Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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Metro FAQ: How will Silver, Orange, Blue fit at Rosslyn?
Rosslyn is a major bottleneck in the Metro system. Because the Orange and Blue Lines intersect at Rosslyn, the station can be a source of backups, especially if there are any problems. Metro’s switches can handle a train every 135 seconds — 26 trains per hour — and that is the current throughput at Rosslyn. Ridership has been growing on the Orange Line, and some… Keep reading…
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Metro FAQ: Why no peak Yellow Line past Mt. Vernon Sq.?
Periodically, we get questions about some of the nuances of Metro’s service and operations. Some of these came up in a recent thread. While some of you know the answers, many don’t. Therefore, we decided to review some of these topics. In December 2006, Metro began extending Yellow Line trains to Fort Totten off peak. It started as a pilot, but increasing demand for… Keep reading…
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Share the road, because the sign is blocking the path
Besides closing park bike paths at dark for the safety of cyclists, the Montgomery County Park Police have taken another interesting approach to promoting cyclist and pedestrian safety. Keep reading…
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UMD fights phantom fences from Purple Line
The University of Maryland and the Maryland Transit Administration remain at odds over the Purple Line. One argument that UMD loves to trot out is that the light rail line will turn campus into a maze of tall fences. While MTA fiercely denies that they are planning to install fences, the University of Maryland claims evidence to the contrary. Administrators cite the University… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s zoning issues, part 3: Complexity & confusion
Lately, I’ve been discussing the effort to rewrite Montgomery County’s zoning code. Previous installments have covered zones and uses. Today, I discuss issues that make the current code complex and disorganized. Deficient Definitions Like most legal documents, the Montgomery County Zoning Code includes a definitions section. But like other parts of… Keep reading…
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‘Metrospeak’ camouflages bus cuts
Because of Metro’s budget shortfall, fares will likely rise, and some service reductions will take place. However, Metro’s terminology misleadingly couches major service reductions as “restructurings.” General Manager Richard Sarles’ budget proposal calls for fewer bus cuts - certainly a fact worth celebrating. But some very major… Keep reading…
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Halethorpe getting a MARC station replacement
Earlier this week, the Maryland Transit Administration announced that construction would soon start on a replacement MARC station on the Penn Line at Halethorpe. The Halethorpe MARC station is located on the busiest of MTA’s 3 commuter rail lines, the Penn Line. It is located near the Baltimore Beltway, two stops south of Baltimore Penn Station, between West Baltimore… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s zoning issues, part 2: Uses
Montgomery County is working to rewrite its aging and complicated zoning code. In the last installment, I discussed problems with our zones. This post looks at issues facing allowable uses. Zoning codes determine which land uses are or are not allowed to operate in each zone. Montgomery County’s code deals with allowable uses by organizing them into tables or lists. Each… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s zoning issues, part 1: Complicated zoning
Recently, I discussed the effort underway in Montgomery County to rewrite an aging zoning code. Over three decades, the code has grown unwieldy and hard to use. Thirty-three years of additions and amendments has left the code with a mess of outdated provisions, orphaned words, and a baffling table of permitted uses. Many of the problems with the code stem from shortsightedness… Keep reading…
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How could Metro improve wayfinding?
Yesterday, I discussed some of the ways other transit agencies deal with wayfinding. Based on the comments, many of you feel that signage is fine at present. Others think it can improve. Generally, the test of wayfinding is its ease for the absolute novice. While everyone is going to have to study a map or station list at some point, it needs to be easy to navigate a station once a person… Keep reading…