Comments on Should streetcar go to Minnesota Ave or Benning Rd Metro? - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Calvin H. Gurley

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:34:16 EDT

D.C. Resident’s cost for the H Street Trolley in 2008-$1.2 billion. The accumulated cost of the Trolley each delayed year before the 2014 projected opening - by 2012 it’s estimated at $ 2.1 billion.

Fools are the many who buy into this folly. Metro Subway fares are increasing (while service suffers) and the current bus lines serves both the east and west sides of Benning Road (Shrimp Boat to Union Station) very well. The Connector Bus line system needs an infusion of operating cash – remember the recent increase on fares.

Folks, we are being played. This Trolley serves no good benefit for city residents. The biggest game this century. A clever scheme; I speculate that it was created by a group of realtors and developers to increase the land value along the trolley tracks to induce their temptation to build high-end housing along the trolley lines. Fast and Simple.

Mayor Anthony Williams, and now Vincent Gray and this current council heads should roll for this $1 billion dollar never-never land scheme to benefit developers. And, at a cost to residents while our children need better schools, affordable housing, recreation centers with social and development programs (just not a building full of toys and televisions). One billion dollars should be invested in our children’s future, public schools, job training programs and opening up and fully equipping vocational schools.

Why wait until the jig is up in the questionable 2014 opening date? Why wait until the Washington Post finally gives up the truth about this scam in 2014? For those of you who only believe what the Post writes.

Why should you care? Because – our children are in need, right now for the success of their future to produce a living for themselves. Our seniors have carried us on their backs so far to afford us the quality of living and opportunity of living here in the District- they are in need also.

Comment by BF

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:33:14 EDT

And in 2015, DC will announce it is extending the streetcar line all the way into the 1920s! #20thcenturysolution

Comment by Nobody

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:32:27 EDT

Agree that we'll see the initial line in 2014.

I'm more interested in timeframe for the westward expansion to Washington Circle or other downtown location (and eventually Georgetown). That's when the line really starts getting lots of riders.

Comment by H Street LL

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:42:52 EDT

Nah manne.

Historic Review Board already said the designation won't stop the barn, they may just want some alterations to the building design. Nothing major.

Mayor and Council like having more money to spend and they know the streetcar will continue to boost tax revenues. All the important contracts have been awarded or bid out.

Comment by Phil

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:40:38 EDT

"I do think the initial segment will open in 2014."

You're fooling yourself. There will for sure be a lawsuit about the car barn location now that its site is historically designated. That'll take at least 2 years to sort out. Then the new mayor will want to do a "study" of the streetcar plans that will take 1-2 years. Then, if the plan hasn't been abandoned entirely, car barn and catenary construction has to take place, 1 year for that. That puts us at 2017-2018 for phase 1.

Comment by JimT

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:50:56 EDT

There is no obvious reason to depart from the plan to extend the streetcar to Benning Road--but what one does after that probably requires comprehensive study in cooperation with MTA or M-NCPPC, rather than being an ad hoc extension.

The route that the Purple Line eventually takes from New Carrollton to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is far from clear. A straight line would take it to Capitol Heights and along the entire length of Southern Avenue to Forest Height, making that line a cooperative venture with DC. A fairly straight "inner Purple Line" route would still be close to the DC line most of the way. An "outer Purple Line" might connect Morgan Boulevard or Addison Road Metro to Suitland to Temple Hills to Oxon Hill, while a Purple Line entirely outside the Beltway seems implausible.

Extensions of the DC streetcar lines and planning for the Purple Line extension need to be coordinated because with an inner Purple Line, the streetcar should connect to the Purple Line, and with an outer purple line, DC will eventually need a streetcar running parallel to Southern Avenue connecting up to the Green Line.

Comment by H Street LL

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:04:01 EDT

Glad they are working on the planning for the extensions. I do think the initial segment will open in 2014.

I hope to see an equal amount of emphasis on the link to Georgetown as that will greatly increase the utility of the line for all.

Comment by kk

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:57:55 EDT

Actually come to think of it it should go to Benning RD, then up East Capitol then along Central Ave SE (there is no transit what so ever along Central Ave except for 2 blocks) then on Southern Ave to Capitol Heights that way they still go to the same destinations but also serve areas that before did not have transit.

Comment by kk

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:52:31 EDT

It should go to Benning Rd and then either up Benning RD to the DC line or to Capitol Heights.

BTW X bus routes use to go up to Benning Heights and Capitol Heights from Benning RD about 2 decades ago before being cut so you cant say its a ridership issue as to why is should go to Minnesota Ave.

Comment by Lucre

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:46:47 EDT

@Bradley

Good point about Capitol Heights. That might argue that East Capitol is not the place to put the terminus - and indeed that expansion beyond Benning station should go on some other street.I don't know that going to central ave (via the metro station or otherwise) is a great idea. Why not continue south on Benning?

Comment by Bradley Heard

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:23:08 EDT

Take it to Benning Road, as originally planned! That way, the Streetcar will connect the Blue, Orange, and Red lines, as it should. Benning Road to Capitol Heights is less of a priority, IMO, because that connection is already served by a one-stop ride on the Metrorail, and/or by many bus lines.

Comment by Phil

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:20:41 EDT

I'll be surprised if phase 1 is open by 2017, let alone future phases. Make no mistake, this is being slow walked by the Gray administration and if Jack Evans replaces him you can expect the same thing.

Comment by Randall M.

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:03:18 EDT

Benning Road. It's more of a transportation and community center. Additionally, plans are underway to make East Capitol more bike and pedestrian accessible. Adding Streetcars would be a logical extension.

Comment by SC

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:34:18 EDT

Dulles airport is clearly the correct answer.

Comment by Justin.....

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:31:32 EDT

Send it to Benning Road, like it has been planned to do this entire time. Then, work on extending it to Capitol Heights.

Service to Minnesota Avenue Metro(and possibly Deanwood?) can be handled via the planned extension of the Anacostia line, which, if I remember correctly, is slated to run up Minnesota Avenue in the first place.

Comment by Veronica O. Davis (Ms V)

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:28:29 EDT

I would like to see it go to Benning Road Metro. There isn't a lot of residential right on Benning, which makes this ripe for redevelopment.

Comment by rkbradl

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:49:30 EDT

I agree that the streetcar should extend all the way to the Benning Road metro. Benning Road has always been an important component of the "Great Streets Initiative."

Comment by Tom M

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:26:17 EDT

"When the initial H Street line opens (now estimated for 2014 at the earliest)...." ROFLMAO. Like that is going to happen.

Comment by MLD

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:08:56 EDT

The streetcar should go all the way to Benning Rd Metro. Way more potential to activate the corridor, and Minnesota Ave is still accessible via a 5-10 minute walk.

Going to Benning Road has been the plan in all the streetcar docs so far, why would they change it now?