Analysis Posts
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Ride On ranks as a bigger bus agency than any between DC and Atlanta
Quiet, unassuming Ride On’s ridership ranks higher than many big-city peers. Keep reading…
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With soaring Metro, DC Streetcar, and VRE ridership, Washington region leads transit recovery in US
The Washington region leads transit recovery in the US in terms of ridership gains, with Metrorail, the DC Streetcar, and VRE at the head of the pack. Keep reading…
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This mega-map shows how MARC’s extension to Newark links us to a much broader region
A proposed extension of MARC would connect the DC region with Philadelphia’s SEPTA system, greatly expanding the reach of commuter rail in the Washington region. To celebrate, contributor David Edmondson designed a map showing just how far residents can travel using commuter railways. Keep reading…
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Where is downtown DC? It’s up for debate
DC’s zoning map provides one definition for Downtown, business improvement districts and the Census Bureau give others — and none of them are perfect. Keep reading…
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DC’s downtown wasn’t supposed to be where it is. Here’s how it migrated
George Washington and Pierre L’Enfant envisioned a very different city when they laid out plans for the Capitol. Part I of a three-part series discusses what changed for the nation’s capital between the 1700s and World War II. Keep reading…
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MARC’s new study explores how to boost Brunswick Line service
Riders have long clamored for better service to Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland, but there are many barriers to expansion. Some form of this plan, though, may actually come to fruition. Keep reading…
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How will Missing Middle actually work in Arlington?
Arlington County has become the latest jurisdiction to cast off single-family zoning, legalizing up to six units on residential lots starting July 1. While other cities’ missing middle reforms have so far delivered an underwhelming amount of new housing, Arlington’s situation may actually get more homes built. Here’s how. Keep reading…
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Premium grocery stores are missing from the region’s high-income Black neighborhoods
In a recent report, Brookings Metro analyzed the locations of premium grocery stores in ten metro areas across the country and found that the absence of high-end grocers from Black-majority neighborhoods is part of a broader trend of divestment. Keep reading…
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DC region scores high on walkability. How could it do better?
The DC region is the third most walkable in the US, according to a new report from Smart Growth America. Transit-oriented development bolstered the region’s score, while inequities persist along racial and income lines. How can planners and policymakers improve on existing strengths and fill in the gaps? Keep reading…
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DC’s historic districts may be preserving racial segregation
All but three of DC’s historic districts are majority white, and analysis of Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park suggests that historic district designation may be contributing to the displacement of Black residents from those neighborhoods. Keep reading…