The interesting bit about the tunnel-less transfer is that the initial plans for the tunnel between the two Farraguts (and the one between Gallery Place and Metro Center) indicated that a patron would indeed leave and then re-enter the faregates. SmarTrip definitely has this capacity, but it's a matter of programming and implementation. I'm not sure about paper farecards - might there be a way to do that with the existing technology?

Either way, the proposed tunnels seemed to be visioned as underground concourses with some retail and connections to existing buildings, etc.

If they can implement it with SmarTrip, then they should do so - anything that offers an incentive for more people to get a SmarTrip card, the better. Still, in the long run, a tunnel is a good idea, as it would speed up that transfer and actually have a chance to relieve some of the pressure off Metro Center. If you have to go up to street level, you have to cross both I and K at the lights and the average commuter won't save much time, I would think.

by Alex B. on Sep 2, 2008 9:24 am  

It may be a little complicated, even with Smartrip. When you leave Farragut, it has to assume you're not coming back in. So when you get to the other Farragut, it has to "reopen the tab" as it were. For most short rides, all this should mean is that the second ride is free, but if you're talking about a long ride, the overall charge needs to be taken into account.

It's not impossible, but it's the sort of little computing things that cost a frustratingly lot to implement.

by Reid on Sep 2, 2008 10:05 am  

The provision for the future Farragut transfer tunnel are in place. Original plans called for a simple paid area tunnel. Page 48 of the 09 17 2002 10-Year Capital Improvement Program (2.55 MB PDF file) show a more elaborate configuration.

As to everyone else is bicycling Blaine Harden Washington Post article. The answer is in the last sentence of the third paragraph.

by Sand Box John on Sep 2, 2008 10:43 am  

Here's hoping whoever stole my bike is greedy enough to get caught in the bait-and-switch tactic. Bah!

by Katie on Sep 2, 2008 11:11 am  

Farragut North and Farragut West were originally intended to be one transfer station, according to /The Great Society Subway/, but that got nixed by the Park Service, which controls Farragut Square. Have they signed off on this tunnel plan, yet?

by Distantantennas on Sep 2, 2008 11:21 am  

"Only four towns in MoCo:"

Takoma Park, Garrett Park, Kensington, Gathersburg, Poolesvile, Somerset? All in Moco, and all incorporated in one way or another.

by kenf on Sep 2, 2008 11:36 am  

Re: Walking transfer between the Farragut stations.

There's a cryptic item in this weeks WMATA RAC Agenda (PDF). I'm trying to find out more, but if anyone can attend (Wednesday at 6:30 pm) that would be even better.

The item is: "Transfer Policy Changes - Marketing and Outreach"

by Michael P on Sep 2, 2008 12:16 pm  

Re: "Transfer Policy Changes - Marketing and Outreach"

Maybe it could be bus-to-rail transfers?

"Metro intends to institute a bus-to-rail transfer, but we just don't have a firm date for that yet. It hinges on all the regional transit operators having SmarTrip fare boxes installed in their buses. We expect The Bus service, in Prince George's County, to join the SmarTrip team later this year. Then we can begin to move forward with a bus-to-rail transfer. "

http://www.wmata.com/chat/transcript.cfm?ChatID=111

by Erik on Sep 2, 2008 1:14 pm  

My guess about the transfer change is that it refers to their plan of requiring a SmarTrip card to get a transfer starting next year. When they had the fare increase earlier this year, they planned to eliminate paper transfers in 2009.

by inlogan on Sep 2, 2008 3:09 pm  

Within Paris, one can do a walking transfer between the RER (commuter rail) and Metro. Your ticket must be valid for "cite' urbaine" (urban city) on the RER or simply be a Metro ticket. This is a fairly recent change that made both systems even more convenient.

by Chuck Coleman on Sep 2, 2008 3:39 pm  

Zip codes and zip code boundaries have nothing to do with towns, villages, hamlets, or communities in Maryland. Silver Spring is not a town, but a bunch of subdivisions that grew up around the unincorporated community (called Silver Spring after the historic Blair mansion) centered on the Union Turnpike (now Georgia Avenue) and Colesville Road. The Postal Service was too lazy and too vehicle-bound to allow any of the names for other hamlets to survive when they laid out delivery routes.

Richard, who lives within the G'burg city limits

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 7:09 pm  

I work for the Census Bureau and can authoritatively say that, as of January 1, 2008, Montgomery County had exactly 19 incorporated places. Anyone here from Chevy Chase Village town or Chevy Chase Section Five village?

by Chuck Coleman on Sep 2, 2008 7:45 pm  

I'm the original poster from the Commuter Page:

http://www.commuterpageblog.com/2008/08/build-the-invis.html

Programming the system to charge the right fare should be fairly trivial (although might take a bit of time--say a week). It's at most a tiny obstacle. It's the only one. There is no reason Metro shouldn't just put this in place right now. It inconveniences no one (since anyone who wants to can just keep doing whatever they do now) and adds flexibility to the system and will relieve congestion at Metro Center.

So let's get the word to them. If anyone knows someone at Metro or the DC City Council or someone who writes for the Post or City Paper or other blogs. Let's get this idea out in front of the public big time and force Metro to either get it done or explain why not.

Thanks for your help.

by steve on Sep 5, 2008 10:09 am  

There's a cryptic item in this weeks WMATA RAC Agenda (PDF). I'm trying to find out more, but if anyone can attend (Wednesday at 6:30 pm) that would be even better.

Here is the response I received from the RAC Staff Coordinator, when I asked for a copy of the meeting presentation:

Last night's RAC meeting did include a discussion on Metro's marketing and customer outreach as it relates to the Authority's planned elimination of paper transfers (bus-to-bus and rail-to-bus).

However, there wasn't a presentation, per se - the staff member who came to speak gave a brief background on the proposed changes (the planned elmination of paper transfers, the transition from paper Metrocheks to the SmarTrip-based SmartBenefits program and the existing 10¢ bus fare discount for paying with SmarTrip) and then led a Q-and-A discussion from members, mostly focused on how to best alert customers to these changes. Because there was no presentation, I don't have anything that I can send you.

by Michael P on Sep 5, 2008 10:32 am  

Just got off the phone with WMATA Media Relations. My contact provided the following about the "invisible tunnel" idea.

There have been other inquiries about this idea recently. The comment provided to Chris Zimmerman has been provided to staff, who are looking into this change. There are some technical hurdles with respect to the way fares are programmed into Smartrip that prevent immediate implementation. At the present, there is no timeline for accomplishing this change.

I will be conducting an interview with WMATA's Smartrip manager next week, and I will be sure to ask about this kind of special feature then.

by Michael P on Sep 5, 2008 10:42 am  

Looks like the walking transfer was part of the WMATA Lunchtime Chat too:

Alexandria, va: The idea of a enabling a walking transfer between Farragut North and Farragut West has recently popped up. What are your thoughts on implementing this? In what kind of timeframe can this be done?

Reply: Hello Alexandria. Actually the idea of a "walking transfer" is something that has been considered and I believe is actively being explored. 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. It would work by allowing riders x amount of minutes (that would be determined later) to walk between the Farraguts.

Would this actually save the average rider any time? I'm thinking a couple of minutes to get off a train and exit the station, five minutes to make the walk (with traffic lights), then another two minutes to get down to the platform again. Are my estimates all screwed up, or is this actually time-neutral?

How much would it cost someone extra to try it once? From a trial Dupont Circle to Vienna ride, it looks like you "save" $1.40 by staying on the train (5.75 vs. 4.35). For a ride from Dupont Circle to Foggy Bottom, you save $1.65 (3.30 vs. 1.65). I'd like to see how long it takes but it's not on my commute at all. Someone willing to try it?

by Michael P on Sep 6, 2008 8:53 am  

I measured the distance. It's 300 steps from faregate to faregate--about 3 minutes walking plus getting to and from the platforms. I think an able-bodied person could do it in under 5 minutes. The 2004 study estimated up to 8 minutes savings depending on time of day and other factors. The time difference between the real tunnel and the virtual tunnel is probably about 2 minutes, so there should be a time savings for most users.

by Steve on Sep 7, 2008 4:06 pm  

Thanks, Steve. Plus, if you say that you'd do it, I assume you know what you're doing. :)

Does anyone that reads GGW know anyone on WMATA's Riders Advisory Council? I haven't been able to get in touch with them.

by Michael P on Sep 7, 2008 5:15 pm