Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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Metro tests secure parking with new “bike and ride”
Metro riders now have the option to use secure bike parking at the College Park station. At a grand opening today, WMATA officials welcomed riders to the new indoor storage facility. The new “bike and ride” facility is located in the bottom level of the parking garage at the College Park station. This area was originally set aside for future retail, and has now been… Keep reading…
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“Diverging diamond” doesn’t help make a walkable corridor
An almost-finished plan for the Greenbelt Metro and MD-193 area aims to create pedestrian-friendly urban nodes in northern Prince George’s. But the county has decided to push a pedestrian and bike-unfriendly interchange in the middle of the corridor. Prince George’s planners recently held their final meeting on the Sector Plan in Greenbelt. It caps months of… Keep reading…
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Why a flat fare is a bad idea for Metro
At last week’s WMATA board meeting, new Virginia member Jim Dyke suggested that the transit agency study a flat fare. While a flat fare would certainly be simpler to understand, it’s not a good policy. It would not be more equitable. Nor would it be cheap. Keep reading…
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New Deal planned community celebrates 75 years
Greenbelt, Maryland is a product of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. His administration planned and built the town hoping that it would become a prototype for countless similar garden suburbs across the nation. This year, the city celebrates its 75th birthday. On April 27 and 28, Greenbelt is holding a symposium to examine its past and look toward its future. Faced… Keep reading…
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Metro debuts new “Rush Plus” map
This morning, WMATA released the final version of its updated Metro map, which shows the new service patterns that start this June. It has some subtle differences from the draft from last year. Keep reading…
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What parts of the Metro have the best Walk Score?
Last week, I found that the Walk Score for Washington’s Metro station areas to the was lower than most other heavy rail systems in the United States. But what if we just look at stations in DC, or Arlington? How walkable are the Montgomery, or Prince George’s, or Fairfax stations on their own? Keep reading…
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Which city’s rail system has the best Walk Score?
Last week, David Klion computed the Walk Score for all Washington Metro stops. How does Metro stack up to the other heavy rail systems in the United States? The answers may surprise you. Keep reading…
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Feds, Maryland examine widening Balt.-Wash. Parkway
Widening the Baltimore-Washington parkway would let it carry more vehicles, but would not make traffic any better. That’s the conclusion from a federal study that looked at adding a third lane in each direction. The study, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), looks at widening the parkway between Route 50 and the Baltimore Beltway. FHWA will be sending the results… Keep reading…
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Metro’s proposed monthly pass could serve more riders
An unlimited-use pass could allow Metro to reward their most frequent customers and increase off-peak usage. But the pass needs to be well-designed if it’s going to succeed. A good pass system needs to work on SmarTrip, offer price levels that would work for many commuters, and provide enough of a discount to be worthwhile. System shutdowns for track maintenance and replacement… Keep reading…
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Bike flywheel makes hills and stoplights a little easier
Starting and stopping frequently is often one of the most challenging aspects of urban cycling. A 22-year old inventor has made it a little easier with a bicycle flywheel. Keep reading…