the west end library is tough. Everyone is a bit right.

1. EastBanc is getting a sweet heart deal. A bit too sweet.

2. I'd agree with them that IZ is not appropriate.

3. Again, it more about removing homeless from the future library.

by charlie on Sep 25, 2012 8:32 am • link • report

Sorry, cut myself off.

I am sure you could add the various DOD, Pentagon, GUTS buses and other private systems into a dc map. Far more extensive that the SV ones...

by charlie on Sep 25, 2012 8:33 am • link • report

6 tech companies run private shuttles

In itself, it seems a good idea because more transit is better. However, the problem I have with private shuttles is that it creates all kinds of mini-systems that partition of the transit system as a whole.

Would it not be much better if local transit ran these buses, so that everybody could use them? Or, alternatively, if these buses would accept payment from other customers.

by Jasper on Sep 25, 2012 9:17 am • link • report

It looks like the 165 mph Acela test took place last night and early this morning.

Video from the test run that claims the train reached 170 mph is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4gpZiUyy-U&feature=youtu.be

by Matt T. on Sep 25, 2012 9:20 am • link • report

Jasper,

I think it depends on the shuttle. I think they're certainly open to being opened up in the future, plus its worthy for Gov't to let private companies test something out first and see if it's a route that has merit.

When I was at GMU in addition to the CUE buses there was a direct gmu to metro shuttle that never checked for school ID's because the utility was so limited that while I did know of people with no connection to the school using it it was a pretty limited basis.

by drumz on Sep 25, 2012 10:47 am • link • report

On a different topic. Is there a list or map of vacant DC schools? It always amazes me how many unused school buildings DC has.

by drumz on Sep 25, 2012 10:48 am • link • report

I think the GUTS bus is already on the official WMATA map.

by TM on Sep 25, 2012 11:03 am • link • report

"Richer neighborhoods look different from poorer ones on satellite photos based on the amount of tree cover."

I've noticed this here. Just compare Upper Northwest and the areas east of Rock Creek Park. Both areas have more or less the same geology, they were built more or less at the same time, but the tree cover is far less dense east of Rock Creek Park.

by Frank IBC on Sep 25, 2012 11:07 am • link • report

Ralph Nader making the perfect the enemy of the good, and thus allowing the bad to win? What a surprise!

by Kolohe on Sep 25, 2012 11:27 am • link • report

@ drumz:When I was at GMU in addition to the CUE buses there was a direct gmu to metro shuttle that never checked for school ID's because the utility was so limited that while I did know of people with no connection to the school using it it was a pretty limited basis.

But why not make that bus into a CUE bus and have GMU make a deal with CUE that students ride that bus free?

@TM:I think the GUTS bus is already on the official WMATA map.

The Dupont Circle Line is, but not the Rosslyn line or any of the other ones. But wouldn't it be much better if WMATA just had regular lines that would service GU? Is that not its core function? To provide connections? GU could then strike a deal with WMATA to allow students and employees for free on the line.

The problem that I see is that in DC, there are gazillions of "free" shuttles running around, apparently filling holes in the general system. That is weird. If private parties are willing to spend money yo fill those holes, surely there is a demand for transit. The local bus authorities should work with those private parties to integrate those lines into its network so that everybody can benefit from the buses.

These private buses are really all over the place. Apartment complexes have them, universities, The Kennedy Center, the State Dept etc etc. Quite frankly, I'd throw in the whole school bus system as well. The problem is that this creates an enormous duplicity with wasted space and time.

by Jasper on Sep 25, 2012 11:29 am • link • report

Re: tree cover
Isn't that just because of density? I know Upper Northwest is a lot less dense than east of The Park. Looking at those photos it appears that way in most cities. Denser areas have less tree cover and in many of these areas, happen to be poorer. They should take photos of similar density neighborhoods that are rich and poor - maybe Pigtown and Fed Hill in Baltimore as an example. They are equally dense. And they don't appear that different.
Fed Hill:

View Larger Map
Pigtown:

View Larger Map
(Google actually had Pigtown/Washington Village wrong! Are they being powered by Apple Maps ??)

by dc denizen on Sep 25, 2012 11:31 am • link • report

Sorry, the Fed Hill map wasn't right (too far north). I'd paste the right one again but I don't want to take up more space on this comment thread :(

by dc denizen on Sep 25, 2012 11:33 am • link • report

Jasper,

GMU students can ride free on CUE as well. Sorry for any confusion.

by drumz on Sep 25, 2012 11:49 am • link • report

@Jasper

Employer-provided shuttle services would probably not be as successful if they were rolled into the regular transit service. The fact that they are free for employees provides a big incentive to use them - it would be difficult to have regular transit service be free for select small groups. Also, they are usually express between one or two stops so it makes them more convenient than regular transit service - if you roll that into regular service then the convenience factor disappears especially where they overlap with regular routes. The express nature also means they are not as useful for non-employees - that's why many of them in the DC area don't seem to care if you are an employee/student or not when you ride; there just isn't that much demand from outsiders.

by MLD on Sep 25, 2012 12:12 pm • link • report

@ MLD:it would be difficult to have regular transit service be free for select small groups.

We have electronic transit passes that handle the most complex pricing schemes and bus2rail discounts between separated bus and rail systems, but we can't organize free trips for a few people? Come on.

they are usually express between one or two stops so it makes them more convenient than regular transit service

They are also often short rides that do not warrant extra stops. That's the whole point.

It would, by the way, even be better if those short routes would be integrated into longer routes. I do not understand why GU is running a Dupont Circle shuttle, when there is a perfectly acceptable G2 bus running (ignoring the fact that Georgetown has effectively derailed the only bus connection to the university through their idiotic demands on the roadwork on O & P Sts).

by Jasper on Sep 25, 2012 12:32 pm • link • report

@Jasper; it what used to be called Jitney service. Imagine one quick van across the key bridge.

The size of the bus matters too; smaller buses just fit better into urban spaces.

by charlie on Sep 25, 2012 12:43 pm • link • report

Wow, they are so right about those trees!!! I mean, look at the difference between the amount of trees in Great Falls and Anacostia!!!! What fabulous research!!!

by jh on Sep 25, 2012 12:59 pm • link • report

one thing to note about government shuttles is by law they can not be used for commuting purposes. The State Department runs a shuttle system and it's only official use to take transport people between different annexes. Periodically notices are put out to remind people of this, and I would say the vast majority of the ridership follows these rules.

by nathaniel on Sep 25, 2012 1:52 pm • link • report

Re: tree cover -at the risk of opening a can of worms, I hypothesize that some of the difference in tree cover is due to culture (human culture). For example ~10 years ago when I was looking at houses (to buy) in Col. Hghts I was very turned off by the fact that, in general, when I would look down the front yards of the houses on the street or down the row of back yards down the alley, almost no one in the past 40-60 years had planted a tree. The only trees were "city" trees in the street tree boxes, and many of those had died and not been replaced. That is, nearly no one in the last 40-60 years or more had planted a tree on private property. I don't live in Col. Hghts and the lack of trees/legacy of the culture that apparently did not value trees is a contributing factor to that.

In addition, many of the renovated houses I looked had had the entire lawn area completely paved over so that even if I wanted to live there and plant a tree or two there was a huge barrier to doing so b/c concrete had been valued over the ability to grow something.

i know that since that time more trees have been planted both in public tree boxes and on private property.

However I know that at that time, ~10 years ago, Mt. Pleasant had, and still has, a beautiful legacy of trees and MtP & Col Hts were roughly the same in housing prices at that time with Mt P a bit higher.

by Tina on Sep 25, 2012 2:06 pm • link • report

Wow Louisville is doing interesting stuff! If downtown had been more like that in 1988, perhaps I wouldn't have gotten stuck living on cul du sac counting the days until I could drive and then until I could go away to school.

by Kate W. on Sep 25, 2012 6:01 pm • link • report