Posts tagged Ncpc
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Washington’s rails, part 4: the long way ‘round
In the earlier installments of this three-part series, I discussed Washington and Baltimore’s rail networks, CSX’s plans for upgrading their infrastructure in the region to handle taller trains, and projects for which Maryland has requested stimulus funding. Many of the comments referenced a study on detouring freight trains around Washington which completed… Keep reading…
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Gaithersbungle, part 3: What else can you get for $3.8 billion?
The Montgomery County Planning Board staff endorsed a $3.8 billion widening of I-270 all the way to Frederick County, a move which would fuel sprawl way up in the county’s preserved farmland areas. What else could we do with $3.8 billion to improve the corridor even more? Keep reading…
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Vietnam Visitors Center: How do you make a building invisible?
In 2003, amid much controversy, Congress authorized a new structure on the Mall, near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: a visitors’ center to educate tourists about the Vietnam War and the meaning of the memorial. Responding to the recent proliferation of new memorials and growing pressure for even more, the same act of Congress also placed a moratorium on any further construction… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: People creating neat charts and graphs
Baltimore 15-minute map; Why people are driving less; A hopelessly sprawly exurb and a somewhat walkable one; Stop paving over your front yard; Should DC hybrid drivers be able to use VA HOV lanes?; Mixed-use federal buildings?; National Harbor says reroute is for safety; Boxer might sell out good transportation again. Keep reading…
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Build a circle at North Capitol and Irving
DC and federal officials and a team of consultants have created three options for redesigning the cloverleaf interchange at the intersection of North Capitol and Irving Streets. Dubbed the “Memorial in the Park,” “Center of Centers,” and “Four Corners,” each continues the grade separation of east-west and north-south traffic while also… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Park or don’t drive
Charlottesville considers meters; NCPC unhappy with no new parking at Navy Yard?; Talking parking in Alexandria; Sweeper cam tickets to fund housing; BRAC all fraked; NYC imagines 49,000 shared bicycles; DCCA elects slate, President too close to call. Keep reading…
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Bombardier announces contactless light rail power system
Bombardier, a major manufacturer of transit vehicles and systems, just announced and demonstrated a new power system for light rail vehicles, called PRIMOVE, that doesn’t use overhead wires. The power system transfers energy by electromagnetic induction, making direct electrical connections unnecessary. Keep reading…
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North Capitol study plans “gateway”, disappoints neighbors
The “North Capitol Street Urban Design & Transportation Study,” sponsored by the Office of Planning, DDOT and NCPC, aims to to transform the freeway-like North Capitol street into an attractive gateway to DC from the north. At a public meeting last night, though, neighbors mostly heaped criticism OP for the narrow scope of the study and for their other frustrations… Keep reading…
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St. Elizabeth’s is a campus, not a fortress
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is consolidating its 60-some-odd area offices to a centralized campus. Finally. This move is smart, as it will improve the organization’s efficiency and bring it up to par with other executive branch defense organizations with their own headquarters like the CIA, the NSA, the Department of Defense, the DIA, and the FBI. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Mo’ train money, mo’ problems edition
Federal bread crumbs for a third VRE track: Virginia will spend $13 million to add a third track for VRE trains south of Fredericksburg to reduce delays from freight trains. In a big change for the feds, they are contributing; previously rail projects got no federal money. But they’re only kicking in $2 million of the $13 million total, as part of a mere $30 million for rail across… Keep reading…