Posts by Michael Perkins — Contributor
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Petition local officials for Metro support
Click here to sign Coalition for Smarter Growth’s petition to local government officials asking for more financial support for Metro. Keep reading…
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Five questions for: Donald Shoup
We’re starting up a new feature here on Greater Greater Washington where we collect reader questions and choose the five best to an expert (or maybe a group of experts) to get their opinion. This week, we have Donald Shoup, Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA. Dr. Shoup has been writing about parking issues since 1978, and his book, The High Cost of Free Parking, is recognized… Keep reading…
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Why should the most convenient parking spaces also be free?
People are used to paying a little more for convenience. We generally pay more for food prepared in a restaurant, for pre-packaged convenience foods, and even pre-made mixes than for consumer staples. We pay more for tickets through a ticket broker to save us the trouble of going to the box office. We even pay more for groceries, hardware, or other goods if we buy them at a small shop close… Keep reading…
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Metro ridership, revenues declining
According to this presentation before Metro’s finance committee this week, the June 23 red line accident, lower gas prices and a declining economy have all contributed to lower ridership on Metrorail and Metrobus than originally anticipated. Keep reading…
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Arlington plans performance parking pilot, other progressive parking policies
Arlington is ready to put a lot of Dr. Shoup’s ideas from The High Cost of Free Parking, and other progressive urban ideas, into the County’s parking policy. At the September 26 meeting of the County Board, Arlington officially proposed major changes to its parking and curbspace policies by advertising a new Parking and Curb Space Element (PDF) for the Master Transportation… Keep reading…
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London’s spider maps
Transport for London has these great bus maps that show routes traveling in all directions from major transit nodes. Keep reading…
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Metro long-term funding
Here at Greater Greater Washington and elsewhere in the press there’s a tendency to concentrate on new, shiny projects. We drool over the possibility of a new Blue line underneath Georgetown or M Street, we publish fantasy maps showing new streetcar and bus corridors. We think, wouldn’t it be great if Metro had more faregates? A pedestrian tunnel? Keep reading…
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Streetcars on the “honor system”
Like most other rail street transit systems in the world, the DC streetcar should operate as a proof of payment honor system. This system requires passengers riding the streetcar to have proof that their current ride is paid for, but does not require riders to show their ticket until asked by an inspector. This system is extensively used in Europe and in various American cities like… Keep reading…
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Board to Catoe: Cut service to balance budget
According to this draft resolution, the WMATA Board will ask General Manager John Catoe to develop a plan to fill Metro’s $100 million budget gap primarily through cuts to transit service instead of jurisdictional increases or targeted revenues beyond the modest and already-planned fare increase. Keep reading…
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Arlington pilots new meters
In some Arlington locations, drivers are now able to pay for parking by credit card, right at the curb. Unlike the multi-space pay and display meters showing up around the region, these parking meters are conveniently located right at each parking space, and do not require the driver to place a receipt on their dashboard. Keep reading…