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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WMATA, ART close to Google Transit participation
Negotiations between WMATA and Google over Google Transit have reached the point of hammering out actual legal language, which means a deal could be very close. Keep reading…
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WMATA budget deep dive, part 2: Bus service cuts
In addition to the $15 million of rail service cuts discussed in part 1, WMATA’s proposed FY2011 budget targets bus service for net cost recductions of $18 million. It lists a pool of bus service reductions (pages 19-21) that total about $31 million in costs, or $26.5 million after factoring in ridership losses. Metrobus ridership has dropped much more than… Keep reading…
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Line of sight not enough to prevent June 22 crash
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sight-distance test shows that the train operator in the June 22 crash probably wouldn’t have realistically seen the stopped train soon enough to prevent a collision when the signaling system failed. The operator appears to have applied the brakes less than three seconds after first “full sighting” when it… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Could be more walkable or bikeable
Tysons hit and run; Learning from Walk Scores; Bike infrastructure cut again; King Street’s fences; Transit worth it; Intrigue in PG planning; And…. Keep reading…
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Dinner links: Virginia rails rule
Money train to Lynchburg; VRE gains Gainesville study; Work out on the train; Out of sight but not out of mind; Driver texting?; DC eagerly repeating DC USA; It’s not “your” space. Keep reading…
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WMATA budget deep dive, part 1: Metrorail service cuts
In this series, I’ll examine the different components of WMATA’s proposal to close its $189.2 million FY 2011 budget gap, plus a few other options not part of WMATA’s proposal. At the end, I’ll offer some recommendations and alternatives. WMATA proposes a range of Metrorail service reductions totaling $32.5 million. They estimate the reductions… Keep reading…
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Live chat with Marcel Acosta
Marcel Acosta is the Executive Director of the National Capital Planning Commission and an alternate member of the WMATA Board of Directors, appointed by the federal government. Keep reading…
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Safety is no accident, says Carr
Maryland Delegates Al Carr (D-Kensington) and Bill Bronrott (D-Bethesda) have introduced a bill to replace the word “accident” with “crash” in the state’s laws. The House will hold a hearing on the bill this afternoon. The bill would use the word “crash” instead of “accident” where it occurs in the laws of the State… Keep reading…
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Senators threaten WMATA takeover; NTSB holding hearing on June crash
Yesterday, the top Senators with oversight over transportation sent a frustrated letter to WMATA Board Chair Peter Benjamin about a “troubling pattern” of safety incidents and threatening “all possible options … including direct federal intervention” if safety does not improve “immediately and comprehensively.” In the months… Keep reading…
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Marcel Acosta interviews you
Tomorrow at noon, we’re hosting a live chat with Marcel Acosta, Executive Director of the National Capital Planning Commission and newly-appointed alternate member of the WMATA Board. But before we interview Mr. Acosta, Mr. Acosta would like to interview you. He’s put together these questions to get your input on the issues facing WMATA and NCPC. Post your thoughts… Keep reading…