Comments on Gray budget boosts streetcar, traffic cameras; cuts housing - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by oboe

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:45:03 EDT

I've just learned that when the red light cameras were installed, they deliberately cut the time in which the light stays yellow, in order to increase the number of tickets issued.

From whom? Given that this is untrue, you might want to have a word with your source.

The AAA reported that red light cameras have been set so that they ticket any car still in the intersection a whole TENTH of ONE second after the light turns red

Also not true. A violation is only issued if a photo of the vehicle shows the car *outside* of the intersection before the light turns red, then a photo of the vehicle in the intersection.

Not sure where you're getting your information, but it seems almost wholly erroneous.

Comment by Susan Meehan

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:27:56 EDT

I've just learned that when the red light cameras were installed, they deliberately cut the time in which the light stays yellow, in order to increase the number of tickets issued The AAA reported that red light cameras have been set so that they ticket any car still in the intersection a whole TENTH of ONE second after the light turns red. Right now, the AAA study said 87% of all red light tickets would not be able to be issued if the length of the time period the light remains yellow were raised to reach one full second. I think the shortening of this period is aimed at the wallet rather than having a thing to do with safety, and I find that totally outrageous. It shouldn't work that way at all. It is strictly a money-finding device. Better they should raise the tax rates on the wealthiest; then the City Fathers should be able to sleep at night.
ONe who is not sleeping and who i

Comment by cc

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:58:07 EDT

@Joe, Gray is just doing what so many politicians have found so effective. Tell everyone that you're doing one thing, and then do the opposite because your voting base won't bother to check.

Comment by H Street Landlord

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:39:47 EDT

I thought the six year plan for streetcars was $99 million? $236 million? That's wonderful news!

Agreed with AWITC, that is showing leadership. Gray may just be coming around. I'm impressed.

Comment by charlie

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:10:19 EDT

Shocker about performance paking, eh?

Corraling the money into "local improvement" is just a way of getting buy-in. The real game, as always, is to find new and innovate way to raise rates.

Just like gas prices, there are times when higher parking fees have benefits. But let's be honest and make the case for that, rather than being mealy mouthed.

Comment by oboe

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:04:28 EDT

@Joe,

I have the sneaking suspicion that the difference is that working class and others don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay-to-play money to lavish on Gray and Evans, and the rest of the corrupt councilmembers. Dan Snyder does.

Comment by Joe

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:22:39 EDT

Interesting how Gray spent last night talking out of both sides of his mouth about how much he supports affordable housing, but how we should put a private-low access football training facility in a place that would be better served with lots of housing. Then he shows just how committed he is to affordable housing the next morning by cutting its funding. What a shocker.

Comment by MJ

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:20:28 EDT

WTF is a rail safety program? Like "don't step in front of moving objects?"

Comment by Michael Perkins

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:57:17 EDT

Does the performance parking number assume that the rates will actually be set according to demand, or does it just mean that the rates will be set randomly, and we will measure demand but not do anything?

Comment by AWalkerInTheCity

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:52:29 EDT

does this mean the street car system is now funded?

I for one, am willing to call that a "Gray initiative"