Breakfast links: It's a Klein world after all

by Erik Weber • November 18, 2010 8:56 am

Photo by DDOTDC on Flickr.

100 against Klein, Tregoning: The Committee of 100 asked Vincent Gray to fire Gabe Klein and Harriet Tregoning. A letter from C100 chair George Clark claims they haven't done enough to listen to public input, or as Lydia DePillis notes, "by which he means their input." (Housing Complex)

Challenges ahead for Gabe: Gabe Klein has done a lot to make DC a friendlier place for bikes and pedestrians in 20 months as DDOT director. If he stays on for Vince Gray's mayoralty, the biggest challenge he will face is that, outside the core city, there are few places to walk or bike to. (Housing Complex)

Wal-Mart coming to DC: After Tommy Wells revealed that Wal-Mart was coming to DC, it turns out that we may be getting several Wal-Marts. The company has a new press site for DC, which indicates 3 locations and pegs the stores at 80,000-120,000 square feet. For comparison, Target at DC USA is 170,000. (Twitter, Post)

Metro has roof and communication troubles: Last night Farragut North was closed after surface construction dislodged a piece of the vault ceiling, causing it to fall to the platform. The station has reopened this morning, though the agency has now said its communications systems, including PIDs and the website, are down. (WTOP)

DCDSC doesn't want to be democratic: It's not just Vincent Orange who is defensive about our criticism (and the Post's) of the insidery DC Democratic State Committee process to fill the at-large vacancy; Loose Lips gets a hold of more wounded replies and discusses more evidence that the process really is just "all about rewarding the politically connected." (City Paper)

Maryland cancels MARC bid: MDOT has canceled bidding on a contract to take over operation of MARC's Brunswick and Camden lines from CSX, because it failed to create sufficient competition. After Amtrak dropped out, the state was down to only one bidder. CSX will extend its operation contract at a cost of $1 million. (Railway Age, David C)

Where should CaBi go next?: With DDOT's subtle revelation they will add 20 more Capital Bikeshare stations in the spring, Georgetown Metropolitan says the neighborhood could use at least one more station, and asks readers where it could go. Where else in the city is there a gap in the system? (Brightwoodian, Ken Archer)

Not all of the NPS is a black box: Dottie Marshall, Superintendent of the GW Parkway for the National Park Service, spoke at a Rosslyn civic association on Tuesday about priorities along the parkway. One revelation was that the Rosslyn boathouse is not yet a done deal, still requiring an alternatives analysis. (Ode Street Tribune)

And...: DDOT has a new interactive map that allows you view transportation options in DC by adding or hiding layers like Metro, bike lanes, bikeshare station and even ZipCars. (goDCgo) ... GSA will now require a minimum LEED Gold certification for all new Federal building construction. (Gavin) ... At least nine jurisdictions in the US have made sagging pants a punishable offense with sanctions ranging from community service to steep fines. (The Crime Report, Mark Jordan)

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Erik Weber has been living car-free in the District since 2009. Hailing from the home of the nation's first Urban Growth Boundary, Erik has been interested in transit since spending summers in Germany as a kid where he rode as many buses, trains and streetcars as he could find. Views expressed here are Erik's alone.

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I need to go make some popcorn for the Committee of 100 bash-a-thon.

by Fritz on Nov 18, 2010 9:20 am • link • report

To be precise, the construction crew punched through the roof of the dome relief vet shaft plenum above the station arch. There are a pair of openings in the coffers above the acoustical panels that connect to that vet shaft plenum. The roof of the station is roughly 15' below the surface, the roof of the vet shaft plenum is roughly 10' below the surface.

Pictures of the dome relief vet shaft opening were the debris fell from at Dr. Gridlock blog post: Farragut North Station closed

Google street view of the surface opening of the dome relief vet shaft.

The Farragut North station is the only station in the system that has it's dome relief vet shaft opening in the middle of the street. I will also note that the dome relief vet shaft openings at Farragut North are not functional as they were sealed shut back in the 1980s. My best guess as to why they were sealed shut was to prevent rain water from pouring in to the station and or to prevent motor vehicle exhaust fumes from being sucked into the station.

by Sand Box John on Nov 18, 2010 9:24 am • link • report

gaps in CaBi? besides the swath of NPS property, Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase Circle, Logan Circle/Thomas Circle area, Coast Guard HQ at Buzzard Point, the Arboretum, somewhere along E St NW

by darren on Nov 18, 2010 9:27 am • link • report

Who makes up the C100 and why do they hate livable communities?

by Katmere on Nov 18, 2010 9:36 am • link • report

If the C100 had endorsed these two they would be goners! So this may be a blessing in disguise. One of the only groups that has pariah status with african americans and progressive whites.

by Mr. Bumsley on Nov 18, 2010 9:42 am • link • report

I said yesterday about having an outside (non transit executive) come in and run WMATA.

Klein is a great case study. He brought a lot of energy and new ideas. Someone a bit older and wiser might have been able to play better with others. Also I think you have be balance being entrepreneurial in the public sector context versus leadership. If fenty had been more willing to be the public face of bike lanes and streetcars -- instead of delegating --you could have more of a public discussion.

In terms of where more bikesharing could go, we need to recogonize that a lot of people are using it recreationally. But some stations on weekend only specials and advertise via internet. There are lots of nice places to bike to on weekend which could use a BS station (beach drive?)

by charlie on Nov 18, 2010 9:42 am • link • report

re: CaBi gaps:

There's also the issue of adding capacity to existing stations (or adding to the current redistribution capability). The two stations on NE Capitol Hill are empty by 9am every morning, and stay that way well into the afternoon. Wonder if that's common in primarily residential areas?

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 9:43 am • link • report

@katmere:

Who makes up the C100 and why do they hate livable communities?

Well, Lance is the unofficial C100 envoy to GGW. He has in the past made helpful suggestions such as raising the speed limit on Connecticut Ave to 55 mph. I'm not sure how many of his comments are in earnest, and how many just calculated to get a rise out of people, though.

It's difficult to tell sometimes.

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 9:46 am • link • report

In terms of where more bikesharing could go, we need to recogonize that a lot of people are using it recreationally.

Hmm. When you say "bikesharing" do you mean Capital Bikeshare? I don't think we've seen any evidence for this whatsoever. Could you elaborate?

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 9:49 am • link • report

CaBi needs to put in a rack outside of the new Shaw Library on Rhode Island Ave., NW, btwn 7th and 8th. There is a perfect spot on the north side of RI, just outside the library and within 50M of the Shaw metro station. The library cost $15M and a bike station is $50K, so, for 1/3 of 1% of the price of the library, you could actually get people there.

by Yoav on Nov 18, 2010 9:49 am • link • report

Nice title, Erik. Too bad it'll go over the heads of those here who don't speak German.

by Matt Johnson on Nov 18, 2010 9:50 am • link • report

Oboe calling out someone for making laughably inflammatory statements is pretty rich.

by CapHill on Nov 18, 2010 9:52 am • link • report

Who in the hell is the Committee of 100, and why should anyone care who they think should be fired? All I can come up with from Google is that they're a group of concerned Chinese-Americans, but I can't for the life of me figure out why they'd be meddling in DC politics.

by James on Nov 18, 2010 9:58 am • link • report

The Office of Planning has conducted and participated in an exhaustive set of hearings for the zoning re-write.

I bet I could start a committee of 1,000 to support keeping Klein and Tregoning.

by Eric Fidler on Nov 18, 2010 9:59 am • link • report

Cabi staion request: Corner of Maryland/D Street/7th street
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=washington+dc&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.273162,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Washington,+District+of+Columbia&ll=38.894907,-76.995814&spn=0.008534,0.013754&z=16

If stanton park is not selected because of NPS. This area is lacking.

by whoa_now on Nov 18, 2010 10:05 am • link • report

@Eric Fidler: I'm in. 998 to go.

by cminus on Nov 18, 2010 10:05 am • link • report

The Committee of 100 is complaining that Klein and Tregoning didn't do enough to listen to public opinion?

Pot, meet kettle.

by andrew on Nov 18, 2010 10:08 am • link • report

Indeed, if you look at the Committee of 100 website, some of their listed members have passed away, others would disagree with the premise or suggestion of Mr. Clark's letter. I wonder if they even bothered to ask its "membership" for consent?

by Andrew on Nov 18, 2010 10:12 am • link • report

The Committee of 200,000 elected Vince Gray, so he can pick whoever he wants as Department heads and to hell with the C100.

by Ward 1 Guy on Nov 18, 2010 10:14 am • link • report

@Yoav +1 on adding a bike station to the Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library!! Well said. We should automatically link bikeshare with rec centers and libraries throughout the city. If we can get high school students using bikeshare (is there an age minimum?) then we can really link up these amenities with users.

And universities too, so I endorse more stations on campuses of G'town, CUA, Howard, American, UDC, UMCP, and especially one for GWU's Mt. Vernon campus. One day we can dream of GMU becoming more bikeshare friendly too.

by Ward 1 Guy on Nov 18, 2010 10:17 am • link • report

@ Erci, cminus: 997 to go.

by Jasper on Nov 18, 2010 10:25 am • link • report

How about a letter signed by 10,000 residents asking Gray to keep them both?

by jason on Nov 18, 2010 10:25 am • link • report

Can we start a petition drive to ask Vincent Gray to never listen to the Committee of 100?

And I'm in for the Committee of 1,000.

by lou on Nov 18, 2010 10:27 am • link • report

@whoa_now: I'm with you on that, but I'm not sure where a CaBi station could fit on/near that corner. Any thoughts? I initially thought it could go next to the library, but the sidewalk is not wide enough.

Maybe one of the new stations should go on the pedestrian island on the east side of Lincoln Park. Has anyone thought of that? :-)

by Todd on Nov 18, 2010 10:33 am • link • report

@Ward 1 Guy

American University already has its own internal and free bike sharing system for campus stakeholders. I think DDOT will need to think about a student (free with credit card swipe) rate to attract this potential user base.

by Andrew on Nov 18, 2010 10:36 am • link • report

Will the walmarts have urban designs, i.e. multiple entrances on the street? Or will they be all suburban with giant parking lots in front of the building with no access to walkers unless they want to run the gauntlet of parking lot drivers?

by m on Nov 18, 2010 10:39 am • link • report

The committee of 1000 (or 200,000) needs to develop an articulate response to neutralize these people. I am interested in helping draft a letter/petition if anyone wants to work on this. Gray needs to know that C100 is in the minority on this one.

by JTS on Nov 18, 2010 10:56 am • link • report

CaBi at Bruce-Monroe Park, Georgia/Irving, please.

by Patrick on Nov 18, 2010 10:57 am • link • report

another WalMart question: will they build those stores to maximize the potential building envelope, or follow the CVS method of building one-floor stores with no residential/office above?

by danvironmentalist on Nov 18, 2010 11:04 am • link • report

@danvironmentalist
Would you want to work in an office or live in apartment above a Wal*Mart 24 hour Super Center?

I certainty would not.

Disclaimer: I shop regularly at Wal*Mart.

by Sand Box John on Nov 18, 2010 11:18 am • link • report

@Sand Box John

Why would you care if your office is over a WalMart as opposed to a Subway, bank, DressBarn, Filene's, Macy's, etc?

by MLD on Nov 18, 2010 11:35 am • link • report

Would you want to work in an office or live in apartment above a Wal*Mart 24 hour Super Center?

As far as working in an office above a Wal*Mart, it depends, would the rent be correspondingly low? If, yes, then I think you'll find a lot of takers. I think you underestimate the resilience of the human animal. When I was apartment-hunting in Chicago, I looked at several places on the near north side whose upper-floor windows were maybe 10' from the El tracks. And they didn't stay on the market long. My guess is, if folks would *live* (not just work) in those conditions, they'd live anywhere.

Of course, we wouldn't be talking about a "24 Hour Super Center", since that's not the type of WalMart they're going to be building. But the occasional muffled "Attention WalMart Shoppers..." is a lot more palatable than the close-range 24-hour-a-day din of elevated rail.

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 11:39 am • link • report

sand box john, I wouldn't want to live above a supercenter, but these don't sound like they are going to be super centers. These sounds like they are willing to design stores that may fit into a city better. People live above the Cita Vista Safeway and seem to have no issues.

by nathaniel on Nov 18, 2010 11:39 am • link • report

@Sand Box-yeah, you're not trying to sleep when you're at work are you? Who cares if its open when you're not there?

by Tina on Nov 18, 2010 11:45 am • link • report

RE: Committee of 100 Letter

While I'm overall a Gabe Klein fanboy, the C100 does raise some valid points regarding him that should at least be considered.

I'll preface this by saying that I didn't really have any preferance between Fenty or Gray... but one strike I do have against the outgoing administration is a lack of communication. In the issues I've raised with DDOT (as a citizen), I have yet to hear back from any of my requests or suggestions spanning several months now.

Whereas I just emailed Baltimore's DOT and got a quick response within 5 minutes telling me that what department it's been forwarded to... it's not an answer, but at least it's something; it's a receipt to let me know they got it. Maryland SHA has a similar initial response. Even small things like that go far to feeling like someone is listening.

I also echo some of the concerns with the streetcars, which is certainly a long-term investment that necessitates a dedicated technical evaluation; and I have not yet gotten the impression that such an evaluation has really occurred.

Though on the plus side, I do think that the "act first, think later" type of approach has been great for smaller-scale investments, by which pedestrian & bicycle treatments certainly tops that list. Small-scale projects are great in that if they don't work on the first try, it's easy to try it again or try it a different way.

DDOT has also made some great strides on the communications end. They have great literature & do fascinating presentations, and d.ish puts up some interesting posts. However, the feedback from their technical staff could benefit from improvements.

I wouldn't go as far as recommending that Klein be ousted, but I wouldn't be against at least hearing other potential replacements to see if there's someone that shares his ideas but might be able to offer even more. Or at the least, for the incoming Mayor to emphasise greater communications & to slow down a bit where things may benefit from a bit more thought.

[Also, agree w/ Matt Johnson: great headline!]

by Bossi on Nov 18, 2010 11:48 am • link • report

I'm all in favor of WalMart moving into those locations. We just need to make sure that they walk the walk about transit-oriented development. The 801 New Jersey NW (2nd & H) and 58th & East Capitol locations, in particular, are right near Metro stations and major bus routes. Those stores should definitely be part of high-rise buildings with no surface parking.

by tom veil on Nov 18, 2010 11:49 am • link • report

@ Sandbox

Isnt there a Kmart in the Middle of NYC with a offices over it.

As other people have asked how is this different than any other store

Do you have problem specifically with Walmart or is it big stores (Safeway, Giant, Target, Sears etc) or any store.

by kk on Nov 18, 2010 11:53 am • link • report

@ Yoav
@ Ward 1 guy
+ 1 for the CaBi station at the Watha T. Daniel Library I thought it was weird they didn't put a location here with the brand new library, Metro stop and one of the longest westbound bike lanes in the city on R st.

by Chris R on Nov 18, 2010 11:54 am • link • report

The C100 letter calls for a GGW counter-letter. (You've got my signature.)

by Gavin on Nov 18, 2010 12:06 pm • link • report

Working on it...

by David Alpert on Nov 18, 2010 12:13 pm • link • report

I'm in for the C1000.

by NikolasM on Nov 18, 2010 12:22 pm • link • report

@David, "Working on it..."

I'm sure it'll be an interesting read. I hope it has more behind it than "This is what we want and why we want it" ... like when you asked people to testify at the hearing the other day even if they had nothing substantive to say. These letters really have to be about doing things the right way and not just about 'who can scream the loudest'.

by Lance on Nov 18, 2010 12:26 pm • link • report

Because neither the Committee of 100 or any of its members have ever been the ones who have nothing to say but say it the loudest.

by William on Nov 18, 2010 12:29 pm • link • report

@William, Correct.

by Lance on Nov 18, 2010 12:38 pm • link • report

I think when folks testify in support of the current plan "with nothing substantive to say", they're saying they support the current plan, and trust the decision-makers who are implementing it.

The problem is, in the absence of the vocal support of the majority (e.g., "You're doing a great job! Keep up the good work! Yay streetcars!") we cede the debate to marginal and unrepresentative folks, who can then demand out-sized influence since they're the only ones speaking up.

You know, the "Committee of 100" way...

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 12:44 pm • link • report

Rather than getting into various letter writing campaigns, there's only one fair, democratic way to determine whether Klein and Tregoning stay:

A dance-off, televised on Channel 13, where viewers call in to vote whether to keep them or boot them.

by Fritz on Nov 18, 2010 12:44 pm • link • report

At least nine jurisdictions in the US have made sagging pants a punishable offense with sanctions ranging from community service to steep fines.

Isn't a lifetime of unemployment punishment enough?

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 12:45 pm • link • report

It's not too often I'm in agreement with Fritz... but to that suggestion: +1

by Bossi on Nov 18, 2010 12:46 pm • link • report

@Fritz, LOL ... I bet that would satisfy a lot of the folks on here. I mean I think Oboe said it well "they're saying they support the current plan, and trust the decision-makers who are implementing it.

I.e., They haven't bothered to question if is it being done correctly or not. Like sheep to the slaughterhouse ... 'trust' ... 'just trust' ...

by Lance on Nov 18, 2010 12:50 pm • link • report

Please keep Gabe Klein around if for no other reason than he's just dreamy to look at.

by Matt on Nov 18, 2010 1:16 pm • link • report

@Lance,

That's just, like, your opinion maaan.

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 1:23 pm • link • report

Please let us know when the counter petition is available.

Also, who funds the Committee of 100 NIMBYs? Do they get public funds from the city? If so, that's a good budget closing line item to kill off.

by John on Nov 18, 2010 1:28 pm • link • report

From the C100 letter:

...the DDOT initiative to create a network of bike lanes lacked depth of planning which has resulted in confusion for all roadway users and questionable safeguards for any of the users. It would have been helpful and prudent if DDOT had accompanied the promotion of bike usage with an aggressive campaign to demonstrate the safe and lawful role for each category of roadway users and an active enforcement of laws governing each of the users. The singular goal was to produce another symbol of the Â“livabilityÂ” agenda and to declare victory despite the created tension among pedestrians, bikers, drivers, and public transit operators...

Funny, I'm starting to think there may not be even 100 in this Comittee. This sounds suspiciously as if it might have been written by our own Lance, what with the fetishization of the status quo, fear that any deviation from that status quo might lead to intolerable "confusion", and politely restrained concern over outlaw cyclists and enforcement.

TheWashCycle responds:

Wow. So much wrong in such a short paragraph.
DDOT has put in quite a bit of planning into it's network of bike lanes. Almost all of the 49 bike lanes we have were defined back in 2005 during the bike plan. And each bike lane gets individual attention from DDOT staff. How much planning is needed anyway. This "inadequate" planning myth is 100% Fenty's fault. Not Klein's. It comes from the fact that DDOT put in bike lanes on Penn and then rebuilt them just before they opened. This was not an engineering decision. This was a political decision. Fenty said it was his call, and not Klein's. Klein (from what I've heard) wanted to leave the lanes, but Fenty was afraid they would hurt him in the election. Ironically, removing them opened him up to criticism for not doing due diligence and probably hurt him more than the bike lanes ever would have. But, there is really is no truth to the complaint that DDOT doesn't properly plan for bike lanes. From what I've seen they plan way more than is needed.

As for education, DDOT pays for WABA to offer free classes on cycling to both adults and children - and has educated thousands as a result. They also do two StreetSmarts campaigns a year. Enforcement is not DDOT's job, it's MPD's. If their criticism is that drivers are terribly ignorant about the law and their place on the road - I agree.

Still, I'd like to see how they think these lack of planning, education and enforcement have manifested themselves. Where is their proof of a lack of these things? And what do they think DDOT should do?

Finally, their claim that the "singular goal was to produce another symbol of the Â“livabilityÂ” agenda" is nearly libelous. The goal, as stated several places, is to give residents more transportation options. And the rise in cycling, walking and transit use is evidence that they're achieving their goals.

I think DC residents should fire the Committee of 100.

(http://www.thewashcycle.com/2010/11/committee-of-100-questions-ddot-on-bike-program.html)

Anyway, it certainly lends itself to a lively debate.

by oboe on Nov 18, 2010 1:41 pm • link • report

It's up. Here's the petition and my response to their letter.

by David Alpert on Nov 18, 2010 1:42 pm • link • report

@ John If they get public funds it's not very much. In 2008, they had income of $41,673. $9600 was membership dues, $29,323 was contributions, and $2,750 was fund contributions. Oh, and they somehow managed to only earn $10 in interest on $168K in cash.

It's a C3, so if you want to donate to them it's tax deductible.

by jcm on Nov 18, 2010 1:48 pm • link • report

>They haven't bothered to question if is it being done correctly or not. - Lance

You imply that it's impossible for someone to study an issue and then agree that it is being handled correctly, which is obviously false. Your statement is illustrative of the Cmt's ridiculous bias to simply assume that change must automatically be wrong.

by BeyondDC on Nov 18, 2010 2:07 pm • link • report

Walmart is so uncool, so trashy, so suburbian...I just do not like it. It has 0 glamour, plus it doesn't even have competitive prices. Al it sells is crap.
I prefer Target, not much more expensive and with great clearances.

I wouldn't like to see a Walmart in DC at all. They can stay on the suburbs.

by Mar on Nov 18, 2010 3:30 pm • link • report

Cabi expansion:

Id put 12 infill stations and 8 expansion stations.

by JJJJJ on Nov 18, 2010 4:29 pm • link • report

Ok all:
Wal*Mart Super Center stores have grocery departments. Typical Mal*Marts stores do not have have grocery departments. From all of the press I have read on this matter all three of these stores will have have grocery department. As to their hours of operations, none or some may be 24 hour operations. Those that are not 24 hour operations will be open at least 16 hours a day 7 days a week.

by Sand Box John on Nov 18, 2010 9:46 pm • link • report

CaBi: hopefully some of the universities will chip in and fund their own stations for the 2011-12 school year, and hopefully someone at DDOT is trying to sell the university facilities departments on that idea. Much cheaper than building new parking garages!

Also, I'd second the call for Arboretum and Shaw library ones. The arboretum's a lovely place to bike around year-round, and difficult to access via transit. There's a station up at T; maybe that could be replaced by one at the library and another north of Florida, for Howard's hospital & LeDroit residents.

by Payton on Nov 18, 2010 10:45 pm • link • report

Sand Box John, Walmart is retrofitting most of their stores across the country to include grocery, size is no longer a factor.

by JJJJJ on Nov 19, 2010 1:55 am • link • report

@JJJJJ:
True. I will note that some are doing it by converting existing floor space for groceries, not necessarily a full service grocery department, Easton Maryland, Giant Food in same shopping center. Store not rebranded Supper Center.

Others are expanding floor space for those grocery department In the case of Cambridge Maryland, full service grocery department, store to be rebranded Supper Center.

by Sand Box John on Nov 19, 2010 7:35 am • link • report

RE CaBi:
We need relief for the Soviet Safeway bikeshare station. Although it's heavily used, with only 11 docks it's one of the smallest stations in the system. The Soviet bikeshare station is starting to earn it's name: I recently had to silence my housemate (one of three in my house with a CaBi membership) to keep him from advertising bikeshare to someone else in our neighborhood.

The other stations in walking distance are also heavily used, and often run out of bikes while I'm walking. Just this morning I had to walk to 14th and H because 14th and R, 14th and Rhode Island and 15th and P all emptied out while I was walking from 17th and Corcoran.

A station at 17th and P (next to CVS), 16th and S (in front of the Mason Temple) or 18th and S/T would greatly improve service at 17th and Corcoran.

by Steven on Nov 19, 2010 10:26 am • link • report