Posts tagged Budget
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Car-centric and walkable instincts vie within evolving Thomas
As society’s view of the shape of our communities and the role of our streets has shifted, so have the views of our elected officials. In the 1920s, a public debate over the role of cars dedicated streets to cars alone. Communities passed laws mandating the suburban form of development. Today, we’re reevaluating those decisions and their negative consequences, and with… Keep reading…
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Metro’s options for balancing the budget
There are essentially four options at this point for closing Metro’s $29M budget gap. In order of my preference: Jurisdictional subsidy increases. This would require local area governments to search hard in their budgets for any additional funding that can balance Metro’s budget. The amounts needed by jurisdiction are:… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Get out of committee
Complete Streets in Congress: Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) has reintroduced legislation requiring state DOTs to follow Complete Streets principles when using federal dollars for construction. Transportation for America has a form letter you can fill out to contact “your representative and senators, asking them to support the Complete Streets Act of 2009 by becoming a co-sponsor… Keep reading…
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Metro board agrees to disagree on budget
After much discussion today, Metro’s budget commitee decided to take a multi-pronged approach to closing Metro’s $29M budget gap for FY 2010. During the next two weeks, each jurisdiction is going to come up with a combination of service cuts and subsidy increases that will balance their share of the shortfall. Some jurisdictions wanted to raise their contribution,… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Figaro qua, Figaro là
Bikes at Shady Grove: Metro is “considering [whether] to allow Montgomery County to build [a] bike path to [the] Shady Grove” Metro station. Metro acknowledges it can’t always afford all desired improvements itself, but is it really questioning whether to allow the County to construct a bike facility using its own dollars? (Examiner)… Keep reading…
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Using stimulus money for Metro operations? Make a plan to pay it back
The WMATA board has reached a deal to use stimulus money to fill Metro’s budget gap. It’s great that we’ll be able to save current levels of service. However, it’s even more important to act responsibly with Metro’s budget in the future. Metro needs to start work now on ways to make the bus system more efficient, build political support for stronger… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Transit users aren’t losers
As David is in jury duty this week, I’ll be your guest host for Breakfast Links. Please continue to send tips our way at tips@ggwash.org. Keep reading…
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Metrobus, MetroAccess fares have declined with inflation
Metrorail fares increased recently in 2003, 2004 and in 2008. What used to cost $1.10 now costs $1.65. Are Metrorail fares growing too fast? Or have fares not gone up enough compared to inflation? Have bus fares kept up with inflation? How has government support of rail, bus and paratransit changed over time? Keep reading…
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Let’s stimulate with a major bike sharing program
Arlington hopes to launch a bike sharing pilot this year. DC plans to expand its 120-bike, 10-station SmartBike program by another ten stations as well. That would be great. But at the recent DDOT oversight hearing, Mount Pleasant ANC Commissioner and bike and pedestrian advocate Phil Lepanto asked, why not 50 new DC stations this year, and another 50 every year? Or more? Keep reading…
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RACap: NextBus and resolutions
At last night’s meeting, the Metro Riders’ Advisory Council heard from the staff working on the NextBus real-time system, and passed resolutions on NextBus and on service cuts. Rob Kramer, head of operations for the IT Division, spoke to the Council on the NextBus system. Currently, they plan to launch it in June or July. In addition to the Web and phone system,… Keep reading…