Opinion Posts
-
What a crash reveals about the role of police in traffic enforcement
In theory, police officers exist to dissuade people from engaging in bad behavior. So what happens when police officers engage in the bad behavior they’re said to be preventing? And what does that mean in a time when many residents are calling for a better way to provide traffic enforcement, that keeps all people safe? Keep reading…
-
The vision for Silver Spring leans urbanist, with glaring exceptions
The Montgomery County Planning Department recently wrapped up series of community conversations about the Silver Spring downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. Most of the attendees were supportive of the plan and of a generally urbanist vision, including building dense housing and mixed-use development on such sites. However, a long-running tension about Silver Spring caused debate among attendees. Keep reading…
-
Have you been holding back on Metro? WMATA wants you to see this graphic.
Covid-cautious transit riders may breathe a sigh of relief this week, as WMATA shares this image to show how its ventilation system works to keep airflow moving on Metro rail cars. Keep reading…
-
What does WMATA’s non-dire 2022 budget mean for an equitable recovery in DC?
We were worried for a minute there. WMATA’s FY2022 budget, which runs from June 2021 to June 2022, could have been bad. But the $2.07 operating billion budget passed at the WMATA Board’s meeting in April means that, while not the full restoration to pre-pandemic levels that advocates hoped for, services will look fairly similar to what they used to. Keep reading…
-
Lyon’s legacy IV: White families’ homes
A century ago, Robert E. Lee defeated both George Washington and Pocahontas. The contest? A decision to rename the county today known as Arlington. Keep reading…
-
What exactly are we trying to preserve Eckington’s industrial land for anyway?
Last week community leaders in Eckington made the case for restoring the Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map Amendments that would allow housing on the industrial land near the metros and along the trail in their neighborhood. But according to DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, who removed these amendments from his draft version of the plan, the issue is not anything about these specific parcels, but rather a concern with our city’s limited supply of Production, Distribution and Repair (PDR) land overall. It’s not an irrational concern, but it doesn’t appear to hold up to closer scrutiny. Keep reading…
-
Danville, Virginia could have the recipe for a resilient transit system
Headlines of doom and gloom have long plagued Danville. For the two thirds of Virginians residing in the state’s “Urban Crescent”—stretching from Northern Virginia through Richmond to Hampton Roads, Southern and Southwest Virginia can seem like irredeemable boondocks. The relatively recent heralding of Danville as the “Comeback City” shows there’s more nuance to the region. Either despite or because of its past hardships, Danville has pioneered a model of resilient transit service other cities across the nation could reproduce. Keep reading…
-
Bike lanes are coming to University Boulevard in Wheaton this summer
This summer, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will install bike lanes along University Boulevard in Wheaton by closing one lane of traffic to cars on each side of the road. The temporary bike lanes will be marked by flex posts. Keep reading…
-
Does size matter when it comes to fire trucks? DC FEMS takes a newer model for a spin.
DC’s Fire Department took to Twitter Thursday to share a video of a smaller, electricity-powered fire truck that had urbanist fans excited. Why? Keep reading…
-
It’s time to think about single-family homes differently
This week, GGWash hosted a talk with Diana Lind about her book, ”Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing,” and the challenges single-family homes pose on the region’s, and the country’s, housing crisis. Here’s a recap of the event. Keep reading…