That Union Market article is all over the place. Problems with traditional vendors identified: Counterfeit merchandise and unpaid rent. Solution: Healthy eating campaign.

What?

by CJ on Sep 17, 2012 8:44 am • link • report

This is really an amazing time for California transit. BART, Caltrain at record ridership; LA is doing amazing things in terms of build out; and HSR finally moving forward.

Wait til BART hits San Jose and the Caltrain improvements come through. Wow!

by H Street LL on Sep 17, 2012 9:02 am • link • report

Fewer people are switching to the Yellow line than anticipated for Rush Plus

So much for models and predictions.

When Yellow Lines leave from Franconia-Springfield, a sizable crowd stays behind waiting for the next Blue Line.

I am surprised that WMATA could not have foreseen this.

by Jasper on Sep 17, 2012 9:27 am • link • report

"We learned that the reluctance to try Yellow [Line] was around the reluctance to transfer," says Metro spokesperson Lynn Bowersox."

Or there are more people going to Rosslyn, Foggy Botton and Farragut West who wanted to stay on the blue line.

by charlie on Sep 17, 2012 9:36 am • link • report

Good news for BART, meanwhile the story for DC Metrorail is not record ridership in the April-June quarter. Saw over the weekend that FY 4th Qtr financial report has been posted. Ridership on Metrorail for Apr-June 2012 was DOWN 0.4% compared to 2011. That is why revenue fell short of budget projections. For the July-June FY12, ridership was up only 0.6%.

That slow growth is likely to be well under just about all the other heavy rail rapid transit systems in the US once APTA posts the 2nd Qtr CY numbers. In the 1st Qtr, only MARTA in Atlanta had a drop in ridership due to service cuts. DC Metrorail had a 2.8% increase (Jan-Mar), but BART had +9.7%, Chicago CTA had +8.9% increases for example. DC Metro is becoming an under-performer in ridership growth. Can't blame the local economy compared to other cities. How much is due to the grind of the weekend repair service interruptions? Price hikes? Poorer service during weekdays?

by AlanF on Sep 17, 2012 9:49 am • link • report

gentrification = progress

Some people create and restore, others tolerate decay and allow deterioration. Gentrification should always be embraced and encouraged.

by Cyclone on Sep 17, 2012 9:51 am • link • report

It's hard for me to come up with sympathy over the old union market when according to the article the only way to stay in business was to actually operate it as a front.

Plus the new market has been open for what? A week? Good lord people.

Not to mention the awful complaining from both "sides" of whatever it was that went on in the CP article on U street. Though if someone came up to me while on a panel about the neighborhood I lived in and said it wasn't "mine" I'd really have to try and not curse.

by drumz on Sep 17, 2012 9:53 am • link • report

There are even shrubs that potential assailants could hide behind in the dark

There is a dark path in Bethesda. 'another robert dyer @ bethesda row exclusive'? I hope the Pulitzer committee are aware of this!

by renegade09 on Sep 17, 2012 10:02 am • link • report

@AlanF

I think you have to take into account the loss of the increased numbers for tax free money. Metro got a lot more expensive when the max monthly deduction dropped to $125/month. I think it is fair to say that if the amount had increased along with parking to $240, more people would be riding the system.

Especially when you mention a .4% drop. It doesn't take that many daily riders and all of a sudden that is a 2% increase.

by Kyle-w on Sep 17, 2012 10:03 am • link • report

Rush Plus works for me!

Of course, that may be because I live out past Huntington. So I don't have to wait that much longer for a train on the platform, and when it comes, I'm guaranteed a seat in a nearly-empty car. But from what I can tell, Rush Plus is giving Yellow Line commuters a great experience for most of the evening rush!

Uprooting my tongue from my cheek, I would note that another problem with the evening rush I've noticed has been on baseball game days. (Granted, I haven't seen it in a while, but I usually get on the train just after Rush Plus has ended; also I've been away). The delay doesn't make much difference to us Yellow Line riders, but delaying even one Green Line train causes a significant backup among baseball spectators on the platform. I don't recall the last time I've seen such a deep crowd on the platform.

PS: LOVE the new captcha.

by Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Sep 17, 2012 10:09 am • link • report

C'mon Jasper, you don't believe they didn't see this coming. You just aren't as important, worth as much or vocal as those Orange line users.

by selxic on Sep 17, 2012 10:10 am • link • report

Cyclone+1,
Anyone who says moving in a dilapidated house and fixing it up is evil or wrong is lost in a romantic haze of what never was. This dosen't mean that people aren't displaced in the process, only that it isn't the fault of the person whos moving in. In fact it isn't anyone's fault, it's how the market place works.

by Thayer-D on Sep 17, 2012 10:10 am • link • report

I remember bitching and moaning about the Hung Jury Pub closing, and Madam's Organ going upscale, and the death of harDCore. Then I grew up, and realized not getting shot, not having people poop in your yard, and being able to buy vegetables had a certain charm.

by oboe on Sep 17, 2012 10:36 am • link • report

I am happy with Rush Plus. A reluctance to transfer should be met with a better educational advertising campaign showing that a transfer can be faster, certainly during the high frequencies of rush hour service.

by NikolasM on Sep 17, 2012 11:05 am • link • report

Re: the "community" of opposition at the AdMo Hotel; this is an all too common problem. I really wish the city, or these boards and commissions had some sort of ability to measure the actual support or opposition represented by people in testimony. There are a number of "Community Associations" that exist in name only, yet seem to be used to carry weight by individuals.

by William on Sep 17, 2012 11:08 am • link • report

@Kyle-w, yes, the lowering of the commuter transit tax deduction to $125 may be contributing to the drop in Metro ridership. But, the reduced commuter transit tax deduction also applies to NYC, SF, Philly, Chicago, Boston, etc commuters. We'll see how the DC Metro system is doing in comparison to those other cities when the 2nd Qtr numbers are posted for all of them.

-0.4% for the 2nd Qtr is a small drop, but in the 1st quarter even Baltimore with its one metro line was up +7.8% in ridership.

by AlanF on Sep 17, 2012 11:19 am • link • report

Yeah, but losing your home due to market pressures is shitty.

I'm not sympathetic to many of the anti-gentrification arguments, especially since a great deal of the NE gentrification has occurred without any displacement. I genuinely do like to see new investment in my neighborhood.

However, rental rates are now starting to shoot through the roof, and I'm beginning to feel the squeeze myself. We're quickly burning through our stock of affordable walkable neighborhoods. The number of new projects in the H St area is astounding.

For the first time, I'm contemplating the merits of living out in the suburbs.

by andrew on Sep 17, 2012 11:26 am • link • report

I think the tax deduction has a limited impact.

In order to qualify for the full (former) 230, you would be using the largest Metrorail fare amouns -- coming in the the furthest stations.

I supect there is another universe of people who are using the full 230, but they are people using MARC/VRE+Metro, or commuter buses.

The reason it matters more here than other cities is the corresponding federal benefit, which also got cut.

So, an impact, but not as much as Kyle-w might tag. Weekend track work and the destruction of rider demand on weekends is a bigger factor. I got stuck waitin 25+ minutes on sunday for a blue line train at Pentagon City. Sure, I could have taken the two yellow train I suppose but I was just trying to get to Rosslyn.

by charlie on Sep 17, 2012 11:27 am • link • report

What are you departure point and destination, NikolasM?

by selxic on Sep 17, 2012 11:34 am • link • report

@CJ -- I'm not the only one!

by John Muller on Sep 17, 2012 11:37 am • link • report

Back to Union Market for a moment:

This issue is a tough one.

On one hand, the old market had clearly seen better days, and nobody was willing to provide the necessary investment to get it back on its feet. There were one or two successful businesses in the market building itself, and many more that were just getting by. I certainly believe that the venture wasn't profitable.

However, I'm also skeptical that the new Union Market is profitable either. Edens is clearly spending a fortune, and I suspect that they're offering ridiculously low rents in exchange for the ability to hand-pick the best merchants, in order to get the place jump-started, and also build buzz about their other properties in the area. On that front, I think it's working.

On its second weekend, I also noticed quite a lot more diversity in the crowd. That's a very good thing, and something that a lot of people were rightly worried about. I hope that trend continues. A lot of folks wandered in after church, and a few were even looking for the old flea market.

The Florida Market as a whole suffers from a similar problem as the old Farmers Market building. I'd strongly take issue with anybody who labels the market as "blighted," as there are a number of successful small businesses in the area, and I would be loathe to drive them out.

However, the buildings are quickly approaching condemnation status, and a number of businesses are barely scraping by due to the area's ridiculously low rents. That's not great, and needs to change.

Union Market's presumably-low-rents have attracted a number of fantastic and creative small businesses. I also love the concept of splitting the market between permanent vendors and pop-up shops. I'd love to see the remainder of the market "refreshed," but rents kept low so that it can act as an incubator for other local small businesses.

[On that note, another developer could follow suit and turn Ivy City into a light-industrial tech hub.]

by andrew on Sep 17, 2012 11:44 am • link • report

@Charlie

It is quite easy on Metro to exceed $125. Even Ballston to Metro Center during Rush hour, roundtrip every day will get you to $125. So if you are any longer than that, you are paying post-tax dollars. When you throw in parking, which many thousands of people do daily, you are well over $125.

Vienna to Metro Center, with parking will cost you over $300/month. When it gets to that large of a post-tax expense, driving is much more appealing. I don't think (nor does the actual reasearch) say that I am overstating the drop due to this change. I am not saying it is 10% of total ridership, but it is definitely a few percentage. This was a hidden way for Congress to crush transit in a few specific localities.

@AlanF

You mentioned the following cities: NYC, SF, Philly, Chicago, Boston

Cost in NYC is $2.25, so unless parking is run by the outer borough stations, then there are 0% of people on the subway exceeding the $125/month.

I will give you the SF example, as a run from the furthest out stations to downtown SF is $6/trip.

Philadelphia appears similar, with the furthest most expensive route about $6. Chicago appears much cheaper. Only about $2.25 for the train?

Boston has an unlimited pass for $70, so no effect on the $125.

Two of the cities make it impossible to get over $125, and the other three appear possible. However, SF and Chicago are both denser downtown, with more short rides, whereas the Metro is very suburban oriented, and DC is just not that dense. The only reasonable comparison is Philly, though I suspect our system is even more focused on suburban commutters than theirs. Seems like the effect would only be felt on the furthest stations/riders, of which Metro tilts heavily towards. Not certain this change in deduction can be dismissed whatsoever, nor can our performance year over year be compared to other systems as a result.

by Kyle-w on Sep 17, 2012 11:59 am • link • report

rental rates are now starting to shoot through the roof

Well guess what? That's not just a phenomenon in so-called gentrifying neighborhoods. Rents are skyrocketing all over the metro area because of increased demand. Our city has finally been recognized as the great place to live that it is, so more and more people are competing for a place to live. And the nicer/better located the 'hood, the more the competition. All the racist rants about "my" or "your" neighborhood and foolishness about "The Plan" is just that.

by Juanita de Talmas on Sep 17, 2012 12:02 pm • link • report

There are a number of "Community Associations" that exist in name only, yet seem to be used to carry weight by individuals.

And they attract the worst sort of busybodies.

by JustMe on Sep 17, 2012 12:33 pm • link • report

Easy to get to 125, even to 150. To 230, no.

And is parking included? I think with the federal benefit, which is dispropriationly used by people further out, no. Not sure about the pre-tax for everyone else.

So again, it has had an effect, but propably not as strong as you postulate.*

*I've always thought the cost recovery of people coming in from Vienna must be really high, and more so when you include their parking money.

by charlie on Sep 17, 2012 12:38 pm • link • report

Many people, even in some DC locations, have a choice between free parking and subsidized Metro and the cut in Metro subsidies tips the balance. My commute easily exceeds $125/mo and that's despite coming home after rush hour and not being even close to maximum distance.

by Rich on Sep 17, 2012 12:43 pm • link • report

Charlie,

It's perfectly easy to get to $230/month.

Shady Grove to Metro Center, $5.75 per trip; 2x trips per day for a full month is 40x trips, which comes to $230 on transit alone. To keep that under $125 a month, you'd need to be commuting from Friendship Heights to Metro Center.

So, did a lot of people max out on Metro at $230? Maybe not, but that doesn't mean that the cut to $125 isn't painful.

And yes, monthly commuter rail passes (both here and in other cities) can easily exceed $230/month.

by Alex B. on Sep 17, 2012 1:00 pm • link • report

@Charlie,

Like you said, easy to get to $125. Easy to exceed $125. The thousands of people parking at Vienna garage every morning are all exceeding $125, often by a lot.

Regarding cost recovery, not so sure. Those parking garages cost like $40k per spot to build, not to mention the fact that land directly adjacent to metro is being used for parking. That land would be assessed at quite a bit, and would bring in a lot of revenue if there were 5 story apartment buildings there instead, theoretically of course, but if you take into account opportunity costs, these things are surely money losers.

by Kyle-w on Sep 17, 2012 1:02 pm • link • report

A reluctance to transfer should be met with a better educational advertising campaign showing that a transfer can be faster.

Even if the "normal" rush-hour trip is faster, people are reluctant to embrace an unnecessary transfer because it effectively doubles the risk that they will be caught in one of the abnormal -- but numerous -- service disruptions from Metro's well-known sick-customer, broken-door, brake-failure, or other maintenance issues.

Add that to looking for a new seat, a car with working air conditioning, etc. and it makes sense that many people would prefer a single-seat trip even at the cost of a few minutes to their commute.

by Arl Fan on Sep 17, 2012 1:03 pm • link • report

@ charlie:Easy to get to 125, even to 150. To 230, no.

Rosslyn-Franconia-Springfield @ rushrate: $4.95
Bus to Franconia-Springfield (with transfer discount): $1.10

22 days*2*($4.95+$1.10)=$266.20 without leaving VA, and not using a bus to get from Rosslyn to work.

$266.20 > $230.

Oh, and I'm not a Fed. I pay for my own transportation.

by Jasper on Sep 17, 2012 1:20 pm • link • report

@selxic

Braddock Road to Dupont Circle. I enjoy the extra yellows at Gallery Place-Chinatown

by NikolasM on Sep 17, 2012 1:56 pm • link • report

@andrew:

I'd strongly take issue with anybody who labels the market as "blighted," as there are a number of successful small businesses in the area, and I would be loathe to drive them out.

However, the buildings are quickly approaching condemnation status, and a number of businesses are barely scraping by due to the area's ridiculously low rents.

Not sure I follow you. What does "blighted" mean if not "quickly approaching condemnation status"? And did you mean "businesses are barely scraping by due to the area's ridiculously high rents"? Are they particularly high? (I don't know...)

by oboe on Sep 17, 2012 2:47 pm • link • report

It is the Blue line users who are negatively impacted, NikolasM.

by selxic on Sep 17, 2012 3:34 pm • link • report

Another facet of the gentrification issue from the Post (http://wapo.st/OybIcO). The last of the men's fashion stores from the 60s is closing. The Post attributes this to "gentrification". The owner attributes it to the streetcar interfering with parking--chasing his customers away.

I attribute it to the fact that, of all the well-dressed middle-class black folks I see hanging out on H Street and the greater NE area, I can't remember a single one wearing a pink polyester zoot suit.

Gentrification or no, times change.

by oboe on Sep 17, 2012 3:49 pm • link • report

@Kyle-w, since DC Metro is a hybrid system, then we can to some extent also compare ridership to the commuter railroads such as LIRR, MNRR, NJ Transit, MBTA, Metra, commuter part of SEPTA. The ridership numbers through June may be available on their websites, but I have not looked. There are many factors affecting ridership, but if the cut to a $125 transit deduction is hurting ridership for the DC Metro, it might show up in the commuter rail numbers elsewhere.

When the APTA numbers for all transit system are posted for the 2nd qtr of this year, it could be an useful exercise to compare the ridership change percentages for the first half of the calender year for DC Metro and other major heavy rail rapid & commuter rail transit systems.

by AlanF on Sep 17, 2012 4:02 pm • link • report

@oboe-I saw that article too and thought to myself "he's been in business for over 30 years. maybe he just wants to retire".

by Tina on Sep 17, 2012 4:13 pm • link • report

I would be wary of any claims to blight, given the long history of using that term to justify all kinds of dubious intervention.

No one likes blight, and everyone likes freedom, it's just that the definition is usually kind of really important.

by Neil Flanagan on Sep 17, 2012 4:17 pm • link • report

Re: community associations and citizen's organizations -- I agree, so many of them are composed of one or two busybodies. These are supposed to be membership organizations. When they go before DC agencies and boards demanding to be be heard it would be great if they were required to reveal how many dues paying, voting members they currently have. If they are submitting a resolution for/against something, knowing how many members voted in favor of it would be useful, too.

by cassie on Sep 17, 2012 6:51 pm • link • report