With respect to DC2NY's service to the beach, isn't is misleading to say "previously, there was no PUBLIC transportation there whatsoever"? That implies that DC2NY is a public bus service, which it isn't.

by Alan on Jun 7, 2010 10:02 am  

@Erlich

While it is true that people can not have everything the purple line is clearly the better investment over the ICC. The arguement that mass transit can not pay for itself is also bogus because the ICC clearly can not as well with its $6 tolls.

by Matt R on Jun 7, 2010 10:07 am  

Blair Lee, for some reason, also ironically noted safety as a concern with public transit as a reason to not build more. So, let's all drive instead! That will make us all safer, no?

by engrish_major on Jun 7, 2010 10:18 am  

And back in the day there used to be rail service to most all beaches. Just nothing for half a century or more...

by NikolasM on Jun 7, 2010 10:19 am  

Alan is correct that DC2NY isn't public.
Also, DART the Delaware transit agency runs bus routes year round throughout Sussex County, including to Rehoboth, as well as resort transit service during the summer, which even allows connections and transfers to the system in Ocean City.

by spookiness on Jun 7, 2010 10:23 am  

"Public transportation" isn't transportation run by a public agency, it's shared transportation used by the public. Privately-run intercity bus lines are "public transportation."

by David Alpert on Jun 7, 2010 10:25 am  

@Alan, spookiness

DC2NY isn't publicly operated, but it's nevertheless a form of public transportation in that any member of the public can purchase a ticket. The broad definition of public transportation is shared transportation available to the general public - i.e. a bus. A taxi wouldn't qualify, as it is available to the general public but the trip is not shared amongst the public. The operator's status (public or private) isn't relevant.

by Alex B. on Jun 7, 2010 10:28 am  

@David: Does that mean commercial air travel is public transportation?

by Tim on Jun 7, 2010 10:30 am  

I was going to jump on the "public transport" bandwagon as well. Shows how much we think of public ownerships as part of transport. There isn't enough discussion on how to use private ownership to leverage transport: more slug lines, more bus services like DC2NY, and more bus lines running on interstates.

In terms of the FTA public comment, I do think we need to be thinking about how "public" transport can reduce fuel usage. Not from an environmental/carbon perspective, but just from we need to stop importing this stuff perspective. looking at projects that can knock off 3-4% of vehicle miles in a metro area are probably more useful than the interstate rail projects.

by charlie on Jun 7, 2010 10:32 am  

David: curious if there's a source for that besides Wikipedia...

by Froggie on Jun 7, 2010 10:33 am  

If we could get rail to the Outer Banks I'd live there.

by Redline SOS on Jun 7, 2010 10:34 am  

Blair Lee's criticism of the Purple Line continues to rely on the incesant marketing by coorporations that government sucks and they are the paragon of efficiency. I love me some capitalism, but until the left wing takes on these assumptions, all arguments will always be skewed in the anti-government's favor. BP saved $500,000 by neglecting to install the appropriate safety devices, alrealy watered down by our anti-regulatory environment. Now factor that savings into the billions it will cost to deal with corprate ineptitude. Sometimes, the profit margin net ought to be cast a little wider. It's especially ironic considering Mr. Lee is going to profit tremendously because of the tax dollars the government is chipping in to make the Fillmore deal in Silver Spring happen. Talking out of both sides of his mouth.

by Thayer-D on Jun 7, 2010 10:48 am  

@ FFX parkway/7100:

While the one lane "exit" from the FFX parkway to the FFX parkway (i.e. the current end of the F-S Parkway) seems somewhat narrow, complainers should realize that currently all through traffic goes over Rolling Rd/Fullerton Rd or Backlick Rd. Both options have many traffic lights, odd turns and poor road surfaces.

A one lane ramp is a significant improvement.

That said, it would be stupid to not check if two lanes wouldn't be better. I guess the problem is that the current 7900/7100 "intersection" is 3 lanes, and it would be hard to suddenly add two lanes of merging traffic onto that without having to kick some people out of their houses and do some eminent domain work.

by Jasper on Jun 7, 2010 11:12 am  

I have some problems with Flex and Zipcar, but my latest beef is the automatically renewed membership they charge to your debit or credit card. Such practices really should be against the law, especially considering that there has been movement in favor of consumer protection in the last two years regarding credit cards.

by Jazzy on Jun 7, 2010 11:47 am  

FWIW, on wiki:

Public transport (also public transportation, public transit, or mass transit) is a shared passenger transportation service which are available for use by the general public, **as distinct from modes such as Taxicab, car pooling which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.**

by Jazzy on Jun 7, 2010 11:50 am  

"Does that mean commercial air travel is public transportation?"

Yes, of course air travel is public transportation. That's why all great airports have good transit connectivity.

by Phil on Jun 7, 2010 11:51 am  

Blair Lee thinks Erlich is to be praised for saying the purple and red lines are unaffordable? Then I expect to see him supporting Rich Madaleno's re-election bid as well, since the Senator pointed this out last November.

by Stanton Park on Jun 7, 2010 11:52 am  

@Jazzy, my problem with Zipcar is that it is so damn expensive and the cars are so crappy.

It is worth the extra hour or so to go the airport and get a decent rental car.

by DCbureaucrat on Jun 7, 2010 11:57 am  

I don't really have a problem with crappy cars. Having been an owner of a crappy car myself, doesn't bother me in the least. But, yes you are correct: they are expensive.

by Jazzy on Jun 7, 2010 12:00 pm  

Don't forget about the Rehobus, which went from the Duplex Diner in Adams Morgan to Rehoboth, running for two years before the owners called it quits.

by M.V. Jantzen on Jun 7, 2010 12:08 pm  

I guess my original comment is less about whether the conveyance is publicly owned or not, but rather this phrase "there was no public transportation there whatsoever", which is incorrect because there is and has been public transportation both there, and getting there. Whether or not it is convenient or desirable is up for debate.

by spookiness on Jun 7, 2010 1:22 pm  

spookiness: Fair enough. I've corrected the blurb.

by David Alpert on Jun 7, 2010 1:37 pm  

RE: Comment on transit formula

I think it's great that the FTA is soliciting comments, and I'd love to take them up on it. I know that the current formula often requires absurd cheap shortcuts that undermine a transit project, but I'm not enough of an expert to be able to articulate what changes should be made. Can someone help out?

by Matthias on Jun 7, 2010 1:59 pm  

@Matthias

Take a look at the specific questions asked by FTA in the Federal Register:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-13423.pdf

They are looking for some specific ideas on how to better measure cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, and economic development benefits. Each of those three criteria has 5-10 specific sub-questions that get into the nitty-gritty - they might help sort out your thinking - or at least trigger some more specific lines of inquiry.

by Alex B. on Jun 7, 2010 2:05 pm  

Jasper: I think they focused on the wrong bottleneck. Look at Fairfax County Pkwy today, specifically the section in Newington between 95 and Telegraph Rd. It's already bad now. Now imagine how it'll be when the missing segment of the Parkway is completed...

by Froggie on Jun 7, 2010 2:27 pm  

The arguments against transit have to be countered by all the subsidies that go into roads and the "utility" that transit provides for especially low wage employers.\

And as for the "efficiency" of the private sector, just deal with a bank, insurance company, airline, etc. And look at the record of unresponsive outsourced services. The privatization of rail in the UK took a struggling system and made it worse and more expensive.

by Rich on Jun 7, 2010 7:18 pm  

Re 7100/Fairfax County Pkwy

I wonder why VDOT is not treating the 7100/7900 interchange as they do 66/495 or 95/495/395 -- it seems the volumes warrant such treatment.

Another thing they should do along 7100 to remove a bottleneck is make an interchange to replace the light at Fair Lakes Pkwy, as currently that intersection causes more delays than anything other than rush-hour volume.

by dcseain on Jun 7, 2010 9:17 pm  

Matt R-

@Erlich
While it is true that people can not have everything the purple line is clearly the better investment over the ICC. The arguement that mass transit can not pay for itself is also bogus because the ICC clearly can not as well with its $6 tolls.

re:

But yet Virginia seems to be able to Widen I-495 with HOT Lanes, Widen I-66, Widen I-395/95, Complete the Fairfax County Parkway, Build a New Section of the Loudon County Parkway, Extending the Dulles Toll Road/Greenway to Leesburg, Convert VA 28 into a Loudon County/Northern Fairfax County Expressway, and Convert VA 7 in Eastern Loudon County to an Expressway.............

and

Continue to be able to get Funding for the $5 Billion Silver Line Rapid Subway Rail to Loudon County to Completiment The MASSIVE Sprawl that Made Fairfax County and Eastern Loudon County RICH with Business Growth and Upscale Retail Growth......

by mike on Jun 8, 2010 1:35 am  

engrish_major-

Blair Lee, for some reason, also ironically noted safety as a concern with public transit as a reason to not build more. So, let's all drive instead! That will make us all safer, no?

re:

There is a less chance of getting spit on driving a car than ridding a Subway filled with people of different Mentalities.....

by mike on Jun 8, 2010 1:38 am