Breakfast links: Green and/or parking

by David Alpert • October 13, 2009 8:56 am

Photo by Genista.

College Park should be green: UMD for Clean Energy has created a platform for November's elections for College Park City Council. They hope to push College Park to become a leader in green policies, including low-interest loans for home energy retrofits, bike infrastructure, LEED buildings and more.

Solar Decathlon: Starting last week, 20 teams from universities around the country have been building energy-efficient prototype houses on the National Mall. The houses are open to the public most days and judging will wrap up this week. Here's an overview of the various designs. (DOE, Get Energy Smart Now)

Parking pushback: Rockville merchants oppose evening paid parking, where pay hours in the garages recently extended from 7 pm to 10 (Gazette) ... Loudoun teens are upset about having to pay to park at area schools (Post). Neither article says whether the garages in question were full (in which case higher rates help people find spaces) or whether it's simply a revenue play.

Green(ish) parking: Designers are finding ways to make parking garages greener, including motion sensors that activate lights, green roofs, and recycled materials. But no matter how green a garage is, the VMT it encourages isn't green. (USA Today)

No grid for Benning: The DC Council voted last week to give land at Minnesota and Benning to Donatelli Development without any public right-of-way reserved for a road connection. CSG was very disappointed, writing, "It's the city's own land – why wouldn't it better address the long term needs of the community?" (DCMud)

"Racial" arguments make HOT suit hotter: Prince William County won't join Arlington's lawsuit against the HOT lanes, because of what some call "unfair accusations of racism." They might file their own, however. Everyone seems oddly worked up over this environmental justice argument in Arlington's suit, but environmental justice (any disproportionate racial or ethnic impact of a project) is officially part of the EIS process, so Arlington is just covering all the bases. (Examiner)

Circulator to Rosslyn?: Councilmember Jack Evans is interested in extending the DC Circulator to Rosslyn. It would take the place of the existing business-funded "blue bus" Georgetown Metro Connection. (Examiner, Mike B.)

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David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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Regarding Rockville extending parking hours. I'm not opposed to later parking fees, but 10 PM is ridiculous. I got a ticket last week in the Bethesda city garage at 9:37 PM. It was probably 3 minutes after the meter expired. The garage was nearly deserted at that hour? What's the point of charging until 10 PM when there are only a handful of cars there?

by Matt on Oct 13, 2009 9:24 am • link • report

With regard to the Rockville parking garage, it has been my experience that evenings during the week it is pretty much empty. I've never had an issue finding a spot, and it was nice to not have to pay after 7. I can't speak for the weekends, but it seems like it's more of a money grab then a specific demand management issue.

by local on Oct 13, 2009 9:25 am • link • report

Matt: the rationale for charging is to get revenue. I agree that it is probably counterproductive if the garage is largely empty, and you are trying to attrach more business to the region.

by SJE on Oct 13, 2009 9:44 am • link • report

From the Post article about parking at Loudon high schools:

... Heritage High School in Leesburg, where the lot is so massive that sophomores with licenses can buy permits ...

In which case, as you said, it's likely a revenue play. Capacity wasn't mentioned in the other high schools, so I at least would assume it's not an issue.

Unless it's completely about revenue, I think the schools could do some things to make it a little more fair. For example, students who cannot take the bus, like those who have to be at school earlier or later than the buses would provide for, should get discounted passes, because they don't have other options.

Maybe students who carpool to school should get discounted or even free passes. Then again, we don't call it "carpooling" with teens, we call it teens driving their friends around, which is apparently dangerous and even illegal in some states, even if it cuts down on congestion, pollution, consumption, etc.

by Tim on Oct 13, 2009 10:02 am • link • report

The Solar Decathlon is terrific. I am amazed by the ingenuity of the various teams--it is really exciting to see such bright young minds at work. I would encourage everyone to tour the houses and talk to the students. Anyone can learn a lot from this exposition.

by Matthias on Oct 13, 2009 10:03 am • link • report

regarding Rockville parking, from the article:

"Citing a need to plug a budget gap, city council members said the additional hours would generate from $300,000 to $400,000 for the rest of fiscal 2010. But many businesspeople said that the city's gain would be their loss, with declining sales reducing future city tax revenues."

10PM definitely seems like a revenue play.

I'm a fan of the blue bus and ride it regularly. During rush hours, it seems much more regular and on-time than the circulator. They moved to a new contractor this year (First Transit) with newer buses -- slightly better ride and MUCH quieter. Having bluebus take smartcard would be my dream, although the .50 cent fare at Rosslyn is much easier to swallow. Also, moving the fare from $1.50 to $1 has greatly increased my ability to take the bus -- many times I don't have change but a dollar bill.

by charlie on Oct 13, 2009 10:19 am • link • report

Also, on the Circulator Rosslyn-Georgetown route: I'd support that for a few main reasons.

- Branding. People don't know what the blue bus is. For the longest time, I personally thought it was a hotel or college shuttle, or generally something not open to the public. People know what the Circulator is.

- SmarTrip compatibility. I've never taken it because I've never had the money on hand. Well, yeah, it's easy to have a dollar on hand. But then they have the 50-cent fare if you have a SmarTrip ... but you just show the bus driver your card, apparently. Anyway, using a SmarTrip would be a lot easier.

- Considering the route is so short, DDOT wouldn't have to add many buses to reach 10-minute frequency. Three, four buses at the most?

Anyway, I'm all for it.

by Tim on Oct 13, 2009 12:17 pm • link • report

How about College Park tries to attract some viable businesses before taking on the "go green" cause. Bikini Splash, located steps from campus was replaced with...wait for it...a shoe repair place. No chance that place makes to this time next year.

Welcome to College Park, the reverse of a business incubator.

by metronic on Oct 13, 2009 12:35 pm • link • report

the only green parking facility is one that houses bicycles or trains.

Parking for cars is inherently energy consumptive and never green no matter how much window dressing they try to add or how much "going green" hype they try to put out to justify it all.

by w on Oct 13, 2009 12:48 pm • link • report