Recent Posts
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On the calendar: WMATA capital budget, Christopher Leinberger, outdoor play, Met Branch Trail, Daniel Burnham
There are a lot of big events coming up in the next few days. In brief: There’s a WMATA hearing on the capital budget tonight. Tomorrow we’re hosting a live chat with Christopher Leinberger, and in the evening, there’s Montgomery County panel on building urban spaces that allow children to play. Saturday is a party for the Met Branch Trail. And next Wednesday,… Keep reading…
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Why are blocks that size?
Daniel Nairn posted an interesting comparison of the street grids in various cities in the United States. This raised the question: why did various cities choose one block size over another? Why, for instance, are the blocks in Tuscon, Arizona 400 feet on a side, while Portland, Oregon has 200-foot blocks? The block sizes of most cities stem from the interaction of… Keep reading…
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Pay By Phone: Heaven in the hell of DC parking
I just had a great parking experience in downtown DC. Yes, re-read that sentence — it’s legit. So is the Pay By Phone parking system. No more scouring the house and the car for parking meter change. No more jamming in a handful of coins when late for a meeting. And no more setting phone alarms to remind me when my time is up. Keep reading…
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Owner of H Street tunnel not so eager for streetcars
In April, DDOT presented an exciting plan to run the planned H Street streetcar through an existing tunnel under the H Street “Hopscotch” bridge. However, one obstacle still stands in the way of that vision: the current owner of the tunnel, Potomac Development Corporation. The current tunnel runs under the H Street bridge and the Amtrak tracks, and is about the width… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Site debate
Strategic areas for tall buildings?; Gas station worse next to community pool or Metro?; Fix it; More Council votes; Youth driving less because…; No grocery store since…; DIY subway; And…. Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: Gotta lotta news
June’s service disruptions; Crash on K; “The park is parked”; What a cyclist sees; Virginians packing Amtrak; Roaring for bike sharing; The one good MLK Library view; Greater grocers; Even more ART; The other late-night change; Safe cars buried, then destroyed. Keep reading…
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Metro responds to Orange Line shuttle suggestion
Metro responded to my suggestion for Orange Line shuttle buses during the Memorial Day weekend while Orange Line service was suspended between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. I had forwarded it to Mr. Sarles as commenter John Bennett suggested. Here is the reply: Dear Mr. Offutt: Thank you for your May 25, 2010 email message to Richard Sarles, General Manager… Keep reading…
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Council approves sidewalk bill with a few amendments
The DC Council passed on first reading the Priority Sidewalk Assurance Act to require installation of sidewalks on at least one side of any street being reconstructed. Councilmember Phil Mendelson (at-large) introduced four amendments to the current bill. The bill requires DDOT to provide notice to neighbors and the ANC, provide an opportunity for comment, and explain… Keep reading…
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All except Mendelson introduce overhead wire bill
12 of the 13 members of the DC Council, all except for Phil Mendelson, introduced a bill today to permit overhead wires for streetcars along H Street and Benning Road, NE. Keep reading…
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Speak for sidewalks
This morning, the entire DC Council will consider the Sidewalk Assurance Act, to ensure that political considerations don’t stop sidewalks from going in when DDOT is already reconstructing streets. Keep reading…