Breafast links: More sustainable practices

Public Spaces

by David Alpert • June 3, 2009 8:24 am

Photo by eddie.welker.

5 cents for a bag here and elsewhere: The DC Council unanimously passed the 5-cent fee on carryout bags. The New York State legislature is one step closer to letting New York City do the same, the Baltimore City Council is considering a 25-cent fee, and a California editorial endorses a similar measure there. Connecticut will wait a year.

DoD budget includes Medical Center Metro entrance: The Department of Defense budget submitted by President Obama includes $20 million for a new, second entrance to the Medical Center Metro on the east side of Rockville Pike. This would significantly facilitate transit access to the key BRAC facility. (Gazette)

BaltWash SmarTrip: Maryland MTA and WMATA have worked out an agreement to allow the same smart cards to work on MTA's Baltimore area transit facilities as well as WMATA's around Washington. (~~Bicycle~~ DC Transportation Examiner)

Metro challenges include ridership crunch, "reputation deficit": Understanding Government reports on WMATA. Rising ridership amid aging infrastructure in need of maintenance will be a big challenge for WMATA, as is a "reputation deficit" stemming largely from a history of poor communication internally and with riders. The report says Catoe took major steps to bring in new blood and reduce the military-style, chain-of-command method of sharing information within the agency, but has a ways to go yet.

DDOT will also improve 6th and Florida: 15th and W Streets, NW isn't the only location where DDOT plans pedestrian safety improvements. Florida Avenue at 6th Street, in LeDroit Park, is another danger spot. DDOT and MPD have agreed to an action plan for this intersection. (EdgewoodDC Listserv, Stephen Miller)

Police under pressure to write tickets: Police departments nationwide are writing speeding tickets at a higher rate at the behest of elected officials, and drivers are unhappy. Of course, those traffic laws all have really good reasons for existing, and it is simply a good idea to enforce them. It is too bad that many elected officials turn a blind eye to violations until they need more money. One driver quoted in the article might provide the reason: he argued that tolerating illegal driving promotes tourism. Right or wrong, that could persuade many lawmakers. (Car and Driver, Cavan)

Highway fund out of money, again: Once again,the Highway Trust Fund will go broke in August without major project cutbacks or another infusion of funds from Congress. This also matters for transit since the fund pays for Federal transit funding. Notably, one Republican Senator, George Voinovich, now agrees the gas tax must be raised. (Yahoo, Froggie)

Rethinking the mall, or not: A jurist on a "Design the Mall of the Future" contest writes about some of the plans and how they envisioned cities and urbanism. Many disregarded pedestrian needs, especially outside of malls, but one of the best simply describes the mall of the future as a mixed-use urban neighborhood like many being built today. (NY Times, MarkM, Chris R)

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10 comments Share	— tags: Bethesda, BRAC, bureaucracy, carryout bag fees, Congress, DC, DC Council, DDOT, environment, gas taxes, LeDroit Park, links, malls, Maryland, MTA, pedestrian safety, SmarTrip, traffic, walkability, WMATA

DDOT completes temporary bulb-outs at 15th and W (Jul 16, 2009)
Before DDOT got to improve safety, a pedestrian was killed at 15th & W (Jun 1, 2009)
DDOT website first to get landmark status (Apr 1, 2009)
Police report for Connecticut & Nebraska crash (Feb 4, 2009)
Union Station Intermodal Transportation Center meeting tonight (May 29, 2008)

Comments

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "nickel bag."

by Ted on Jun 3, 2009 9:04 am

"Of course, those traffic laws all have really good reasons for existing, and it is simply a good idea to enforce them."

Really?

by Matthew on Jun 3, 2009 9:26 am

Adam Voiland does great work at the Examiner, but Katherine Hill - the DC Transportation Examiner - has the smart card agreement story.

by David C on Jun 3, 2009 10:00 am

Oops, fixed.

by David Alpert on Jun 3, 2009 10:05 am

@Ted -- ha ha, brilliant, laugh out loud!

by Simon on Jun 3, 2009 10:27 am

The problem with Malls can be fixed fairly easily. Just force them to stuff their parking lots under the Mall, and allow them to build at least ten floors of living space on top of the Mall, perhaps with a layer or two of office space on the lower end. The people living and working there will demand some transit and perhaps a supermarket.

by Jasper on Jun 3, 2009 10:53 am

How about the rest of 6th street south of the Florida intersection?? The two narrow lanes of traffic in each direction between Rhode Island and Mass mean tons of "rally car" type behavior, with cars regularly exceeding the limit. You put your life in someone elses hands riding on 6th. How about 1 lane in each direction, designated turn lanes that could hold 5 or 6 cars, bike lanes in both directions and maybe some angled parking? If you timed the lights, and posted good signage you could move the same volume of cars much more safely. How can we go about seeing if this can be considered? Who do i have to contact?

by Chris R on Jun 3, 2009 9:44 pm

I agree with Chris R. The high volume of traffic along 6th st, combined with little to no painted crosswalks, no bike lanes, and sidewalks that are in disrepair make a simple walk down the street a dangerous task.

by James on Jun 3, 2009 10:36 pm

Of course, those traffic laws all have really good reasons for existing, and it is simply a good idea to enforce them.

wow. not a sentiment i'd expected to read coming from GGW. oh, wait... you're just talking about traffic laws pertaining to cars, not traffic laws in general, or ones that pertain to bicycles... silly me.

by AJ on Jun 4, 2009 9:27 am

Unfortunately, Voinovich is retiring at the end of his term in 2010. So whether an elected senator would say that kind of thing is very different.

by OhioExile on Jun 4, 2009 11:53 am