Image from StreetSmart.

Slow down!

Area transportation departments staged a little demonstration of how just 5-10 mph more speed turns a close call into an injured pedestrian or an injury into a fatality.  DCist’s video of the event is even more harrowing.  

Slow them down with road design

A University of Connecticut study analyzed driver speeds on various roads and found that closer-in buildings and other urban factors affect driver speed when speed limits are the same. The biggest factor: on-street parking, which reduced speeds almost 10%. The Europeans have been saying this for years, but now we have good old American data. (Infrastructurist, Bossi)  (Tip: Bossi)  

NYC video squad likes our lane

Streetfilms made a video about our 15th Street bike lane featuring DDOT’s Jim Sebastian and Gabe Klein. We can forgive those New Yorkers confusing “capitol” (the hill neighborhood or the building with Congress) with “capital” (the city containing the seat of government). (Mike E.)  (Tip: no credit)  

Lanes of enchantment

Bike lanes aren’t just happening downtown. DDOT is about to install new lanes (PDF) on New Mexico Avenue and Tunlaw Road in Glover Park, as recommended by the Glover Park Transportation Study. (Ben Thielen)  

Purple subway?

Some Maryland Senators have asked the MTA to study heavy rail on the planned Purple Line and Baltimore Red Line. The state has chosen light rail, but given new FTA guidelines and since nothing is happening yet anyway, they’d like the state to look into heavy rail. However, there’s no way heavy rail would become cost-effective even with the changes. (Maryland Reporter)  

JetBlue at National, Southwest too?

JetBlue will start service from National Airport, after the FAA required US Airways and Delta to give up some slots as part of a swap deal. Southwest wants in as well, but hasn’t been able to get any slots so far. (Post)  

A light hearing

Few people attended the Vienna hearing on the WMATA budget Monday night, but perhaps that’s because it was fairly far from Metrorail. Tonight is the SE DC hearing; the Arlington, NW DC, and Rockville hearings right near Metro stations are likely to draw more people. (Get There)