Posts by Dan Malouff — Editorial Board
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Is DC delaying bike lanes with redundant studies?
Sometimes politicians delay otherwise popular projects they don’t support by insisting on more studies before work can begin. In DC, less than one mile of bike lanes were added in 2011. Is this a sign of tepid support for bike lanes from Mayor Gray or other top officials? Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich used a “paralysis by analysis” strategy to stall the Purple… Keep reading…
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New skyscraper will raise the roof on White Flint
For most of the past 3 decades, the tallest skyscraper in Montgomery County has been Gaithersburg’s 275 foot tall Washingtonian Tower. Earlier this year, Washingtonian Tower was eclipsed by the 289 foot tall North Bethesda Market. Now, developers in White Flint are proposing another, even taller tower. Oh, and it’s crazy-looking:… Keep reading…
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For highways, getting a ‘D’ isn’t so bad
Listen to any discussion of highway congestion and you will inevitably hear about Level of Service (LOS), which assigns a letter grade to the congestion level of road segments. Letter grades start with ‘A’ for free flow and run down to ‘F’ for “failing” (congested) roads. Simple enough. Simple enough, except that it makes absolutely… Keep reading…
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Amsterdam proves bikes and streetcars are allies
Cyclists and streetcar tracks don’t always get along, but the two should not be enemies. On the contrary, cities with large streetcar networks also tend to be the most bicycle friendly. This is because streetcars contribute strongly to the development of more dense, urban, less car-dependent cities — the same characteristics that produce the most friendly urban… Keep reading…
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It’s TIGER time again
Each of the past three years the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to local governments, as part of a program called TIGER. Each year the Metropolitan Washington Transportation Planning Board (TPB) puts together an application on behalf of the DC region. This year, TPB is submitting an application for $24 million… Keep reading…
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School capacity tests make sprawl worse
A few years ago Gaithersburg adopted an ordinance to ensure that infrastructure keeps up with growth. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, the law turned out to be counterproductive, as it damaged the city’s ability to grow in the right places. Gaithersburg has a big problem. On one hand, the city is trying very hard to promote smart growth. They’ve… Keep reading…
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Proposed pedestrian bridge to cross Inner Harbor
I’ve always thought it a shame that Baltimore’s Harbor Tunnel wasn’t built as a suspension bridge. What a glorious sight that would be, with the skyline as a backdrop. Now Baltimore may be getting a second chance with a proposed cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over the harbor. Keep reading…
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Could Longfellow Triangle be more of a real park?
Longfellow Triangle is one of many lightly used, leftover spaces on the L’Enfant grid. With some creative thinking, the city could turn it into a more useful and enjoyable public space. The triangle is bounded by Connecticut Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, 18th Street, and M Street. While it would make sense to have a circle there, one never developed, likely because Rhode… Keep reading…
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Why sign regulations matter
One of the most basic rules of urban design is that pedestrians need things to look at. Good walking cities are often visually messy cities. For this reason, many urbanists are hesitant to support strong sign control regulations. Signs are things to look at, after all. When Greater Greater Washington discussed illegal signs at the Uline Area earlier this month, many of the… Keep reading…
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Could green zebra striping improve cycle track crossings?
Zebra striped pedestrian crossings are extremely common all over DC, and the city has recently experimented with green bike lanes. Could DC combine the two to create an even better crossing for cycle tracks at intesections? Here is a quick rendering of what this idea might look like: Keep reading…