When I lived in the apartment building 909 NJAve SE, a couple blocks from the Navy Yard metro, I looked for places near metro stations to buy. I discovered the the transit oriented development being built outside the Anacostia metro station called Sheridan Station. It wasn’t until I read this article that I ever saw a definition of Transit Oriented Development that excluded Sheridan Station, or Capitol Quarter in Navy Yard, or the EYA development, Riggs Park, outside the Fort Totten metro or the EYA development near the Brookand metro. Nor does this article bother to acknowledge any of these developments and explain why it chooses to discount them.
As someone who has lived directly on Duke and now lives less than one block off Duke, this is desperately needed. I drive, bus, walk, and bike this corridor (as do my kids!) and improving this transit corridor is an essential step for safety and equity in our community.
As someone who lives just off Duke and travels along it frequently (in a car, on foot, and by bus - I'm not brave enough to bike there though), this is sorely needed. The current configuration really doesn't work for everyone, and if we don't take action now to improve Duke's ability to move people it'll just keep getting worse
Time for DDot to reevaluate signal cycle lengths. The only reason for right turn on red, and frankly for pedestrians crossing against the signal, is that the light cycle is so long that all through traffic has more than enough time to pass. Few people turn or run across the street when there are still cars coming. Shorten the cycle and improve Pedestrian safety and experience. If longer cycles are needed to allow slow walkers to cross the street then that is a clear indication you need to install Pedestrian islands and sidewalk bulbs to shorten the crossing length.
It really is embarrassing how politicians and activists characterize low-income people. Oh because I'm a minority who has been systematically underrepresented, I deserve not to be punished when I threaten the lives of people crossing the street with my car.
I don't understand the need or desire for city-wide signage at every intersection. Change the law make a series of public announcements and we're done. You come into DC, rights on red are illegal at every intersection. We can even put up big signs at all the entrances to the city.
If the ban is approved and city police start cracking down on motorists making illegal turns at red lights, some council members are concerned about who that could negatively impact and whether it might create inequities
Ah, but here in DC this is 100% performative. There will be no crack down, no enforcement. Therefore all will equally be allowed to ignore any ban.
I agree, the signage for NTOR should happen before 2025. However, there are still tons of 25 mph speed limit signs in residential areas even though the speed limit should be signed at 20 mph per the 2020 change. I don't know what DDOTs capacity is for replacing signs, but from my experience and observations this will not be an easy and quick update if they plan to sign the thousands of traffic lights in the city.
Most intersections in the city are already No Turn On Red, so I’m assuming that the rest of the intersections in the city will need the NTOR signs installed as a result of the ban. But even then I don’t see why it would take 3 years.
The county’s zoning ordinance allows the program if the home is functioning as a single household for up to four people unrelated by blood or marriage, according to Woodruff.
Just repeal this rule because it's just a blatant anti-poor rule with thin justifications in other ways.
The idea you'd need a complicated county sponsored 'matching' program just to avoid the much simpler solutions out there is silly.
"The DC Council unanimously voted in favor of beginning the process of banning right turns at most red lights by 2025"
Surprised this didn't happen earlier. And why 2025? Right on red has been effectively banned at nearly every intersection in DT Silver Spring for years.
"There’s no doubt that helmets, pedestrian-alerting bike bells, and bike lights can help save lives..."
which is why they should certainly be required. I can't believe this is even a serious argument. Should we get rid of requirements to wear seatbelts in vehicles as well?
"...but laws that punish people for not having them certainly don’t"
This is extremely speculative.
Based on the evidence, disproportionate/discriminatory enforcement is the problem. If enforcement is the real issue then that's what should be modified, not the laws themselves. For instance, make helmet requirements a secondary offense so violators can't be fined just for simply not wearing a helmet. Really the only one that should be a primary offense is the running stop signs/red lights which can endanger other road users (including peds and motorists) beyond just the cyclist.
Other ideas: Retrain officers, and recruit from marginalized communities. Instead of fines educate on bike safety. Make all officers to wear body cameras. etc.
I'm surprised the DC Council unanimously supported the ban on right turns on red. Do they not realize that this may delay drivers by seconds, even up to a minute? Won't anyone think of the drivers, especially the working class folk in the brand new F-150s?
Seems like even given the amount of time to adjust signal timing, print some new signs and do a public service campaign, it shouldn't take until 2025 to implement "no turn on red."
Connecting volunteer drivers with seniors and others who need door-to-door service is laudable. But I'm not sure, if the volunteer drivers are only coming from 2 sources, why an app is needed? And I'd be interested to see the overlap between folks who might need this service (because they don't already have family or a social network to assist with these tasks) and those who are savvy enough to figure out how to use this app.
It isn't any different than a flea market, festival, or whatever. You rent in full space (or multiples) or subdivide it into feet of space.
The "complaint" is some goofy hang-up about it being referred to as a "parking space," which is...I don't get it. If there's no one using it for eating, then it is a parking space.
DC has funded $24m for a new Deanwood Library. Let's put it in the ground floor at the Deanwood metro parking lot! WMATA has already agreed to joint development there. A true dream anchor tenant (DC Public Library) for TOD!
Most of the congestion is people commuting or other trips. There aren't too many places where its the freight that is a big source of overall congestion.
Slight correction to Alex B.'s point - a standard parking space is much smaller than 20 feet wide. Still don't understand Jasper's complaint - a "parking space" is just a different unit of measurement than a square foot, and linear feet is proportional to the number of square feet assuming the width of a parking space is standard. They're objectively all the same.
It's not exactly that simple. People and things. Otherwise, we would just pretend that all trucks and other kinds of delivery systems don't exist. Also needs to include things that people take with them during their own transportation - sometimes negligible, sometimes substantial.
The problem with assigning points for camera tickets is you can't prove who was driving. The points would never stand up in court. Has any jurisdiction done this?
The Parker Gray homes are "historic" because they represent a (rare) time when the federal government actually built some public housing in the south that wasn't segregated but the homes themselves were never high quality homes to begin with. And the people who lived there never had the resources themselves to do a ton of work to add in modern amenities.
Which, I get the sentiment behind not wanting to totally demolish them and act like it never happened but at the same time its absurd to apply the same historic preservation standards like we do when we feel like it's an important building to preserve because of its physical characteristics.
I don't know how you "preserve" that. Plenty of small affordable apartments in the French Quarter of New Orleans are there because they were originally built as Slaves Quarters. Sometimes you see blowback when that fact makes it in the advertisement (especially when its an airbnb or something).
Or at Mt. Vernon they've recreated those quarters to help put some of the site back in context but when you're trying to have a real neighborhood and not a historic reenactment I don't know how you 'preserve' that sort of history but make it an actual livable space.
Market demand, consumer preferences and demographics are why even Loudoun County - in the outer suburbs - forecasts that half of its new housing units in the coming decades will be townhomes and multi-family. But our counties and towns have a choice as to how they plan for that housing - sprawl and no options, or fostering communities and countryside that give people real options in how they get around and housing types, provide affordability in housing & transportation, and shorter trip distances for drivers as well as people using other modes.
It’s only transit that gets frozen and it’s frankly ridiculous.
True that.
But it's also ridiculous that time and time again we find that WMATA doesn't have its shit in order. It is tricky to find ways to hold WMATA accountable that don't hurt riders.
I've really appreciated how forceful Randy Clarke has been in saying that transit is MUCH safer than driving, despite the high-profile coverage and draconian service cuts imposed by the safety commission. There was a problem on the 7000 series cars (and maybe now also caused by the tracks) that derailed... and nobody was killed.
Meanwhile people are dying on the roads literally every day, sometimes from other unpredictable causes like a driver's medical emergency. But we don't shut down driving until we've fixed those problems because we understand that mobility, access to jobs and school, etc are very important. It's only transit that gets frozen and it's frankly ridiculous.
As a non-profit organization its my understanding that DCST operates in support of its mission -- not in support of benefiting or serving the interests of its members.
DCST supporting the 2 mile eastward extension of the DC Streetcar in 2021 is a very different thing than DCST's organizational board members supporting the full 8 mile line in their own organizational capacity as individual BIDs.
If we want that 8 mile vision realized we are going to need the BIDs to join the fight more explicitly like they did in 2017.
I don't doubt the suggestion that some of the BIDs would like to see the streetcar extended the full 8 mile line -- but actions matter much more than desires when it comes to advocacy. I hope they can find the capacity to step up in the future.
The Montgomery County Council passed legislation requiring those 14 and older to wear helmets and for e-scooter companies to register with the county Department of Transportation.
I don't think this summary is correct; the article says minors have to wear helmets and children under 14 can't use e-scooters
A letter from 2017 demonstrates that they supported the extension in 2017. I would like to believe that they continue to support it but I haven't seen much public evidence to suggest that. DCST signed onto a coalition letter in 2021 related to streetcar, but I don't believe any of the BIDs did.
Its easy to support something when the political winds are pointing in that direction -- like they were in 2017 with the Georgetown streetcar -- but its when a project is under distress that support really matters. I would love to see the BIDs and FCC rise to the challenge of fighting for transportation equity when it really matters -- when its needed.
"Let’s face it, the poor aren’t the reason for this minimization; it’s the well-to-do bike riders who want to maintain maximum legal leverage if they are involved in a collision"
If I give this the absolute best possible reading then I guess you're talking about when DC was dealing with contributory vs comparative negligence (still a problem in VA and MD though).
Which, yeah, if you're struck from behind in the middle of the day by someone on their phone then insurers would absolutely deny any and all claims based on BS claims dealing with various bike requirements that had nothing to do with the actual circumstances of the crash.
So this isn't about "maximum legal leverage" its about how can we actually expect the same justice no matter who you are. Because as this post explicitly points out: police straight up harass black people on bicycles. That's clearly true even if you won't get any cop to admit to it.
What's the point of more requirements to "keep people safe" if the people tasked with safekeeping will only ever ignore it?
If integration is the goal, schools need to actively reach out to IB parents to find out their needs and get them to enroll. Hardy and Deal did this, as did many Hill elementary schools. But these days it is anathema to suggest that schools should consider the concerns of highly educated parents who expect their kids to go to decently performing schools. Violence on campus also cannot be dismissed.
I suspect the writer of this piece wears a helmet-wearing and has a bike that’s fully loaded with lights and a bell as he bleeds out the arguments on behalf of the poor.
customer experience liaisons
Just lol.
As if any of these people will have any idea what WMATA customers experience.
As someone who lives just off Duke and travels along it frequently (in a car, on foot, and by bus - I'm not brave enough to bike there though), this is sorely needed. The current configuration really doesn't work for everyone, and if we don't take action now to improve Duke's ability to move people it'll just keep getting worse
These are beautiful maps! Well done. Walking distance maps are so fun and informative to look at.
The streetcar extension will surly support more TOD at Benning Road Metro.
Re: Metro Safety
Good! Years overdue. Sadly they’ve already lost me and just about everyone else I know as regular users.
I do plan on using it tomorrow but I actively look at alternative means before accepting Metro as sort of a last resort now.
From Ann Arbor article …
Ah, but here in DC this is 100% performative. There will be no crack down, no enforcement. Therefore all will equally be allowed to ignore any ban.
At least in Michigan they take equity into consideration!
...banning right turns at most red lights by 2025 and allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.
Will cyclists be allowed to turn right at red lights?Re: 'homesharing'
The county’s zoning ordinance allows the program if the home is functioning as a single household for up to four people unrelated by blood or marriage, according to Woodruff.
Just repeal this rule because it's just a blatant anti-poor rule with thin justifications in other ways.
The idea you'd need a complicated county sponsored 'matching' program just to avoid the much simpler solutions out there is silly.
Surprised this didn't happen earlier. And why 2025? Right on red has been effectively banned at nearly every intersection in DT Silver Spring for years.
which is why they should certainly be required. I can't believe this is even a serious argument. Should we get rid of requirements to wear seatbelts in vehicles as well?
This is extremely speculative.
Based on the evidence, disproportionate/discriminatory enforcement is the problem. If enforcement is the real issue then that's what should be modified, not the laws themselves. For instance, make helmet requirements a secondary offense so violators can't be fined just for simply not wearing a helmet. Really the only one that should be a primary offense is the running stop signs/red lights which can endanger other road users (including peds and motorists) beyond just the cyclist.
Other ideas: Retrain officers, and recruit from marginalized communities. Instead of fines educate on bike safety. Make all officers to wear body cameras. etc.
Seems like even given the amount of time to adjust signal timing, print some new signs and do a public service campaign, it shouldn't take until 2025 to implement "no turn on red."
Connecting volunteer drivers with seniors and others who need door-to-door service is laudable. But I'm not sure, if the volunteer drivers are only coming from 2 sources, why an app is needed? And I'd be interested to see the overlap between folks who might need this service (because they don't already have family or a social network to assist with these tasks) and those who are savvy enough to figure out how to use this app.
It isn't any different than a flea market, festival, or whatever. You rent in full space (or multiples) or subdivide it into feet of space.
The "complaint" is some goofy hang-up about it being referred to as a "parking space," which is...I don't get it. If there's no one using it for eating, then it is a parking space.
I don't understand it either
Most of the congestion is people commuting or other trips. There aren't too many places where its the freight that is a big source of overall congestion.
It's not exactly that simple. People and things. Otherwise, we would just pretend that all trucks and other kinds of delivery systems don't exist. Also needs to include things that people take with them during their own transportation - sometimes negligible, sometimes substantial.
The Parker Gray homes are "historic" because they represent a (rare) time when the federal government actually built some public housing in the south that wasn't segregated but the homes themselves were never high quality homes to begin with. And the people who lived there never had the resources themselves to do a ton of work to add in modern amenities.
Which, I get the sentiment behind not wanting to totally demolish them and act like it never happened but at the same time its absurd to apply the same historic preservation standards like we do when we feel like it's an important building to preserve because of its physical characteristics.
I don't know how you "preserve" that. Plenty of small affordable apartments in the French Quarter of New Orleans are there because they were originally built as Slaves Quarters. Sometimes you see blowback when that fact makes it in the advertisement (especially when its an airbnb or something).
Or at Mt. Vernon they've recreated those quarters to help put some of the site back in context but when you're trying to have a real neighborhood and not a historic reenactment I don't know how you 'preserve' that sort of history but make it an actual livable space.
[This comment has been deleted for violating the comment policy.]
Market demand, consumer preferences and demographics are why even Loudoun County - in the outer suburbs - forecasts that half of its new housing units in the coming decades will be townhomes and multi-family. But our counties and towns have a choice as to how they plan for that housing - sprawl and no options, or fostering communities and countryside that give people real options in how they get around and housing types, provide affordability in housing & transportation, and shorter trip distances for drivers as well as people using other modes.
Some Arlingtonians concerned dogs may use a park outside of “dog park” sections
Oh, FFS.
This is such a useless division of people.
"All them dog owners let their dogs attack and leave poop all over the place!".
No, that's just the same three assholes that also don't stop for STOP signs and park in intersections.
It’s only transit that gets frozen and it’s frankly ridiculous.
True that.
But it's also ridiculous that time and time again we find that WMATA doesn't have its shit in order. It is tricky to find ways to hold WMATA accountable that don't hurt riders.
I've really appreciated how forceful Randy Clarke has been in saying that transit is MUCH safer than driving, despite the high-profile coverage and draconian service cuts imposed by the safety commission. There was a problem on the 7000 series cars (and maybe now also caused by the tracks) that derailed... and nobody was killed.
Meanwhile people are dying on the roads literally every day, sometimes from other unpredictable causes like a driver's medical emergency. But we don't shut down driving until we've fixed those problems because we understand that mobility, access to jobs and school, etc are very important. It's only transit that gets frozen and it's frankly ridiculous.
As a non-profit organization its my understanding that DCST operates in support of its mission -- not in support of benefiting or serving the interests of its members.
DCST supporting the 2 mile eastward extension of the DC Streetcar in 2021 is a very different thing than DCST's organizational board members supporting the full 8 mile line in their own organizational capacity as individual BIDs.
If we want that 8 mile vision realized we are going to need the BIDs to join the fight more explicitly like they did in 2017.
I don't doubt the suggestion that some of the BIDs would like to see the streetcar extended the full 8 mile line -- but actions matter much more than desires when it comes to advocacy. I hope they can find the capacity to step up in the future.
Don't the BIDs make up a majority of DIST?
I don't think this summary is correct; the article says minors have to wear helmets and children under 14 can't use e-scooters
A letter from 2017 demonstrates that they supported the extension in 2017. I would like to believe that they continue to support it but I haven't seen much public evidence to suggest that. DCST signed onto a coalition letter in 2021 related to streetcar, but I don't believe any of the BIDs did.
Its easy to support something when the political winds are pointing in that direction -- like they were in 2017 with the Georgetown streetcar -- but its when a project is under distress that support really matters. I would love to see the BIDs and FCC rise to the challenge of fighting for transportation equity when it really matters -- when its needed.
I think the BIDs support the streetcar to Georgetown too
"Let’s face it, the poor aren’t the reason for this minimization; it’s the well-to-do bike riders who want to maintain maximum legal leverage if they are involved in a collision"
If I give this the absolute best possible reading then I guess you're talking about when DC was dealing with contributory vs comparative negligence (still a problem in VA and MD though).
Which, yeah, if you're struck from behind in the middle of the day by someone on their phone then insurers would absolutely deny any and all claims based on BS claims dealing with various bike requirements that had nothing to do with the actual circumstances of the crash.
So this isn't about "maximum legal leverage" its about how can we actually expect the same justice no matter who you are. Because as this post explicitly points out: police straight up harass black people on bicycles. That's clearly true even if you won't get any cop to admit to it.
What's the point of more requirements to "keep people safe" if the people tasked with safekeeping will only ever ignore it?
Leave it to the BIDS and the FCC to prioritize transit to Georgetown over a streetcar connecting EOTR to Georgetown.
The District made a promise 20 years ago to reconnect EOTR to downtown and Georgetown with the streetcar.
Now the wealthy in Georgetown and pushing to be better connected to Arlington instead.
The District needs to follow through on its plan to build an 8 mile streetcar line from Benning Road Metro to Georgetown.
[This comment has been deleted for violating the comment policy.]
“The goal of the transportation plan should be to move the most vehicles possible, as efficiently as possible.”
Wrong. Simply wrong. The goal is to move people, not vehicles.
it’s the well-to-do bike riders who want to maintain maximum legal leverage if they are involved in a collision
Yeah, because poor bikers don't care about having maximum legal leverage.... because they know they can't afford a legal case anyway?
I love arguments that are so short-sighted they don't make internal sense.
*she