Weekend reading: Calm during the storm edition

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Weekend reading: Calm during the storm edition

by David Alpert • September 6, 2008 10:22 am

Photo by Alan Cordova on Flickr.

Cornhusker calming in Chevy Chase: Residents are concerned about speeding drivers on Nebraska Avenue just west of Rock Creek Park, reports the Current. DDOT is reconstructing that segment of road, but residents argue the agency didn't adequately communicate plans while they were in development (a common problem across the city).

The article isn't clear about what exactly residents want. It quotes DDOT's Karen LeBlanc explaaining why they can't install speed bumps (which aren't really a good way to slow traffic, anyway), but speed bumps aren't the only kind of traffic calming. The road will have new sidewalks and bulb-outs at intersections, all good steps.

Farragut transfer moving forward: WMATA's Chief of Staff Shiva Pant answered Chuck Coleman's question about the out-of-system Farragut transfer idea at Friday's lunchtime chat. According to Pant, "It is something that is part of our next fare software upgrade. Once that is in place, we should be able to move forward with that idea."

One more step for Falkland Chase: The Montgomery County Planning Board approved plans to demolish one-third of the mid-century garden apartment complex near downtown Silver Spring to build a "luxury high rise", preserving the other two-thirds as historic while also enabling new and partly affordable housing. (Washington Post via Just Up the Pike). Both JUTP and I have criticized the proposed new tower for its very poor urbanism; it'll be up to the Planning Board to push something better.

Physically attracted to their cars: Wired relays a study which measured hormone levels in men and women after hearing the sounds of various cars. High-end sports cars generated the most arousal, particularly in women. Nature or nurture? How about playing background sounds of a Lamborghini in the subway? If subways were privately run, I suspect the operators would do just that, just like stores pipe in odors to draw out greater spending behavior.

More wards? Better ANCs? Richard Layman wonders if we need more, smaller wards, which triggers an interesting discussion about at-large Councilmembers (more? fewer?), improving ANCs (more professional staff?) and other government reform ideas.

6 comments Share	— tags: ANC, cars, Chevy Chase DC, DC, DC Council, DDOT, Falkland Chase, links, Maryland, Silver Spring, traffic calming, WMATA

Cheh wants to restore "professionalism" in traffic calming (Oct 7, 2009)
My wish for the holidays: development review filings online (Dec 22, 2008)
Chevy Chase won't be a historic district (Oct 21, 2008)
One-way schizophrenia from DDOT (May 21, 2008)
DDOT may restore two-way traffic on 15th Street (Jan 10, 2008)

Comments

You left an 'a' out of http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2008/09/speaking-of-dc-representation-do-we.html in your link.

by dcseain on Sep 6, 2008 12:40 pm

Oops, fixed.

by David Alpert on Sep 6, 2008 12:51 pm

I just read through this whole PDF about the old convention center master plan:

http://www.oldconventioncenter.com/docs/060918_Masterplan_Design_Guidelines.pdf

All I've got to say is holy shit, I'm sold! Stop talking and build the damned thing already. LOL

by Sean Robertson on Sep 6, 2008 4:40 pm

Re: hormone (testosterone) levels from high end sports cars: this article in Wired is junk science. Epinephrine (adrenaline aka "fight or flight") is probably what was triggered by the roar of the engines, which in turn stimulates testosterone.

by Lou DC on Sep 7, 2008 7:48 pm

Is there anyway to help support the walking transfer idea? I've thought that walking transfers between Farragut North and Farragut west would be a smart idea for a while now and would like to support the effort to get WMATA to listen.

by Erin Todd on Sep 8, 2008 6:21 pm

Like everything WMATA, it's going to have to be pushed to the Board and staff (and the RAC).

I would write to boardofdirectors@wmata.com, as well as csvc@wmata.com.

For the RAC, write to jpasek@wmata.com. He's the staff contact for the RAC. I have not been able to get a direct contact for the RAC, even though supposedly they represent the riders. I think they should have a mailbox. They used to have an unofficial blog.

It's a good idea, would probably save some people a couple minutes, would ease crowding on the red and orange lines, and would set up the ability to have similar features in the future (like free surface transfers from Metro Center to Gallery Place).

You could also attend either the RAC metrorail committee meeting Wednesday at 6:30 pm, or the Board meeting on the 25th at 11 am. I have never attended either meeting. The Board and key staff members are in attendance and may be able to address the question right away.

Good luck!

by Michael P on Sep 8, 2008 9:57 pm