Posts by David Alpert — Founder
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Bus lanes and free transfers are Washington area residents’ top bus priorities
Building more dedicated bus lanes and offering free transfers between bus and rail were the top recommendations from residents in a recent public survey for the Bus Transformation Project. That held true as first and second choices across age and racial lines and between regular riders and non-regular riders, though some groups put bus lanes tops while others chose free transfers as number one. Keep reading…
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The WMATA board was a “clown show” about Jack Evans, but it’s not only Evans
Corrupt behavior by DC’s Ward 2 councilmember, and former WMATA Board chairman, Jack Evans has again brought a stain to the DC Council and the WMATA Board. One anonymous board member called the board’s handling of the issues a “clown show,” and it was. But it’s not just on ethics that the board seems to be out of touch and tone deaf. Keep reading…
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Should DC councilmembers be more intimately involved with zoning and development?
DC has few neighborhood plans, and most developments are decided case by case. The DC Office of Planning proposed new rules to rekindle neighborhood planning, but the council instead might take a different approach which would mean it’s far more involved than it has been. Keep reading…
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Five things Phil Mendelson changed in the Comprehensive Plan Framework
Fifteen months after the public hearing on the DC Comprehensive Plan framework, council chairman Phil Mendelson released a proposal for changes to this first chapter of DC’s guiding document. Here are the main things he changed. Keep reading…
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The Comp Plan is about to be baaaack. Here’s what’s happening.
On Tuesday, July 9, the DC Council will take the first of two votes on the Framework Element of the Comprehensive Plan. This is the first chapter of DC’s massive Comp Plan and the subject of the epic 13-hour hearing all the way back in March… of 2018. The Comprehensive Plan is a 600-page document that supposedly guides all of DC’s growth and change, from housing to education to trash pickup. It’s most important on land use, since it sets policies that zoning boards must follow. Keep reading…
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Want to help us out with DC elections, MD/VA writing, or social media?
Want to get more involved with GGWash beyond just reading and commenting? One of our key values is to be volunteer-driven, in our actions and our decision-making. You can join our volunteer Elections Committee, write about Maryland or Virginia issues for the blog, or help with our social media team. Keep reading…
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DC is starting temporary fixes to dangerous Florida Avenue NE
After years of community pressure, multiple deaths, and an emergency bill in the DC Council, DC is working to make Florida Avenue NE safer. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented details to community members last week, and is putting in interim changes until September while it finishes designing the permanent project. Keep reading…
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A Metro Blue/Orange/Silver line study might look at these options for turning around trains
Metro has launched a two-year study to look at overcrowding on its Blue, Orange, and Silver lines, which is causing delays to riders as crowded trains fall farther and farther behind. Keep reading…
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Metro will study untangling the Orange, Silver, and Blue lines. Here’s what has been suggested in the past.
WMATA recently announced that it’s launching a study to look at crowding on the Blue, Silver, and Orange Lines. This isn’t a new problem, and past studies have considered solutions, though there’s no magic bullet to do it cheaply. Keep reading…
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Marc Elrich says middle-income housing isn’t a big priority for Montgomery County
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has a history of saying inflammatory things about policy. He did it again Tuesday, when at a housing forum organized by the the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), he pooh-poohed attention to “missing middle” housing, or efforts to encourage the private sector to build homes that middle-income residents can afford. Keep reading…