Posts by David Cranor — Contributor
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Can Eastern Market park become a gathering place?
Barracks Row Main Street is studying ways to redesign the public space around the Eastern Market Metro station. While many neighbors see the potential to make a great gathering place, others don’t want anything to change at all. Architect Amy Weinstein of Esocoff & Associates is leading the Congressionally-funded Eastern Market Metro Park study, which will explore… Keep reading…
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New Douglass Bridge could be best bike bridge in DC
Last night, DDOT presented their latest design for the new Frederick Douglass Bridge, where South Capitol Street crosses the Anacostia. While the racetrack ovals proposed for both ends of the bridge have drawn criticism, the bridge itself has the potential to be DC’s best for bicyclists. Keep reading…
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M Street cycle track keeps improving, draws church anger
Last night, DDOT representatives held a short presentation on the latest design for the M Street cycle track. They have improved the design further since we last saw it. Meanwhile, angry opponents of the cycle track, including members of a nearby church which may lose some on-street parking, dominated the question and answer period. During the presentation, DDOT tried to explain… Keep reading…
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Cyclists are special and do have their own rules
Sarah Goodyear of the Atlantic has an article for Bike to Work Week entitled “Cyclists Aren’t ‘Special’, and They Shouldn’t Play by Their Own Rules.” The thesis seems to be that now that cycling is mainstream, cyclists need to behave better. I would argue that whether or not cycling is mainstream you need to ride safely and courteously. Keep reading…
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Driving still a historical bargain after Maryland gas tax hike
There is much hand-wringing over the proposed Maryland gas sales tax, but when you adjust for inflation and look at the costs to drivers per mile, the taxes the government collects on gas will still remain very near their historical low. We charge a gas tax, ostensibly to pay for transportation, that you pay based on how much driving you do. But because of increased fuel efficiency… Keep reading…
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Near Southeast rebirth started before the Nats came along
With the Nationals boasting the best record in the Major League, and the Near Southeast neighborhood coming alive, journalists and smart-growth bloggers alike are again claiming the stadium begot the neighborhood’s transformation. But the neighborhood’s development history tells us the situation is more complex. The media hammered the storyline of the stadium… Keep reading…
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To save the Eisenhower Memorial, we may need to move it
Construction on the proposed Eisenhower Memorial in southwest Washington has stalled amid criticism of the current design. Critics have challenged specific elements of the design, but few have questioned whether we’re putting the memorial in the right place. Could we better honor President Eisenhower by moving his memorial somewhere else? The proposed… Keep reading…
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Do DC’s cycletracks work well? DDOT has some conclusions
DDOT officials have said they are waiting to build the L Street cycletrack until they finished a study about the city’s 2 existing cycletracks, on 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Yesterday, they posted an executive summary of the study, though right now the site isn’t responding; perhaps too many people are trying to get a look? David C. summarized some of the… Keep reading…
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NoMa project maximizes Met Branch Trail access
Preliminary work has started on the Washington Gateway project, the three-building development on the triangle between Florida Avenue NE, New York Avenue NE and the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The project will take several positive steps to embrace its position as a neighbor to the trail and to maximize the opportunity that the trail will present. Keep reading…
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DDOT working to improve trail maintenance
Trail maintenance in DC is currently handled by a mish-mash of agencies and contractors, but no single person or agency is truly responsible. This leaves many tasks routinely ignored and results in damaged, unusable trails, some in need of complete repaving. The Department of Transportation (DDOT) is responsible for some maintenance, but so is the Department of Public Works… Keep reading…