bypass was considered by some to be a done deal. But the newly-elected Board of Supervisors are ready to hear what the public has to say about the controversial road.

In June 2011, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors changed its position to support the Western Bypass and funding was approved for construction not long after. But according to Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin, something new has popped up on the agenda. ‘An action item put on their February 5th agenda to consider holding a public hearing on the route 29 western bypass.’”

~Writes Jaclyn Piermarini of the Charlottesville Newsplex

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Cameras to be Installed along Emmet St. to Improve Traffic Flow

City of Charlottesville

“Charlottesville City Council on Monday approved the installation of cameras to keep an eye on traffic flow along Emmet Street, and many drivers say the extra eyes are worth a quicker commute… Council's solution to fix the backlog is the installation of InSync cameras from a private company called Rhythm Engineering. ‘There's the idea of timing, computerized timing, then this goes a step further,’ city councilor Kristin Szakos said.

The cameras will analyze traffic to improve the flow. In the city, the target is mostly on Emmet Street heading into Albemarle County's Route 29. The board of supervisors in the county will consider the cameras, too, as this is a joint venture among the city, county and Virginia Department of Transportation. ‘It actually analyzes the traffic coming in from side streets at different times of day to make sure the flow is working for all traffic, not only on the main street, but also what's coming in,’ Szakos said.

The intersection of Barracks Road and Emmet Street is among the places the cameras would be installed. They'll be perched on top of light poles.”

~Writes Chris Stover of the Charlottesville Newsplex

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Transportation reform up for discussion

General Assembly

“If you’re in Northern Virginia, traffic congestion is probably your biggest road problem. If you’re in Southwest Virginia, congestion isn’t even on the radar screen, but economic development and safety is. Virginia’s different transportation districts would weigh those priorities differently to decide on road projects under legislation House Republicans are pushing in the House of Delegates.

During a Monday news conference, House Speaker Bill Howell, R–Stafford, said a focus on prioritizing road projects comes after last year’s transportation funding reform bill put more money into transportation. ‘Now that we have this new funding we need to be sure we spend it in the most effective, most efficient way,’ Howell said. A number of lawmakers—including Del. Mark Cole, R–Spotsylvania—had proposed legislation this session that would have dictated how the Commonwealth Transportation Board prioritizes road projects.”

~Writes Chelyen Davis of The Free Lance–Star

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New Economic Analysis of Streetcar Likely to Leave Controversy in Wake

Arlington County:

“County government officials say they in coming weeks will release an updated analysis of the projected impact of the Columbia Pike streetcar project on the local area’s economy. ‘We anticipate the study being complete in mid- to late February,’ officials of the county government’s Department of Environmental Services told the Sun Gazette on Jan. 31.

The county government in September contracted with HR&A Associates, a consulting firm, to undertake the study. At the time, completion was expected in December. The analysis is being conducted using information that has become available since the county government’s 2012 application for federal funds for the streetcar project. The county was turned down for those funds; the Federal Transit Administration said the cost of the project was higher than was allowed for the ‘Small Starts’ funding pool.

County Board Chairman Jay Fisette on Jan. 30 told a Leadership Arlington gathering that he expected the report to be out in coming weeks. As for what it might say? ‘We’ll know soon,’ Fisette said.”

~Writes Scott McCaffrey of the Sun Gazette

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Does Metrorail or driving work best for commuters starting south of Beltway?

Northern Virginia:

“We invited travelers to suggest commutes we could test for them, to compare routes or travel modes. On Thursday morning, Post reporter Mark Berman and Robert Thomson, Dr. Gridlock, took up a reader’s suggestion to test routes between the Kingstowne area, south of the Capital Beltway in Northern Virginia, and downtown D.C.

As a starting point, we chose a McDonald’s parking lot at the corner of Franconia and Brookland roads. The finish line was the lobby of The Post, at 15th and L streets Northwest. Berman drove all the way. Thomson drove to a Metro garage and took the Blue Line. We’ll be testing other readers’ suggestions and can add a bike route. Send ideas to ­drgridlock@washpost.com.”

~Writes Robert Thomson and Mark Berman of The Washington Post

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