Transportation
Greater Greater Washington writes about how people get around the Washington region, whether on Metro, buses, streetcars, driving, walking, biking, or any other method.
One of the region’s strengths is the wide range of options for travel. There are many walkable places in DC, Maryland, and Virginia where people could choose transit, walk or bike, or if they don’t have their own car, grab a shared vehicle or hail a ride. This reduces the need to own cars, saving people money and reducing traffic congestion.
As our region grows, it is imperative to continue to make these options safe, economical, and available to even more people. It is imperative to ensure safe sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure, expand transit options, and add housing near existing transit stations.
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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…
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Breakfast links: Silly and serious
Are we “yuppies”? Are streetcars “toys”?; Papers without patience; Google made them build an unsafe road?; No videotaping police misconduct?; Riding it all; Georgetown streetcars tonight; Bike bits; Can the best congestion model sell congestion pricing?. Keep reading…
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The Variety of American Grids
I wanted a nerdy planning-related poster for my wall (other than the periodic table of city planning), so I made one this week. I scoured Google Earth and measured that quintessentially American grid in about a hundred downtowns around the country. Of course, there are variations in block proportions within downtowns, but I tried to pick cities that had more uniformity than average… Keep reading…
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Cuts spur new New York subway map
New York is getting a new subway map. Keep reading…
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Wells to introduce bill for overhead wires on H, Benning
On Tuesday, DC Councilmember Tommy Wells will introduce a bill to modify the existing ban on overhead wires in the L’Enfant City, his office announced last night. The new bill would not allow wires across the District, but would maintain the current ban with an exception for streetcars on H Street NE and Benning Road. To add wires to any other areas, DDOT would need to… Keep reading…