S is for S buses, streetcars, and social media this week
Photo by afagen on Flickr.
Find out plans for better bus service on 16th Street, weigh in on streetcars, or listen to panels on DC social media and the future of transportation this week. Plus, be sure you’ve marked your calendar for the Greater Greater Washington 5th birthday party on March 5!
WMATA bus planners recently promised to explore ways to increase service on lower 16th Street, where riders often watch multiple full buses pass by at rush hour. They’ll be back Wednesday to present possibilities to the community. Head to the Chastleton ballroom, 1701 16th Street (at R), 7 pm on February 20 to hear what they have in store.
If east-west transit is more your speed, DDOT is beginning a study of “premium transit” between Union Station and the Georgetown waterfront — basically, continuing the H Street streetcar farther west, though by federal law they have to formally consider all modes. It’s also Wednesday, February 20, 6-8 pm at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Ave, NW (entrance at 12th and H).
Then, local issues and the future of transportation are on the agenda at Social Media Week, happening in and around DC February 18-22.
Most of the panels aren’t DC-specific or focus more on national politics, but at least one looks at what’s going on in our local community. “Digital District” brings together Ghosts of DC founder Tom Cochran, ANC commissioner and prolific tweeter Tiffany Bridge, Brandon Jenkins of Fundrise, Greater Greater Washington’s David Alpert, and John Lisle, who recently left his post as DDOT’s communication head to join DC Water. The panel is 4-6 pm on Thursday, February 20 at LivingSocial, 918 F Street, NW and will also be streamed online.
On Friday, check out “Ping My Ride: How Mobile Apps Transform Urban Living.” Mark Berman of the Washington Post will moderate a panel of people from Uber, Waze, Capital Bikeshare, Parkmobile, and Parking Panda. Besides apps, the panelists will discuss open data and how sharing services are working in DC. The panel is 2-3 pm at Ogilvy, 1111 19th Street NW, or you can watch live online.
The Anacostia Watershed Society’s Green Roof Networking Happy Hour is next Tuesday, February 26, 5:30-7:30 pm at Boundary Stone Public House, 116 Rhode Island Avenue NW. Environmentalists, LEED professionals, and anyone else interested can talk about sustainable development in DC.
Finally, only 2 weeks remain until the Greater Greater Wasington 5th birthday. We turned 5 on February 5, but that was the same night as the State of the District speech, so we’re celebrating on our 5 year, 1 month birthday. The party is at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street, NW from 6-10 pm on March 5. Hope you can make it!