Welcome to our live chat with DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, Chair of the Committee on Human Services and an advocate for “livable, walkable communities.”

Greater Greater Washington Live Chat: Tommy Wells(07/22/2009)
2:44 GreaterGreaterWashington: Welcome to our live chat with Councilmember Tommy Wells. Please feel free to settle in and submit your questions. We’ll be starting with Councilmember Wells shortly.
3:02 Tommy Wells: Hey everyone. This is Tommy. I’m online.
3:02 Michael Perkins: Welcome, Mr. Wells and thanks for being with us.

3:04 Tommy Wells: Glad to be here.
3:04 Michael Perkins: Let’s go to parking first

3:05 [Comment From Ken Archer] The Mayor’s reversal of the commitment to make performance parking revenues available to the neighborhoods in your ward seems like a broken promise that makes it harder to sell performance parking as something other than a revenue source for the city in other neighborhoods. What can we do to counter this perception?
3:05 Tommy Wells:

This was first proposed in the Mayor’s initial FY2010 budget back in the spring. Councilmember Jim Graham and I worked together to protect the funding for the neighborhoods where these funds were promised. The revised budget that was just submitted again tries to take those funds away. I expect to work with CM Graham again to keep our promise to the neighborhoods.

3:05 Michael Perkins: I have some other questions about parking, too.
3:06 Michael Perkins: Is there a push to expand the performance parking pilot to other areas?

3:06 Tommy Wells: its a good question. I think it works best with daytime retail. I believe DDOT is interested in expanding it downtown.
3:07 Tommy Wells: It does not work well in pub areas.
3:07 Michael Perkins: In your opinion, what has been successful and not successful with respect to the pilot? What should be improved
3:07 Tommy Wells: And no, they shouldn’t be driving anyway
3:07 Michael Perkins: What do you mean by pub areas, like near bars right?

3:09 Tommy Wells: I think the basic act of metering on weekends has helped daytime retail around the Hill. Discouraging all day employee parking. The metering makes the spaces perform. DDOT has not done a good job of performance pricing. BUT, they now have a contract for data gathering and that may change.
3:09 Tommy Wells: Yes, bars.
3:10 Tommy Wells: The worst management has been around the commercial area around the ballpark
3:10 Michael Perkins: Ok, we can come back to parking later, but let’s talk about streetcars.

3:10 [Comment From David Garber] What is the current hold-up with the Anacostia Streetcar line? When do you expect this will get rolling?
3:10 Michael Perkins: That’s the area that I noted the prices and restrictions are too much for the area.

3:11 Tommy Wells: I don’t know what is holding it up. I am of course pushing the H Street line and we are laying rail. Gabe Klein is having difficulty getting the cars in Prague shipped to us.
3:12 Tommy Wells: I agree with Michael. I met with DDOT and they promise to address it.
3:12 Michael Perkins: and the prospects for the power source? Overhead wires, batteries, underground rail

3:13 Tommy Wells: We need to adopt an overall street car plan for the city. One that show the maintenance facilities and the future lines.
3:14 Tommy Wells: I am waiting on a final answer from the Mayor but I plan to introduce legislation allowing overhead lines in the fall if it does not come from the executive.
3:14 Tommy Wells: The legislation should force an answer to the question of the power source.
3:14 Michael Perkins: There was a rumor that Congress will likely be an opponent to allowing overhead wires. Do we know yet how much more expensive other systems would be?
3:16 Tommy Wells: We need to go ahead and pass the legislation to ferret out the opposition. It could be a home rule issue or just a limit on the area for not having the wires. Currently it covers way too much territory
3:16 Michael Perkins: Ok, thanks. Let’s move on to other transit issues. There are a couple of questions about expanding Metro
3:17 [Comment From Monumentality] Virginia has seen fit to build a new metro rail line from Falls Church all the way to Loudoun County, while our own city leadership doesn’t propose any such large capital projects in DC itself. There are many neighborhoods underserved by metro (e.g. Georgetown, upper 16th St NW), yet no city leaders are proposing any new massive investments. Why is this the case?
3:18 [Comment From Steve] There seems to be tremendous enthusiasm for the idea of new Metro lines in and around DC (witness whenever GGW posts a new fantasy map)how do we translate that into practical progress?
3:18 [Comment From Dan Miller] I’m with Steve and Monumentality. What exactly is the status of planning for a separated blue line, and how can everyday citizens be most effective?
3:18 Michael Perkins: Everyone seems excited about adding more lines within the city. What can be done in this regard?
3:19 Tommy Wells: We need a plan for the next generation of mass transit for DC. I strongly support that being a street car system. I will be working on a financing plan (hopefully with the Mayor) over the next year. It will likely be a public private mix. I spoke to LaHood about it last Saturday night and he expressed strong support for street cars in DC
3:20 Michael Perkins: This morning you tweeted about a regional gas tax increase as being a solution for transportation funding.

3:20 Michael Perkins: What are the prospects for getting that passed in all three areas?

3:22 Tommy Wells: DDOT needs to give the Council their alternative transit plan. They say they are reviewing it for updates but it needs to be given now so we can have a public hearing. This is a high priority for me and I appreciate public advocacy for it.
3:22 Michael Perkins: Last question on streetcars:
3:22 [Comment From Adam L] Streetcars are great but, without their own right-of-way, they’re useless. I doubt the city will have enough support to take away car lanes so how, then, do we add streetcars?
3:24 Tommy Wells: Dunno. First I think we will pass a DC increase of at least 3 cents—getting us up to 23 cents. Mass. is up to 42 cents—Wisconson - 32. I think this is a rich area for regional cooperation.
3:26 Tommy Wells: You are right the least preferential route for street cars is in traffic with cars. Even in car lanes though, they can have priority signalling.

Streets like M SE SW and K Street NW have room for dedicated lanes for street cars. Yes, we will have to take on eliminating car parking in many areas.

3:26 Michael Perkins: Thanks.

3:26 [Comment From Eileen] How is that pedestrian advisory council idea coming along?
3:27 Tommy Wells:

I added the language to create the Pedestrian Advisory Council in the FY2010 budget. I expect we’ll see it up and running by early 2010.

3:28 [Comment From Nick] What are your views on the District’s Class 3 nuisance property tax as it relates to neighborhood development and smart growth? Is the Council still considering rolling back this provision and do you support that effort?
3:28 Tommy Wells:

I distinguish between vacant land and vacant properties. Vacant properties create an eyesore and end up more often than not as negative parts of a block or neighborhood. But I’d like to explore how we might change the law regarding vacant land to create exemptions when used for community gardens, tree nurseries, or other public purposes.

3:28 Michael Perkins: I have to admit I’m not terribly familiar with this tax.
3:29 Tommy Wells: Its a dramatically souped up tax on vacant property
3:30 Tommy Wells: To reduce derelict property, where the owners are sitting on it for speculative purposes.

3:31 [Comment From David Garber] Who would you say is your biggest ally on the Council in terms of smart growth, walkability, and sustainable transportation?
3:32 [Comment From David Garber] the tax also creates an incentive to knock down old (but not designated historic) buildings rather than preserve them. How can we punish vacant buildings without giving an incentive to tear them down?
3:34 Tommy Wells: Mary Cheh is my main ally on all things green and sustainable. The Chair has been good as well. Marion Barry’s very early and strong support for the bag bill was helpful to beat back the class issues.
3:34 Tommy Wells: Thats a good point David.
3:35 Tommy Wells: One reason I supported it was to address the derelict building along H Street NE. I intially tried to give more latitude for exemptions to address unintended consequences.
3:36 [Comment From Nick] Do you support the vacant property, not land, tax being left at 10%?
3:43 GreaterGreaterWashington: Tommy’s staff just notified us that his computer interface froze. Sorry for the delay.

3:43 Michael Perkins: It’s happened to me too.
3:44 Michael Perkins: Time for a poll, while we have everyone here?
3:45
Streetcars?

Push for overhead wires

( 29% )
Spend more and go wireless

( 35% )
Whatever works

( 35% )
Buses!

( 0% )

3:45 Tommy Wells: I’m baaaack
3:45 Michael Perkins: Ok, well, while you were gone we started a poll about streetcar power source.
3:45 Tommy Wells: I voted

3:46 Michael Perkins: But here’s another reader question.
3:46 Michael Perkins: wait, there was one about the 10% vacant property (not land) tax.
3:47 Michael Perkins: Sorry I forgot that one.
3:48 Tommy Wells: I support the increased tax on derelict property with the exceptions I have already listed.

3:48 Michael Perkins: ok, thanks.
3:50 Tommy Wells: Any more questions out there?
3:51 GreaterGreaterWashington: Sorry, we’re having some slowness of our own on this end.
3:51 [Comment From Rick H] Tommy: Any plans or ideas concerning increased bicycle parking hoops or racks near the 6th Ward Metro stops? The few now installed near Eastern Market Metro, not only near the plaza area but across the street in front of private businesses, are happily being well used but it certainly seems there is a need for many moore hoops or racks.
3:53 Tommy Wells: I have found that the more we add the more they are used—-which is great. I am hoping to use the parking revenue from perfirmance parking for more bike parking along Penn Ave SE and 8th Street.

I would like to look at secure bike parking structures using street parking spaces as well.

3:53 [Comment From Geoff Hatchard] Do you have any feel for how the ward boundaries might be changing after the 2010 census? Certainly, Ward 6 has been growing in population while wards 7 and 8 have been losing population to the suburbs. It would seem that parts of ward 6 will be chopped off and made part of those other wards. Has anyone on council put some preliminary thought into this?
3:55 Tommy Wells: This is a great question. I really like my current boundaries so we will have to see where the actual population shifts are.
3:55 David Alpert: I know of a lot of areas near your ward that are hoping they get added to your ward during the next redistricting!
3:55 [Comment From Tom G] The District has been investing millions of dollars into new parks in the Capitol Riverfront area, including Canal Park, Diamond Teague Park, and of course the Nationals Stadium. There are no similar plans for the northern end of your district, in NoMA. This is despite the recently adopted NoMA Vision Plan, which calls for a new signature urban park to be developed in the vicinity. While the economy has certainly constrained the District’s finances, it has also probably lowed the prices of these undeveloped NoMA parcels. What are you doing, and what can neighbors and interested parties do to help encourage the development of a new urban park for this emerging neighborhood?
3:58 Tommy Wells: This is a major flaw in the newly developed area. While I have been working with neighbors on the circle park at Mass and 2nd NW, I fully agree the city needs to find a way to purchase area for a park. This is critical for amenity based development.

It is also very frustrating to work with the National Park Service on the park areas along Mass. They do not understand how to create programmable areas.

3:59 [Comment From Stacy] when can we expect a hearing on the mayor’s proposed modifications to the affordable housing element of the SW Waterfront redevelopment project? what will the impact of these modifications be on the project’s ability to get funding, and what will happen if the modifications aren’t made? also, can you give updates on the Consolidated Forensics Lab and new fire station planned for SW?
4:00 Tommy Wells: The latest approach is to include the proposed modifications in the new budget support act—I am trying to keep it in there and appreciate outside support.
4:01 Tommy Wells: The fire station mark up will not happen until after recess. But I have not heard any opposition to moving the project forward.
4:02 [Comment From Michael] The city is making slow progress with adding bike lanes, but at least I do see new lanes every year. But our major recreation destination in the heart of the city, Rock Creek Park, is in horrible condition. The trail is so narrow. The Park Service is not responsive to the needs of local residents - can the Council lobby them to improve and widen their trails in Rock Creek and elsewhere? Can you meet with them to push this?
4:04 Tommy Wells: Yes, I will continue to push the Park Service.

In general, I have lost excitement for painted bike lanes next to parked cars. We need a much more aggressive strategy for dedicated bike lanes next to the curb possibly protected by green cones or barriers.

I gotta go balance the budget now.

Everyone have a great day!

4:05 David Alpert: Thanks so much, Councilmember Wells, for taking the time to talk to us.
4:05 Michael Perkins: Thanks for coming to chat with us.
4:05 Tommy Wells: My pleasure.
4:05 David Alpert: And sorry to everyone for the technical issues. Michael and I are going to investigate possible alternate technologies that aren’t so prone to long logjams.
4:06 Michael Perkins: Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated
4:06 David Alpert: If anyone has some experience with live chat systems, please share your thoughts in the comments on this post.
4:07 David Alpert: And as always, feel free to continue the discussion in the comments. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll keep you posted on our next live chat soon.
4:07

Michael Perkins blogs about Metro operations and fares, performance parking, and any other government and economics information he finds on the Web. He lives with his wife and two children in Arlington, Virginia.