Recent Comments

Walking the 2 miles to and from work was not really a lifestyle choice. I needed to get to work and the bus was often too unreliable to ensure I got there when my shift started.

This is what I see as the focus: to readjust transportation planning priorities (and proportional funding) so that service and facilities are improved to make non-auto a decent option.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:17 pm • link • report

Maybe dcdriver is questioning just how much energy and resources need to be devoted to advocacy for eliminating parking minimums in upper NW, when there are still close to 150,000 poor households in this city? I guess a convenient rationale is that "not every program needs to address every problem."

Well then you wander into the auto-retort of "we still have poverty!" any time anyone brings up a policy debate in DC (bike lanes, development, parks, parking, liquor licenses). Meanwhile you look at the money DC spends on social services so the city obviously isn't ignoring poverty and you look at major transit projects which serve poor communities (streetcars first going to H street from Benning Road and in Anacostia) and I think you've got a good counterargument.

Meanwhile, anyone is invited to share their story on here. Presumably poor people can share theirs as well. Indeed you can look at the map and see stories by neighborhood.

by drumz in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:16 pm • link • report

Child demanded money from an adult and jostled an adult, child's friends laughed and one yelled and swore at the adult. Adult was apparently a guy in his early 30s. Kids were, by his guesstimate, 12. All this happened in a busy area where shops were open. Nothing in the scenario makes it sound as if the adult was ever in any kind of danger (or even at risk of having property taken or damaged).

Adult felt like he'd lost control of the situation, so he reasserted his authority by calling in the cops. Once he'd made sure that the child who'd given him grief got more grief than he had, the cosmic balance was restored, everybody had been put in their proper place, and the incident was over.

Not an heroic story, not a scary story about today's youth, not a story about consequences. Kind of a sad/depressing story all around, made more so by publicity and commentary. (Although the "Bad Sense!" story was awesome.)

Yeah, we all have bad days when we overreact or handle situations poorly. And this one is rendered more understandable given the attack on the Metropolitan Branch Trail the previous day. But, in hindsight, hopefully you recognize that and vow to handle it better next time around. Maybe Twitter gets in the way of that process.

by BTDT in Young kids try to assault me while biking on Jun 19, 2013 1:16 pm • link • report

I'm surprised that Clinton didn't make it on these priority lists. It's a fairly substantial suburban area that lies just south of the Branch Avenue Station.

While prioritizing a heavy rail line isn't going to happen, it does fall within the path of the future Southern Maryland Light Rail Corridor. And even with that plan so far out, it's not a stretch to amplify BRT projects through this area as a way to alleviate the Southern Maryland bottlenecks (Since the only reliable roads north towards DC are 210 and Route 5)

Clinton has history, dating back to the Civil War era. There's some spotty growth along Old Branch Avenue, but it can be easily revitalized and it won't take much to turn it into a more compact and organized center. With infill, you can even get a small street grid growing.

I'm sad to see it neglected since Brandywine, an area that was mostly rural a decade ago, is getting top billing in this project.

It'd make sense to concentrate on this corridor since it's more or less the gateway to Southern Maryland (and vice versa as more commuters cut through 301/5 as an alternate strategy to enter the District or points north)

by Swftkat in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 1:15 pm • link • report

awitc,
re: eitc. Fair enough.

by drumz in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:11 pm • link • report

I've never owned a car in DC. Not because I've chosen some highminded car free lifestyle, but because I really can't afford a car.

Walking the 2 miles to and from work was not really a lifestyle choice. I needed to get to work and the bus was often too unreliable to ensure I got there when my shift started.

But all of my friends now have cars. Most got them as soon as the kids started arriving, others because they needed them for work.

by anonanon in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:11 pm • link • report

advocacy of this sort often leaves out the poor, which the data have shown are often less able to access transit in this region than others.

But this is the point: A greater share of the funding devoted to better transit/transportation options to enable non-automobile travel-for everybody. Use funds to improve service/infrastructure in under-served communities. Access for all. Safe Routes to Everywhere. Connect projects/transit to build a system, a network.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:09 pm • link • report

Some people have never forgiven Aaron Wiener for calling into question the paranoid "War on Cars" meme.

by Watcher in Breakfast links: Where and how the people go on Jun 19, 2013 1:07 pm • link • report

The whole Rt. 1 corridor is ripe for infill as evidenced by the overwhelming response to the "Arts District Hyattsville".

by thump in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 1:06 pm • link • report

G Street Resident,

I'm on I Street and couldn't attend the meeting. I emailed DDOT and our ANC member after the initial 4 option announcement instead.

20002ist,

Thanks for handing out flyers! Come on over to I Street sometime.

by Michael in Community supports bike lanes around H Street on Jun 19, 2013 1:06 pm • link • report

Guess what, service sector managers don't want to hear that you couldn't get to work because the bus was late or you can't work a shift because Metro doesn't run then.

Maybe in a world where the "the gov't gives poor people a car" exists there would be credence to this argument if the opportunity to get rid of said program came up. But that's not even close to what's actually happening so I presume employers generally know how their employees get to work.

Similarly employers don't like to hear it when your car breaks down or traffic gets held up and makes you late.

by drumz in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:04 pm • link • report

I would have preferred a simpler single buffered bike lane flowing with traffic on each street, but this is a nice improvement over the first 4 option designs.

I'm concerned about contraflow visibility at intersections though and would prefer green paint. Current weekend traffic circulation is fast and there's no stop sign enforcement, so more design elements that slow people down either by visibility or confusion is a good thing. I hate to say it, but I'm also curious how often people will still open passenger doors on oncoming cyclists despite the contraflow lane. My guess is that it will be bafflingly frequent.

by Michael in Community supports bike lanes around H Street on Jun 19, 2013 1:02 pm • link • report

Raljon?

by Andrew in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 1:01 pm • link • report

But isn't really on point to the questions about car dependency that are often raised - such as is it realistic to build a building in upper NW, say, without parking. Since its most unlikely that folks needing to drive to construction jobs will live a new building in upper NW.

Not every program needs to address every problem.

This here project mostly focuses on the needs of high income, high skilled residents who have chosen to live without a car mostly in affluent areas well served by transit/bikeshare/carshare. These people are more than capable of being their own advocates, and more than capable of using their considerable intelligence, resources and political clout to steer development tailored to their interests and lifestyle choices.

I think dcdriver is saying, however inelegantly, that advocacy of this sort often leaves out the poor, which the data have shown are often less able to access transit in this region than others. Maybe dcdriver is questioning just how much energy and resources need to be devoted to advocacy for eliminating parking minimums in upper NW, when there are still close to 150,000 poor households in this city? I guess a convenient rationale is that "not every program needs to address every problem."

by Scoot in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 1:00 pm • link • report

If we need more East-West connectivity in DC, what about Klingle Road? Or re-build it as Klingle Parkway.

by Axel in Focus transportation on downtown or neighborhoods? on Jun 19, 2013 12:59 pm • link • report

"Once again this points to the point of this article and project: a greater share of the funds to be invested in better transit and infrastructure to allow transportation options other than driving a car."

Or to put it slightly differently, to get more people who CAN use alternatives out of their cars, so that the road capacity is left for the people who DO need to use a car? (and for trucks and service vehicles as well)

by AWalkerInTheCity in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:59 pm • link • report

I believe that downtown PG (often referred to as "Ward 9") lies somewhere between Wards 7 and 8.

by Axel in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 12:57 pm • link • report

A construction worker carry hundreds of pounds of tools is an example.

But why is it not also possible that the point of this project is to show that for many (most?) people in the city, a car is not necessary for every day transport. Exactly. Even if someone does have to drive to a job site does mean s/he has to live in a community designed such that every trip <1/2 mile also has to be made in car b/c of missing facilities or transit.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:51 pm • link • report

Note also

if one of the key roles of autos in DC is to provide transport to workers whose work requires them to commute late at night, then might suggest that prioritizing capacity on arterials that are seldom or never congested late at night may not be a priority.

by AWalkerInTheCity in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:49 pm • link • report

@dcdriver- Guess what, service sector managers don't want to hear that you couldn't get to work because the bus was late or you can't work a shift because Metro doesn't run then.

Once again this points to the point of this article and project: a greater share of the funds to be invested in better transit and infrastructure to allow transportation options other than driving a car.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:48 pm • link • report

@dcdriver - re: construction workers -- Remember, these are workers with very few options to begin with.

Geez. Thats REALLY disrespectful of the apprentice, journeyman and master level skills required on most construction sites.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:45 pm • link • report

"That said, I'd rather just give poor people cash as well. If they want to put it towards a car, great. If not they can spend it on transit passes or a bike and whatever else. "

we could give every low income person who works some money, and they could use it for transport, or they could use it towards non transport things if they want.

Oh wait - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earned_income_tax_credit

by AWalkerInTheCity in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:42 pm • link • report

If DC wants to bring real economic growth to all of its residents, scrap the streetcars to nowhere and give grants to low-income residents to buy and maintain cars.

Unfortunately that model does not serve "all residents", and it's also very expensive. If you give $15k grants to 150,000 low income residents, that's an outlay of $2.25 billion, not factoring in administrative/personnel costs and the external and internal costs tens of thousands of additional cars on the road, generating pollution, congestion, etc.

Personally I think that money would be better spent on education reform so that fewer people have to be forced to work low income construction jobs in the first place.

by Scoot in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:41 pm • link • report

@dcdriver -I routinely carry ~40lbs of stuff on my bike.

I sometimes wonder if people on this site even open their eyes to the wider world around them.

Yeah, my thought exactly.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:41 pm • link • report

Here's the irony, one of the largest public works projects in the country (the Silver Line) and certainly the largest in this metro area, is only open to workers who have reliable access to automobiles.

Bad on Bechtel in that case. They are paying a premium for workers who own cars. They should be like Clark Construction and provide a shuttle from the closest transit. Given the shortage of construction workers right now, a strategy like Clark's ensures they have access to the widest possible pool of workers without having to pay a premium for their services.

Not surprising to me that Clark won Silver Line Phase 2 even though everyone thought Bechtel would win since they won Phase 1.

I have said it many, many times. If DC wants to bring real economic growth to all of its residents, scrap the streetcars to nowhere and give grants to low-income residents to buy and maintain cars.

If a job requires ownership of a car but doesn't pay enough for employees to own a car, then the employer needs to pay more. Government shouldn't be subsidizing the employer's low wages.

by Falls Church in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:38 pm • link • report

Funny, when I worked at a restaurant, which employed many low-income workers, they all took public transit. Even those who were middle income (predominately the bartenders and a few waitstaff that picked up a 2-3 shifts a week to supplement their 9-5 income) and could afford cars took transit.

If DC wants to bring real economic growth to all of its residents, it needs reliable public transit and thriving communities across all wards, in addition to doing difficult things like breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty.

by Birdie in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:29 pm • link • report

@dcdriver: We all get your point--and I'd argue it's a valid one--that some people simply need a vehicle. A construction worker carry hundreds of pounds of tools is an example.

But why is it not also possible that the point of this project is to show that for many (most?) people in the city, a car is not necessary for every day transport. Getting over the idea that "I could never do that; I *need* my car," is the biggest hurdle for most people, I'm guessing. So if they see others doing it then they think they might be able to also. And if they do, then hey, your roads aren't as congested because we got a car off the road.

So why give a grant to low-income folks for a car if you can build mass-transit that will take them to the same locations, at a lower per-traveler cost, and avoid the congestion and pollution?

by RDHD in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:29 pm • link • report

whether folks with low skills who live EOTR should be given grants for cars, should be given better educations, or should have more affordable housing closer to where service jobs are (quite often IN the suburbs) is an interesting question. But isn't really on point to the questions about car dependency that are often raised - such as is it realistic to build a building in upper NW, say, without parking. Since its most unlikely that folks needing to drive to construction jobs will live a new building in upper NW.

Not every program needs to address every problem. Arlington County, for example has a program to give people info on how to live car free, and to encourage it - nonetheless it has low income service workers living there (and many of them do drive to their work)

by AWalkerInTheCity in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:27 pm • link • report

Yes, College Park has a lot of potential for in-fill, but I always figured that College Park is the way it is because people want it that way.

by JustMe in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 12:26 pm • link • report

That said, I'd rather just give poor people cash as well. If they want to put it towards a car, great. If not they can spend it on transit passes or a bike and whatever else.

by drumz in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:26 pm • link • report

All those construction workers I've seen on metro (bus and train) must be a myth then.

by drumz in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:20 pm • link • report

The ability of PG county to fill in development between PG Plaza and College Park Metro Stations will be vital to any proposed downtown like character. There are numerous jurisdictions there and they all have their own agenda, often counter to promoting a downtown feel.

by Richard Bourne in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 12:18 pm • link • report

"everyone involved would also like to see bike-specific traffic signals to prevent confusion"

The confusion being referred to: http://youtu.be/KvYFhBR3fXs
-----------------------------------------
That doesn't appear to be confusion, that appears to be a person running a red light.

There are signs up and down the cycle track that cyclists use the ped signal. This cyclist did not do so.

He may not know this, so perhaps better/bigger signage, or some instruction.. but when you see a green turn arrow that corsses over your "straight" lane... do you keep going? Seems foolish, not confused.

Glad they are finally fixing this track. Any word on whether the contra-flow lane will ever connect to W St (SB)?

by anonanon in DDOT agrees to repave 15th Street cycle track on Jun 19, 2013 12:17 pm • link • report

make biking so inhospitable as to remove it as a realistic option

Find me the construction worker who can ride a bike with his or her tools to the jobsite.

I sometimes wonder if people on this site even open their eyes to the wider world around them.

No car, no job.

Guess who is building those new office buildings springing up in DC? It isn't locals on bikes. Its people (many of whom are recent immigrants) with cars and trucks who are willing to DRIVE to where the jobs are.

There are no more factory jobs. Manufacturing now requires skills that DCPS grads (or drop-outs) simply do not have. That leave construction (which is booming but requires you to drive) and the service sector. Guess what, service sector managers don't want to hear that you couldn't get to work because the bus was late or you can't work a shift because Metro doesn't run then. You need a car or you are expendable. Remember, these are workers with very few options to begin with.

I have said it many, many times. If DC wants to bring real economic growth to all of its residents, scrap the streetcars to nowhere and give grants to low-income residents to buy and maintain cars.

by dcdriver in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:14 pm • link • report

@Tina: All NPS projects, plans, EIS's, and planning documents can be found at parkplanning.nps.gov. The Glov-Arch/Soapstone project is here.

There was a public meeting about the project last night, which I missed.

by stitchbones in Breakfast links: Where and how the people go on Jun 19, 2013 12:08 pm • link • report

"Also, thanks to commenters for verifying just how scared you are of the African-Americans in whose neighborhoods you live."

We all live in a neighborhood.

No one owns neighborhoods.

No one need apologize for living.

Child attacked an adult. Here's hoping her momma can help learn her not to be an idiot.

by anonanon in Young kids try to assault me while biking on Jun 19, 2013 12:07 pm • link • report

The Bowie MARC station is a "growth center?" There's no there there. Seabrook, maybe. New Carrolton definitely. Landover Mall should have been nuked from orbit years ago. But Bowie MARC station?

by monkeyrotica in Where is downtown Prince George's County? on Jun 19, 2013 12:05 pm • link • report

@mark

There is also the issue of the disposal of the car. I live in a neighborhood near Alexandria where some home owners have as many as six or seven cars that have just been there in the driveway or the yard for ages.

Come on guys, you can only lose your virginity once!

by Jay Roberts in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 12:03 pm • link • report

G Street Resident,

I hand-delivered flyers to every residence on G St. in ANC 6C04 (2nd to 5th NE), as well as to houses just off G on the side streets.

by 20002ist in Community supports bike lanes around H Street on Jun 19, 2013 12:00 pm • link • report

When you factor in car expenses ($7,000-$10k a year), cities become much more affordable compared to suburbs if a car free lifestyle is an option. Many suburbanites who look like they're "making it" with a nice house and car are barely breaking even. This is partly due to huge transportation expenses which many families don't think about when they're looking for a house.

I've been car free in Baltimore for 3 years. Completely different beast compared to DC, but doable.

by Mark in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 11:56 am • link • report

Where's the best place to check on average daily bikeshare usage? I am curious how much is up from the prior quote 8000+ daily from April (now that additional stations and bikes are being installed).

by h st ll in Breakfast links: Where and how the people go on Jun 19, 2013 11:55 am • link • report

Love it love it love it!

Yes, your health and wealth will significantly increase if you get rid of that car. Much less stressful lifestyle as well, no worries about street cleaning, car registration, the stress of traffic etc. And no DUIs!

by h st ll in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 11:53 am • link • report

And when I say spend money I also mean prioritizing use of road space which can be more controversial than the cost itself.

by Alan B. in Focus transportation on downtown or neighborhoods? on Jun 19, 2013 11:47 am • link • report

Funding aside I DO think there is a philosophical discussion happening whether we should spend any money on car facilities vs any money on bike/transit. I think most of us here fall into one camp so it's easy to forget it's still well up for debate not how much we should spend on streetcars vs Metro but if we should spend anything on them.

by Alan B. in Focus transportation on downtown or neighborhoods? on Jun 19, 2013 11:46 am • link • report

Re: Ft. Belvoir

I wonder how well bikeshare would work for on-base transportation there.

by Falls Church in Breakfast links: Where and how the people go on Jun 19, 2013 11:44 am • link • report

@dcdriver - How about stories of low-skilled workers who are shut out of many job opportunities because they don't own cars?

How about better infrastructure for biking and better transit? That's the point.

There's no reason in this region why anyone should be in a position of being forced to buy a car to get to most places. If that's the case then the problem is with the design of roads that make biking so inhospitable as to remove it as a realistic option.

by Tina in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 11:44 am • link • report

Yep. Same thing happened to me this spring in Baltimore, but instead of quality community policing, I got apathetic cops who left me on a dark corner while they went to "find" the teens.

by Mark in Young kids try to assault me while biking on Jun 19, 2013 11:41 am • link • report

Cool. I'd like more stories on the transition between car, car-lite, to car free. To many people, just giving up a car is too scary.

by SJE in Community stories show the shift to a walkable lifestyle on Jun 19, 2013 11:40 am • link • report

I ride on 15th Street from Q Street to Pennsylvania Ave and back every day - and I have honestly never noticed the brick or felt like the southbound lane was too narrow. I am so excited about the repaving!

by Debra in DDOT agrees to repave 15th Street cycle track on Jun 19, 2013 11:34 am • link • report

@andrew

Good point. For the Second Avenue subway in New York, the construction costs are approach $2 billion per mile. From Benning Road to Rossalyn is about 6 miles.

That's a lot of cycletracks.

(http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-new-subway-line.htm)

by Randall M. in Focus transportation on downtown or neighborhoods? on Jun 19, 2013 11:25 am • link • report

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