Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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There are many strategies for mixing bikes & streetcars
Earlier this month, Dan introduced us to one of the street design tools that planners use to ensure safe mixing of bikes and streetcars, the bike sneak. That’s one of a whole toolbox full of strategies. Seattle’s South Lake Union streetcar line runs along Westlake Avenue, which cuts diagonally across the grid. Because the street is a diagonal, almost every intersection… Keep reading…
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Metro’s 7000 series mock-up makes its debut
The newest member of Metro’s fleet recently arrived from Japan, and debuted to reporters this morning at a Metro facility in Landover. The “hard mock-up” is the first of the 7000 series cars to arrive in the Washington area, though this car will likely never carry passengers. Keep reading…
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Columbus Day transit open thread
For many workers in the Washington area, Columbus Day is just another working Monday. But for federal employees and Red Line operators, it’s a holiday. With reduced transit service, what were your experiences getting to work today? The Metro system is operating under a “Saturday Supplemental” schedule, which means the rail network is operating at Saturday… Keep reading…
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Where do Nats fans ride Metro after games?
The Washington Nationals clinched the National League East last night while playing at their ballpark just a few steps from Metro. Many Nats fans avail themselves of transit. I wondered where fans go by train after the games, and WMATA provided the data for a few evening games. Keep reading…
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Greenbelt sector plan defeats its own walkability goals
What do you get if a planner writes the first part of a plan, and then a highway engineer writes the second part without bothering to read the first? You get something that looks like the preliminary draft of the Greenbelt Metro/193 Sector Plan. Whether the two parts have disparate authors who consulted or not, the result is a contradictory plan. The plan, from the Prince George’s… Keep reading…
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Metro’s 5-second policy adds delay without solving problems
Last week, Metro introduced a new policy: after pulling into the station, train operators must wait 5 seconds before opening the doors. Ostensibly, this would give them time to ensure the train is properly berthed. This policy won’t actually solve that problem. But it will delay riders. While Metro denies that any specific incident caused the change, the timing suggests… Keep reading…
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Block the crosswalk? Brazilians will lift your car
When inconsiderate motorists stop their cars in the crosswalk, pedestrians are often forced to walk dangerously close to traffic or navigate raised islands to get across the street. The Rotary Club in the Brazilian city of Florianópolis came up with an innovative solution: a team of people to move the car out of the way. Keep reading…
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Does Metro close too early on weeknights?
Last week, a Nationals game ran late, beyond Metro’s regular weeknight closing time, sparking a debate about who should pay for late service. But there are plenty of riders who could benefit from later Metro service every night, not just evenings with sporting events. On that Monday, some fans who didn’t know Metro’s schedule or who thought Metro would stay… Keep reading…
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Through-running isn’t so easy for MARC and VRE, part 2
If MARC trains at Union Station became VRE trains to Virginia and vice versa, riders could reach more stations and we could use Union Station’s limited tracks more efficiently. Unfortunately, there are several reasons this isn’t as easy as it sounds. That doesn’t mean trains can’t run through, but a number of changes have to happen first, which cost money. Previously,… Keep reading…
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Through-running isn’t so easy for MARC and VRE, part 1
It seems logical: MARC’s trains all end at Union Station in the south. VRE’s trains all end at Union Station in the north. Union Station has capacity constraints. Why not create one regional rail operator, where all trains continue through the core and out the other end? This idea, often called through-running, comes up often. Unfortunately, several hurdles make… Keep reading…