Report A Comment

Does this comment violate Greater Greater Washington's comment policy? If so, you can report it using this form and an editor will take a look.

Larry Huffman on September 23, 2022 at 1:14 pm

Regarding four lane capacity:  a highway planner once told me that he had done a road diet on a four-lane with about 21k vehicles per day-meaning that two lanes with a left turn in the middle (i.e. 3 lanes) had been enough to handle it.  i.e. two lanes plus two middle running transit lanes with associated left turn lanes for cars could handle the current traffic with a very slight reduction in cars.  If the BRT is convenient, fast, and safe, that reduction sounds probable.

Note that four lanes of traffic backed up waiting to get through the Quaker Lane intersection is all stopped--FAR less throughput than two lanes actually moving.  Much four lane capacity around the metro area is used to store waiting cars, not to move them.

A rich guy of my acquaintance told me once how nice one of his regular trips was on a Metrobus:  he waited in Starbucks sipping a beverage and kept an eye on the bus stop automatic display of arrival time, and sauntered out with a couple of minutes leeway to board the bus that dropped him near his destination.  IF you've got convenience and comfort, middle and upper class people WILL ride transit.

GGWash is supported by our recurring donors, corporate supporters, and foundations.

See Our Supporters Become A Member