Posts by Jamie Scott — Guest Contributor
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Metro closing Red Line for 8 months to accelerate repairs
This article was posted as an April Fool’s joke. Metro will suspend all service on the Red Line for the next 8 months to allow repair crews to finish work on the line more quickly. Shuttle buses will replace trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont. According to Metro spokesman Stan Dessel, Metro is tired of the constant weekend track work. “Frankly, we’re… Keep reading…
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Short-sighted bus stop placement puts pedestrians at risk
Too many bus stops are located far from the nearest crosswalk. Rather than walk long distances, many riders therefore cross dangerously in the middle of busy streets. The jurisdictions controlling the bus stops should either move them to safer intersections, or add new and better crosswalks. This is a big problem throughout many parts of the region, but especially in suburban… Keep reading…
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Metro switching most buses to alternative fuel
Metro is upgrading its bus fleet to replace older diesel buses with new hybrid-electric buses. Almost two-thirds of buses use alternative fuel today. The difference in miles per gallon is not substantial, but alternative fuel buses have lower operating costs and lower emissions. DC lags behind some other cities in alternative fuel use for buses. LA uses 100% alternative fuel… Keep reading…
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Don’t cut new Tysons Corner in two
Fairfax County is planning to turn Tysons into a dense, walkable, urban center. This transformation will include the creation of street grid and better bike and pedestrian facilities. But two major thoroughfares will weaken pedestrian circulation and divide the new Tysons in two. Route 123 and Route 7 are major 6-lane roads running through the heart of Tysons Corner. The Silver… Keep reading…
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Crowded at-large Council race could help Orange win
Last April, Vincent Orange beat a crowded field of candidates to fill Kwame Brown’s at-large seat on the DC Council. Facing reelection less than a year later, Orange could be running against 4 other candidates, which could benefit him as the incumbent. 5 candidates have picked up petitions for the Democratic at-large nomination. In addition to Orange, Sekou Biddle, E. Keep reading…
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Suburban buses needn’t baffle inexperienced riders
In many suburban jurisdictions, bus systems feel like an afterthought, with tiny bus flags at the side of a road and confusing or even nonexistent information about which bus to take. Most suburban routes run less frequently than Metrobus routes in DC, making them harder to use. But it would cost a lot of money to increase frequency. Meanwhile, for a very small investment, jurisdictions… Keep reading…
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Activate Ward Circle for pedestrians and cyclists
The center of Ward Circle near American University is an unused and wasted space. The road design heavily favors car traffic and features few bicycle or pedestrian facilities. Closing some traffic lanes and adding pedestrian crosswalks and bike lanes could make Ward Circle a more coherent public space. The center of the circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Money trouble
More theft at DC tax office; DC cuts, then restores, seniors program; Metro suing insurance provider; Taxi commission is a mess; Tysons could be your new home; Norfolk embraces light rail; Sun shines on transit police; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Under pressure
Pressure mounts on DC middle schools; Bowser has her own ethics challenge; Tenants sue over living conditions; Earthquake caused more damage than thought; No fault in Jefferson Memorial arrests; Don’t call it a bribe; Everyone doesn’t love a party; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: How to build community
BIDs can transform neighborhoods; Eisenhower Ave still lacking vibrancy; Warner wants Potomac bridge; Some cities banning plastic bags; DC stops paying federal lobbyists; Gray withdraws elections board nomination; Can you hear me now?; And…. Keep reading…