Posts by Michael Perkins — Contributor
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Is the federal transit benefit actually bad?
The federal government should discontinue the transit benefit. Now that I have your attention, hear me out. Federal employees in the national capital region get direct transportation up to $230 per month, which they can use to pay for transit or vanpool service. To qualify for the benefit, they have to give up parking privileges. While this policy encourages transit… Keep reading…
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Change the Metrorail formula to change incentives
The current Metrorail subsidy formula does not reward jurisdictions for increasing ridership at their stations. Revenues from increased ridership get spread out across the system, while costs are concentrated. By changing how we calculate each jurisdiction’s share, we can change the incentives. That will encourage jurisdictions to better use the land around… Keep reading…
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Metro parking prices should reflect crowding
At some Metrorail stations, the existing parking lots are never fully utilized, while at other stations, the spaces fill up quickly, leaving commuters unable to find a space. Keep reading…
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What do Metro employees really make?
WMATA provided data about employee salaries, bonuses, overtime and benefits for fiscal year 2009. Is the $100,000 bus driver a myth, or reality? Does Metro depend on a lot of overtime? Are bonuses incredibly high, or used primarily as a symbolic recognition of a job well done? Keep reading…
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Sarles focusing on “basics” of safety, reliability, finances
WMATA General Manager Richard Sarles sat down with bloggers from Greater Greater Washington, Unsuck DC Metro, DCist, and We Love DC last night for an on-the-record chat about Metro’s challenges and his short-term 6-month plan to address them. Mr. Sarles presented his plan (PDF) to improve the system’s safety, reliability and financial stability over the next… Keep reading…
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Residents sound off about East Falls Church redevelopment
Arlington residents voiced familiar opinions for and against parking, traffic calming, and development at last week’s meeting on the East Falls Church plan. That plan calls for redeveloping low-density commercial properties and the Metro park and ride lot, as well as improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and major streetscapes. Most commenters supported… Keep reading…
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Plan would reconnect East Falls Church, fill empty spaces
Arlington County is seeking public input for a plan to redevelop the East Falls Church area, embracing the mixed-use development that is the standard at other Metro stations in the county, and connecting the station area with better bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The overall vision is to guide redevelopment of the Metro station parking lot and other likely nearby… Keep reading…
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Arlington releases open transit data, on Google soon
Arlington has released their ART bus route and schedule information in the open GTFS format, joining Alexandria’s DASH and DC’s Circulator in offering their schedule information to developers and Google for use in route-finding applications. Keep reading…
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WMATA ex-GM presents assessment to Board
Former WMATA General Manager David Gunn presented his report on how to fix Metro in a closed session of the Board yesterday. Following pressure from advocates and the press, WMATA released an outline of the recommendations. Clearly, the most critical focus was safety. Gunn encouraged Metro to redevelop a strong safety culture, something that the NSTB focused on in their recent… Keep reading…
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Fairfax Connector cuts may keep a grandma from her family
Due to the loss of $6.5 million per year in toll road funding, Fairfax County is proposing cuts on many Dulles corridor buses, including eliminating four routes to save $1 million per year. One of those is the 553, a route that my family has depended on in various ways for over a decade. My family’s commute is complex. I live at East Falls Church and commute… Keep reading…