Posts by Ben Ross — Contributor
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Montgomery police blame victims for pedestrian deaths
After three pedestrians died in three weeks in Montgomery County — one walking on the sidewalk, and the other two in crosswalks where they had the legal right of way — county police could only blame the victims. “The only thing that I see that could be newsworthy is advice to pedestrians to make sure that they have or wear reflective clothing or items when they walk at… Keep reading…
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8 ½ minutes to cross the street
When you get off the northbound bus at Route 355 and Shady Grove Road in Rockville, it takes 8½ minutes to cross legally to the other side of the street. Along the way, you traverse 28 traffic lanes. Just last week, two pedestrians were severely injured crossing the street at this intersection. I went there Saturday to look around. When I explained what I was interested… Keep reading…
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How did Metro station balance change since 1995?
We could tell a lot about land use and commuting patterns in our region by looking at the balance between entries and exits at Metro stations. Comparing the new 2012 data with the 1995 data shows how land use and job patterns in our region have evolved. Keep reading…
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What were the busiest Metro stations in 1995?
Last week, we took a look at current ridership patterns on Metro using the data WMATA released. Ben Ross has a similar set of data from 1995, and comparing the two shows how a lot has changed since 1995. Keep reading…
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Loudoun principal meets deadly crash and double standard
Last Wednesday afternoon, Loudoun County school principal Kathleen Hwang was killed while walking near her Sterling home. Media and police reporting on this tragic death exemplifies the double standard used to assess blame when automobiles and pedestrians collide. Ms. Hwang was hit by a westbound Dodge Durango, which an 18-year-old male was driving. She was crossing White… Keep reading…
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Montgomery builds BRT-hostile roads as it plans BRT
Montgomery County’s transportation policy is descending toward incoherence. Policymakers want to put dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lanes on the county’s highways. Yet they continue to prioritize expensive projects that will increase car volumes on those same roads. A prime example of the contradiction between these 2 policies is a planned underpass taking… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s bus future is more than BRT
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) could contribute much to Montgomery County, says a team of BRT experts hired by the county, but the consultants caution that it’s essential to start off on the right foot. Their report, which the Examiner uncovered last weekend, recommends upgrading existing bus service as the best way to expand transit in most of the county. In some places, the county… Keep reading…
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Traffic tests confound Montgomery council
Montgomery County has tried several times to find a working “adequate public facilities ordinance,” rules that aim to ensure new buildings don’t jam up roads. They’ve never succeeded, and a new version won’t either. At a County Council meeting Monday, legislators struggled with another proposed revamp of the law, which the county DOT originated… Keep reading…
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Car-centered traffic engineering ties Bethesda in knots
Construction-related street closings in downtown Bethesda have put pedestrians and cyclists at risk, while needlessly jamming up car traffic. The Montgomery County DOT, by treating a busy urban crossroads like a suburban highway, has made the streets less friendly to all. Keep reading…
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Legalize two-family houses in Montgomery County
Let’s say you own a house in Montgomery County and you’re having trouble paying the mortgage. Or you have more space than you need and would like some extra income. If the zoning code is rewritten the way county planning staff proposed last week, you will be able to split your house into two apartments and rent one of them out … if you are five feet seven inches… Keep reading…