Posts with the tag Baltimore. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/Baltimore/ en-us http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18924/long-term-closures-a-solution-to-single-tracking/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mcjohnson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Matt Johnson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Yesterday morning, the Chicago Transit Authority <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.transitchicago.com/redsouth/', '18924')" href="http://www.transitchicago.com/redsouth/" style="color: black">closed the southern end of the Red Line</a> for 5 months of reconstruction. Should WMATA consider a similar approach? There are advantages, but also big dangers as well. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 199px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctaweb/8746962391/in/set-72157633224039917/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctaweb/8746962391/in/set-72157633224039917/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201305/191736.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by cta web on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">WMATA's rebuilding problem, which it dubs <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/metro_forward/', '18924')" href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/metro_forward/" style="color: black">Metro Forward</a>, has been going on for over 2 years with no end in sight. Almost every weekend brings at least one major closure, like <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-work-to-close-college-park-station-during-u-md-commencement-weekend/2013/05/14/6b3e2eda-bcca-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html', '18924')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-work-to-close-college-park-station-during-u-md-commencement-weekend/2013/05/14/6b3e2eda-bcca-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html" style="color: black">on the Green Line</a> last weekend. When it's over, Metro will be more reliable and passengers will experience fewer problems. But in the meantime, riders face service delays and other disruptions almost every weekend. Could a different approach work? <p style="margin-top: 1em">The CTA thinks so. Its <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.transitchicago.com/redsouth/', '18924')" href="http://www.transitchicago.com/redsouth/" style="color: black">Red Line South</a> reconstruction project will close a portion of Chicago's busiest line for 5 months. According to the CTA, the project would have taken 4 years to finish if it restricted the work to weekends only. <p style="margin-top: 1em"> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The agency chose to give both weekday commuters and weekend riders a lot of pain over a short time, rather than stretch it out over a long time. When finished, the reconstruction project will reduce travel times between 95th Street and Roosevelt by 20 minutes and will make the Red Line more reliable. By closing the entire line at once, riders will get to see those benefits sooner. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the meantime, riders will have many alternatives to the Red Line, including several shuttle bus options to other L stations. Because of the increased volume of riders changing from shuttles to rail, CTA has also made temporary capacity improvements to the Garfield station on the nearby Green Line, including new staircases, faregates, and bus bays. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Additionally, the Red Line itself will be rerouted over part of the Green Line, and will operate 24 hours during the closure. To prepare for this, the CTA undertook an aggressive maintenance regimen on the Green Line track and structure, since trains will be running all the time, preventing any overnight maintenance. <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, there can be trade-offs. The Baltimore Light Rail was built as a single-track system with sidings where trains could pass one another. In 2004 and 2005, the Maryland Transit Administration closed each end of the line for about 6 months to reconstruct the line with two tracks. Before the project, train headways were limited to 17 minutes. Now, trains can run much more frequently. <p style="margin-top: 1em">During that time, MTA ran local and express shuttle buses to get riders around the closure, but ridership fell by 20% due to the inconvenience and took 3 years to recover, according to a source at MTA. When riders don't have transit options for long periods of time, they make alternate arrangements, like moving or purchasing a car. <p style="margin-top: 1em">If WMATA were to close a line for a long time, the agency could help to mitigate the inconvenience to riders by working with local jurisdictions to set up temporary bus lanes, signal priority, and other transit improvements. Adding additional buses to parallel routes, routing buses to different terminals, and discounting fares are all approaches that could help keep riders on board during the work. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Metro Forward is a big undertaking, and even when it's done, weekend work may still be necessary for future repairs. But for large projects, like Metro's years-long <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2662', '18924')" href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2662" style="color: black">Red Line rehab</a>, closures might get the work done sooner. However, it would cause significant disruption and a potential drop in ridership.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18924/long-term-closures-a-solution-to-single-tracking/#comments">44 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18924 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:36:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18930/whats-next-for-marc/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=5202', '18930')" href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=5202" style="color: black">Hurrah</a> for some weekend MARC service. How about also <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/05/another-marc-service-expansion-follow.html', '18930')" href="http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/05/another-marc-service-expansion-follow.html" style="color: black">merging MARC and VRE</a> so trains run through from Maryland to Virginia, and restoring service between DC and Baltimore to run later than 9:15? (RPUS)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18930/whats-next-for-marc/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18930 Mon, 20 May 2013 08:53:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18838/baltimore-bikeshare/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Baltimore could get the 25-station <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-bike-sharing-20130507,0,3560748.story', '18838')" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-bike-sharing-20130507,0,3560748.story" style="color: black">Charm City Bikeshare</a> system within in a year after winning approval from a city panel. A vendor hasn't been chosen, but CaBi's operator Alta is a possibility. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18838/baltimore-bikeshare/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18838 Thu, 09 May 2013 08:20:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18591/marc-makes-improvements-plans-even-more/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mschoenbaum/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Miriam Schoenbaum</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">MARC riders will see a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/', '18591')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/" style="color: black">new Halethorpe station</a> on the Penn Line in June and the first of <a href="/ http://mta.maryland.gov/governor-o%E2%80%99malley-announces-marc-purchase-54-multi-level-passenger-cars" style="color: black">54 new bi-level train cars</a> by the end of the year. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/skabat169/7411001616/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skabat169/7411001616/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201304/200835.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>MARC train at Halethorpe. Photo by Skabat169 on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">MTA also has a wish list of projects to fund with money from Maryland's recently-passed <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18187/driving-still-a-historical-bargain-after-maryland-gas-tax-hike/', '18591')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18187/driving-still-a-historical-bargain-after-maryland-gas-tax-hike/" style="color: black">gas tax increase</a>. David Johnson, chief customer communications officer for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), briefed the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mta.maryland.gov/advisories/members-needed-marc-riders-advisory-council', '18591')" href="http://mta.maryland.gov/advisories/members-needed-marc-riders-advisory-council" style="color: black">MARC Riders' Advisory Council</a> last Thursday. <p style="margin-top: 1em">MTA would like to overhaul the Penn Line station at <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/Releases/June26_MTA_West_Baltimore', '18591')" href="http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/Releases/June26_MTA_West_Baltimore" style="color: black">West Baltimore</a>, similar to the Halethorpe overhaul. This would be <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoreredline.com/project-information/station-area-advisory-committees/saac-meetings/west-baltimore-marc', '18591')" href="http://www.baltimoreredline.com/project-information/station-area-advisory-committees/saac-meetings/west-baltimore-marc" style="color: black">in conjunction</a> with the future <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoreredline.com/', '18591')" href="http://www.baltimoreredline.com/" style="color: black">Baltimore Red Line</a>. Other items on the wish list include 10 new diesel locomotives and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/marcplanfull.pdf', '18591')" href="http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/marcplanfull.pdf" style="color: black">weekend service</a> on the Penn Line. <p style="margin-top: 1em">At Halethorpe, where MTA reported 1,209 boardings on March 13, 2013, the southbound high platform is complete and will open this week, Johnson said. The high platform will reduce the time each train spends at the station (dwell time), because the floor of the train cars will be at the same level as the platform. Passengers will no longer have to use stairs to get on and off the train. In addition, passengers will be able to use all doors of the train to get on and off. <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, Johnson said that MTA does not expect to adjust the Penn Line schedule to account for the reduced dwell time until the northbound high platform and the footbridge connecting the two platforms are completed in June. <p style="margin-top: 1em">When the overhaul is finished, people who use wheelchairs will be able to ride the train from Halethorpe, because of the high platforms and elevators in the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mta.maryland.gov/40-ton-bridge-pedestrians-be-installed-halethorpe-marc-train-station-overnight-friday', '18591')" href="http://mta.maryland.gov/40-ton-bridge-pedestrians-be-installed-halethorpe-marc-train-station-overnight-friday" style="color: black">new bridge</a>. All stations on the Penn Line between Washington Union Station and Baltimore Penn Station will be wheelchair-accessible, except West Baltimore. <p style="margin-top: 1em">After this, the next step at Halethorpe might be an $18 million parking garage, said Johnson. Many people who drive to the station park their cars on Southwestern Boulevard (US Route 1) and on nearby <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-at-marc-train-station-20130219,0,1448693.story', '18591')" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-at-marc-train-station-20130219,0,1448693.story" style="color: black">neighborhood streets</a>. <p style="margin-top: 1em">As for the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-20/news/bs-md-new-train-cars-20111020_1_bombardier-transit-corp-rail-cars-transit-agency', '18591')" href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-20/news/bs-md-new-train-cars-20111020_1_bombardier-transit-corp-rail-cars-transit-agency" style="color: black">54 new bi-level cars</a>, MTA expects the first of the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://us.bombardier.com/us/press_release_04112011.htm', '18591')" href="http://us.bombardier.com/us/press_release_04112011.htm" style="color: black">cars</a> to be in service in November. The cars were delayed by a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/251980/End-to-Bombardier-strike-in-Quebec-takes-pressure-off-local-plant', '18591')" href="http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/251980/End-to-Bombardier-strike-in-Quebec-takes-pressure-off-local-plant" style="color: black">strike</a> at the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mtamarylandalerts.com/newsletters/MARC20120713.htm', '18591')" href="http://mtamarylandalerts.com/newsletters/MARC20120713.htm" style="color: black">factory</a> in Quebec and Federal Railroad Administration-required modifications to the brake rotors. They will be certified to run at 90 mph, but MTA would like to get them certified to run at 125 mph. <p style="margin-top: 1em">MTA will use the first cars to replace the 4 40-year-old Pullman <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=96848', '18591')" href="http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=96848" style="color: black">gallery cars</a> currently in <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=87840', '18591')" href="http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=87840" style="color: black">service</a> on the Brunswick Line. In the meantime, MTA plans a light overhaul of the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mta.maryland.gov/advisories/message-marc-commuters-regarding-warmhot-cars', '18591')" href="http://mta.maryland.gov/advisories/message-marc-commuters-regarding-warmhot-cars" style="color: black">air conditioning</a> systems on the gallery cars, to get them through one more summer. <br> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18591/marc-makes-improvements-plans-even-more/#comments">47 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18591 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:44:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18310/maryland-virginia-fund-these-projects/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dan/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Dan Malouff</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Maryland and Virginia will both enact major new transportation funding bills this year. Neither bill says exactly which projects will be funded, but here are the top 10 projects in Maryland and Virginia that most deserve to get some of the funds. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 183px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensiveplan/transportation-grid-of-streets.htm', '')" href="http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensiveplan/transportation-grid-of-streets.htm" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201304/010132.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Tysons grid of streets, no. 2. Image from Fairfax County.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>1. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/capital_needs/project_details.cfm?I=077', '18310')" href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/capital_needs/project_details.cfm?I=077" style="color: black">8-car Metro trains</a></b>: Metrorail is near capacity, especially in Virginia. More Metro railcars and the infrastructure they need (like power systems and yard space) would mean more 8-car trains on the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>2. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensiveplan/transportation-grid-of-streets.htm', '18310')" href="http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensiveplan/transportation-grid-of-streets.htm" style="color: black">Tysons grid of streets</a></b>: Tysons Corner has more office space than downtown Baltimore and Richmond put together. Converting it to a functional urban place is a huge priority. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>3. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.purplelinemd.com/', '18310')" href="http://www.purplelinemd.com/" style="color: black">Purple Line</a></b>: Bethesda, Silver Spring, Langley Park, College Park, New Carrollton. That's a serious string of transit-friendly pearls. The Purple Line will be one of America's best light rail lines on the day it opens. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>4. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoreredline.com/', '18310')" href="http://www.baltimoreredline.com/" style="color: black">Baltimore Red Line</a></b>: Baltimore has a subway line and a light rail line, but they don't work together very well as a system. The Red Line will greatly improve the reach of Baltimore's rail system. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>5. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dullesmetro.com/', '18310')" href="http://www.dullesmetro.com/" style="color: black">Silver Line Phase 2</a></b>: The Silver Line extension from Reston to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County is one of the few projects that was earmarked in Virginia's bill, to the tune of $300 million. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>6. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://sites.arlingtonva.us/streetcar/', '18310')" href="http://sites.arlingtonva.us/streetcar/" style="color: black">Arlington streetcars</a></b>: The Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcars both have funding plans already, but could potentially be accelerated. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>7. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/nova-to-receive-350k-to-study-transit-solutions-for-easing-route-7-traffic/article/2507754', '18310')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/nova-to-receive-350k-to-study-transit-solutions-for-easing-route-7-traffic/article/2507754" style="color: black">Route 7 transit.</a></b> Leesburg Pike is the next Rosslyn-Ballston corridor waiting to happen. Virginia is just beginning to study either a light rail or BRT line along it. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>8. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.cctmaryland.com/', '18310')" href="http://www.cctmaryland.com/" style="color: black">Corridor Cities Transitway</a></b>: Gaithersburg has been waiting decades for a quality transit line to build around. BRT will finally connect the many New Urbanist communities there, which are internally walkable but rely on cars for long-range connections. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201304/010137-1.jpg&ref=18310" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201304/010137.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Corridor Cities Transitway, no. 8. Image from Maryland MTA.</div> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>9. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://mta.maryland.gov/marc-growth-and-investment-plan', '18310')" href="http://mta.maryland.gov/marc-growth-and-investment-plan" style="color: black">MARC enhancements</a></b>: MARC is a decent commuter rail, but it could be so much more. Some day it could be more like New York's Metro North or Philadelphia's SEPTA regional rail, with hourly trains all day long, even on weekends. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>10. <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://alexandriava.gov/HighCapacityTransit', '18310')" href="http://alexandriava.gov/HighCapacityTransit" style="color: black">Alexandria BRT network</a></b>: This will make nearly all of Alexandria accessible via high-quality transit. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Honorable mentions</b>: Montgomery County BRT network, Potomac Yard Metro station, Virginia Beach light rail, Southern Maryland light rail, and VRE platform extensions.</i> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=4855', '18310')" href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=4855" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201304/010132.png" border=0 style="vertical-align: top; margin-right: 1em; border: 0"></a><i>Cross-posted <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=4855', '18310')" href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=4855" style="color: black">at BeyondDC</a>.</i><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18310/maryland-virginia-fund-these-projects/#comments">51 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18310 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:57:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18116/subway-subway-fantasy-map/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">What would Baltimore's transit map look like if every Subway sandwich shop <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/03/if-only-all-subway-sandwich-shops-were-actual-subway-stations/4995/', '18116')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/03/if-only-all-subway-sandwich-shops-were-actual-subway-stations/4995/" style="color: black">were a real subway station</a>? Answer: A lot more comprehensive than the real map. (Atlantic Cities)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18116/subway-subway-fantasy-map/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18116 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:47:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18080/baltimore-penn-gets-its-own-plan/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Amtrak <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-13/business/bs-bz-penn-station-development-20130313_1_train-station-master-plan-infrastructure-and-investment-development', '18080')" href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-13/business/bs-bz-penn-station-development-20130313_1_train-station-master-plan-infrastructure-and-investment-development" style="color: black">plans for mixed-use, transit oriented development</a> around Baltimore's Penn Station and tie together neighborhoods. The early plans include housing and commercial space. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18080/baltimore-penn-gets-its-own-plan/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/ style="color: black">Halethorpe getting a MARC station replacement</a> <span class="nw">(May 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/950/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-pocket-version/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future pocket version</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1872/bye-bye-blank-wall-hello-parking-lot-for-now/ style="color: black">Bye bye blank wall, hello parking lot, for now</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14211/facts-trump-emotion-as-fairfax-approves-penn-daw-plan/ style="color: black">Facts trump emotion as Fairfax approves Penn Daw plan</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 3, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18080 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:41:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17792/3-neat-apps/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Walkanomics <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/02/app-tells-you-how-walkable-street-really/4759/', '17792')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2013/02/app-tells-you-how-walkable-street-really/4759/" style="color: black">tries to better estimate</a> a street's walkability, but needs more and better open data. ... SpotAgent uses Baltimore's open data to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/02/best-parking-app-weve-ever-seen/4762/', '17792')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/02/best-parking-app-weve-ever-seen/4762/" style="color: black">estimate your chance of getting a ticket</a> if you park illegally ... StreetMix <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/01/digital-mixing-board-your-street/4555/', '17792')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/01/digital-mixing-board-your-street/4555/" style="color: black">lets you draw your own cross-section</a> of a street, like the ones in transportation plans. (Atlantic Cities)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17792/3-neat-apps/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4302/new-site-lists-open-data-apps-agencies/ style="color: black">New site lists open data apps, agencies</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 10, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16674/cheh-would-limit-regulation-for-uber-and-taxi-apps/ style="color: black">Cheh would limit regulation for Uber and taxi apps</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 5, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6818/walkscore-now-includes-transit-score/ style="color: black">WalkScore now includes Transit Score</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 16, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6553/on-the-calendar-happy-hour-tonight-on-h-street-plus-alexandria-tour-open-data-brac-connecticut-ave/ style="color: black">On the calendar: Happy hour tonight on H Street, plus Alexandria tour, open data, BRAC, Connecticut Ave</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 14, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3193/art-to-release-unencumbered-schedule-data/ style="color: black">ART to release unencumbered schedule data</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 11, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17792 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:05:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17476/runaway-train-never-going-back/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">60 years ago, a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2013/01/post_55.php#photo-1', '17476')" href="http://dcist.com/2013/01/post_55.php#photo-1" style="color: black">runaway train crashed into Union Station</a>. Today, the locomotive is in Baltimore in a state of severe disrepair. (DCist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17476/runaway-train-never-going-back/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7511/marc-shares-more-information-including-on-time-issues/ style="color: black">MARC shares more information including on-time issues</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 8, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1274/breakfast-links-mo-train-money-mo-problems-edition/ style="color: black">Breakfast links: Mo' train money, mo' problems edition</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 1, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/ style="color: black">Halethorpe getting a MARC station replacement</a> <span class="nw">(May 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/635/greater-washington-transit-future-a-multimodal-fantasy-map/ style="color: black">Greater Washington Transit Future: a multimodal fantasy map</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 21, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17476 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:31:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17405/towson-cant-compete-with-bethesda-without-housing/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/danreed/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Dan Reed</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Baltimore County wants to make Towson an "even better" destination than Bethesda or Silver Spring, but allowing single-story, suburban-style development in one of Maryland's largest and busiest downtowns won't make it happen. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/74482508@N00/88468576/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74482508@N00/88468576/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201301/171723.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Downtown Towson. Photo by pauledely on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Few places in Maryland, outside downtown Baltimore, have as many destinations within walking distance as downtown Townson. Towson is home to two colleges, one of which is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.towson.edu', '17405')" href="http://www.towson.edu" style="color: black">Maryland's second-largest public university</a>, one of the state's <a href=http://www.towsontowncenter.com/" style="color: black">biggest and nicest malls</a>, the Baltimore County seat, and a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://goo.gl/maps/XUHbv', '17405')" href="http://goo.gl/maps/XUHbv" style="color: black">small but thriving Main Street</a> anchored by the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.rechertheatre.com/', '17405')" href="http://www.rechertheatre.com/" style="color: black">Recher Theatre</a>, a music venue where nationally touring acts play. <p style="margin-top: 1em">With that amount of activity comes a lot of potential, which is why I was disappointed by <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/bs-md-co-towson-development-20130116,0,3761483,full.story', '17405')" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/bs-md-co-towson-development-20130116,0,3761483,full.story" style="color: black">recent comments</a> from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz about a proposed retail complex for downtown Towson:<blockquote><i>Officials announced on Tuesday a trio of new restaurants and a VIP section for the 15-screen movie theater planned for the Towson Square project, an $85 million development seen as a key element in attracting more shoppers and visitors to the county seat. <p style="margin-top: 1em">"We are going to make Towson a regional destination, even better than Bethesda, even better than Silver Spring," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said at a news conference Tuesday announcing the restaurants.</i></blockquote>Towson is already a regional destination for all of the reasons above, but it's no Bethesda or Silver Spring, and projects like <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.cordish.com/sub.cfm?section=newdev', '17405')" href="http://www.cordish.com/sub.cfm?section=newdev" style="color: black">Towson Square</a> won't make turn it into one. Even with some <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/ph-tt-square-restaurants-0116-20130115,0,103954.story', '17405')" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/ph-tt-square-restaurants-0116-20130115,0,103954.story" style="color: black">high-end chain restaurants</a>, it's basically a single-story strip mall pushed up to the street. That wouldn't be a problem if it weren't <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://goo.gl/maps/7gdDe', '17405')" href="http://goo.gl/maps/7gdDe" style="color: black">literally in the center of town</a>. <p style="margin-top: 1em">What makes Bethesda and Silver Spring not just regional draws, but fun and vibrant places to be is their density and mix of uses. Downtown Towson has plenty of jobs: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' County Business Patterns, it has 43,000 workers, fewer than downtown Bethesda (50,000) but more than downtown Silver Spring (32,000). <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, it doesn't have as many people. According to the 2010 Census (accessed via the New York Times' <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map', '17405')" href="http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map" style="color: black">Mapping America</a>), the densest parts of downtown Towson have about 8,900 people per square mile, compared to 17,000 people per square mile in downtown Bethesda and 30,000 in downtown Silver Spring, where over 1800 housing units have <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://issuu.com/silverspringregionalcenter/docs/silver_spring_development_status_january_2013-ssud', '17405')" href="http://issuu.com/silverspringregionalcenter/docs/silver_spring_development_status_january_2013-ssud" style="color: black">have opened or broken ground</a> in the past year. The only housing being built in downtown Towson right now is a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.towsongreen.com/', '17405')" href="http://www.towsongreen.com/" style="color: black">small townhouse development</a>. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Sure, people come from across Greater Baltimore to work in Towson, and you have 20,000 college students in the area, but they don't make a neighborhood as active as people who live there after the offices close at 5 pm and when school's out for summer and winter break. Towson Square would do far more to contribute to the area's vitality if there were apartments or condominiums on top of it. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Of course, if Towson were to have more housing, it would probably need more transit as well. If Kevin Kamenetz is really serious about creating a rival to Bethesda and Silver Spring, he might want to focus on extending the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/09/07/baltimore-to-advance-yellow-line-project-ahead-of-metro-extension/', '17405')" href="http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/09/07/baltimore-to-advance-yellow-line-project-ahead-of-metro-extension/" style="color: black">Baltimore Yellow Line</a> light rail to Towson.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17405/towson-cant-compete-with-bethesda-without-housing/#comments">22 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11416/more-and-varied-nightlife-can-make-silver-spring-safer/ style="color: black">More and varied nightlife can make Silver Spring safer</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 26, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1018/mall-people-and-montgomery-countys-downtowns/ style="color: black">"Mall people" and Montgomery County's downtowns</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 2, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13861/liquor-laws-lacking-nightlife-hurt-silver-spring-bars/ style="color: black">Liquor laws, lacking nightlife hurt Silver Spring bars</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 27, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9646/downtown-silver-spring-provides-freedom-for-couple/ style="color: black">Downtown Silver Spring provides freedom for couple</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 14, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12211/music-venues-can-and-should-engage-the-public-realm/ style="color: black">Music venues can and should engage the public realm</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 3, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17405 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:14:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17346/amtrak-eyes-new-bridge-and-tunnel/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Amtrak plans to begin <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-plans-significant-infrastructure-projects-for-2013.html?channel=279', '17346')" href="http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-plans-significant-infrastructure-projects-for-2013.html?channel=279" style="color: black">preliminary engineering work</a> this year on replacing the B&P Tunnel in Baltimore and for the bridge over the Susquehanna River. MARC also uses both. (RT&S)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17346/amtrak-eyes-new-bridge-and-tunnel/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3369/washingtons-rails-part-3-marylands-wish-list/ style="color: black">Washington's rails, part 3: Maryland's wish list</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 3, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6038/owner-of-h-street-tunnel-not-so-eager-for-streetcars/ style="color: black">Owner of H Street tunnel not so eager for streetcars</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 2, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8452/wmata-readying-software-for-farragut-virtual-tunnel/ style="color: black">WMATA readying software for Farragut "virtual tunnel"</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 11, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12008/proposed-pedestrian-bridge-to-cross-inner-harbor/ style="color: black">Proposed pedestrian bridge to cross Inner Harbor</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 12, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/ style="color: black">Halethorpe getting a MARC station replacement</a> <span class="nw">(May 13, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17346 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:37:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17297/baltimore-gets-new-cameras/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Baltimore will <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-01-07/news/bs-md-speed-camera-brekford-20130107_1_xerox-state-state-local-solutions-camera-locations', '17297')" href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-01-07/news/bs-md-speed-camera-brekford-20130107_1_xerox-state-state-local-solutions-camera-locations" style="color: black">replace all 83 of its speed cameras</a> after revelations that some cameras' error rates exceeded 5%. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17297/baltimore-gets-new-cameras/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14880/successful-speed-cameras-require-fair-speed-limits/ style="color: black">Successful speed cameras require fair speed limits</a> <span class="nw">(May 21, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4207/distribute-enforcement-camera-money-to-residents-alaska-style/ style="color: black">Distribute enforcement camera money to residents, Alaska-style</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 9, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8419/speed-camera-becomes-a-lottery/ style="color: black">Speed camera becomes a lottery</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13803/lower-camera-fines-sure-once-we-have-more-cameras/ style="color: black">Lower camera fines? Sure, once we have more cameras</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7985/petula-dvorak-puts-a-few-minutes-convenience-over-montgomery-residents-lives/ style="color: black">Petula Dvorak puts a few minutes' convenience over Montgomery residents' lives</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 5, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17297 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:52:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17067/someones-listening/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Department of Homeland Security is providing grants to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/12/report-dhs-funding-program-to-eavesdrop-on-bus-ride-conversations/', '17067')" href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/12/report-dhs-funding-program-to-eavesdrop-on-bus-ride-conversations/" style="color: black">increase audio surveillance capabilities on public transit</a> in cities like Baltimore, worrying privacy advocates. (Daily Caller, @SamuelMoore)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17067/someones-listening/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4832/government-driver-hits-pedestrian-mpd-gives-victim-a-ticket/ style="color: black">Government driver hits pedestrian, MPD gives victim a ticket</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 5, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7877/metro-security-on-the-radio/ style="color: black">Metro security on the radio</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 28, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1177/md-only-listening-to-car-bound-suburban-and-rural-citizens/ style="color: black">Md. only listening to car-bound suburban and rural citizens</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 4, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11976/dont-hear-enough-of-me-on-the-blog-and-other-events/ style="color: black">Don't hear enough of me on the blog? And other events</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 9, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3861/metro-working-out-deal-with-google/ style="color: black">Metro working out deal with Google</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 22, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17067 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:34:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17062/fine-camera-operators-for-errors/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Jon Cardin <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-12-10/news/bs-md-speed-cameras-cardin-20121210_1_camera-tickets-camera-issue-camera-programs', '17062')" href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-12-10/news/bs-md-speed-cameras-cardin-20121210_1_camera-tickets-camera-issue-camera-programs" style="color: black">wants traffic camera operators to pay a $1,000 fine</a> for each erroneous ticket they write. There had been reports of a few malfunctioning cameras in Baltimore. (DC's process is different, with police directly involved in approving every ticket. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17062/fine-camera-operators-for-errors/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17062 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:51:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16830/baltimore-goes-international/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">In an effort to reverse a decades-long trend of shrinking population, Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://americancity.org/daily/entry/the-rise-of-the-new-baltimoreans', '16830')" href="http://americancity.org/daily/entry/the-rise-of-the-new-baltimoreans" style="color: black">aiming to attract immigrants</a> by not asking people about their immigration status when they seek city services. (NAC)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16830/baltimore-goes-international/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/950/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-pocket-version/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future pocket version</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9351/listen-moving-stories-about-getting-around-baltimore/ style="color: black">Listen: Moving stories about getting around Baltimore</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3421/baltimore-needs-central-transit-not-yellow-line-extension/ style="color: black">Baltimore needs central transit, not Yellow Line extension</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 8, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3868/baltimore-hosts-first-sunday-streets-and-not-in-a-park/ style="color: black">Baltimore hosts first Sunday Streets, and not in a park</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 26, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16830 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:25:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16494/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">What effect will TIFIA <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/10/16/five-factors-that-will-determine-whether-tifia-benefits-transit/', '16494')" href="http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/10/16/five-factors-that-will-determine-whether-tifia-benefits-transit/" style="color: black">have on transit projects</a>? (Streetsblog) ... Baltimore's negotiating agreement with B-Cycle <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/bikeshorts/2012/10/baltimore-bike-sharing-not-coming-anytime-soon', '16494')" href="http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/bikeshorts/2012/10/baltimore-bike-sharing-not-coming-anytime-soon" style="color: black">expired</a>, pushing bike sharing there back at least a year. (Baltimore Magazine) ... Arlington's EnviroCab <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/morning_edition/12/10/16/envirocab_adds_all_electric_nissan_leaf_to_its_fleet', '16494')" href="http://wamu.org/news/morning_edition/12/10/16/envirocab_adds_all_electric_nissan_leaf_to_its_fleet" style="color: black">adds the all-electric Nissan Leaf</a>. (WAMU) ... Parking minimums <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://laist.com/2012/10/16/eva_restaurant_to_shutter_due_to_ho.php', '16494')" href="http://laist.com/2012/10/16/eva_restaurant_to_shutter_due_to_ho.php" style="color: black">force a restaurant to close</a> in LA. (LAist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16494/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1552/envirocab-sets-a-green-example-in-arlington/ style="color: black">enviroCAB sets a green example in Arlington</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 5, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7194/capital-bikeshare-launching-today-will-change-everything/ style="color: black">Capital Bikeshare, launching today, will change everything</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2668/smartbike-do-it-right-for-the-long-term/ style="color: black">SmartBike: Do it right for the long term</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 22, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3279/google-we-dont-pay-mta-for-data/ style="color: black">Google: We don't pay MTA for data</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 24, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13187/american-bike-sharing-systems-more-than-doubled-in-2011/ style="color: black">American bike sharing systems more than doubled in 2011</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 30, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16494 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:33:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15772/olympics-in-dc-2024/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Former organizers for the 2012 Washington-Baltimore Olympics bid are <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-olympic-bid-20120805,0,7581522.story', '15772')" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-olympic-bid-20120805,0,7581522.story" style="color: black">considering a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics</a>. But the US IOC will have to decide whether to offer a bid for either 2024 or for the 2026 Winter Games. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15772/olympics-in-dc-2024/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7193/maryland-launches-smartrip-compatible-smartcard/ style="color: black">Maryland launches Smartrip-compatible smartcard</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11103/whats-the-status-of-our-major-transit-projects/ style="color: black">What's the status of our major transit projects?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 29, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5817/halethorpe-getting-a-marc-station-replacement/ style="color: black">Halethorpe getting a MARC station replacement</a> <span class="nw">(May 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15772 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:10:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15162/time-for-a-freeways-exit/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">What does one do with a well-used, much-hated, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/baltimore/expiration-date/Content?oid=1473895', '15162')" href="http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/baltimore/expiration-date/Content?oid=1473895" style="color: black">massive elevated freeway</a> in downtown Baltimore? Developers and activists want the Jones Falls Expressway demolished, but city officials maintain a conspicuous silence. (Urbanite)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15162/time-for-a-freeways-exit/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2505/tearing-down-a-baltimore-highway-provides-lessons-for-dc/ style="color: black">Tearing down a Baltimore highway provides lessons for DC</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1872/bye-bye-blank-wall-hello-parking-lot-for-now/ style="color: black">Bye bye blank wall, hello parking lot, for now</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 25, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1477/get-rid-of-ny-aves-freeway-signs/ style="color: black">Get rid of NY Ave's freeway signs</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 8, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/911/does-moving-sound-like-removing-with-an-oklahoma-accent/ style="color: black">Does "moving" sound like "removing" with an Oklahoma accent?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 4, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/734/new-haven-next-to-boulevardize-a-freeway/ style="color: black">New Haven next to boulevardize a freeway</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 28, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15162 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:39:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14959/no-trouble-with-the-maples/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">One study find that the tree canopy tends to actually <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/can-trees-actually-deter-crime/2107/', '14959')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/can-trees-actually-deter-crime/2107/" style="color: black">deter crime</a> in Baltimore. Lower brush however, seems to increase it. (Atlantic)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14959/no-trouble-with-the-maples/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14959 Mon, 28 May 2012 13:09:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14933/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Baltimore has <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=3332', '14933')" href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=3332" style="color: black">a new rail map</a>, integrating all MTA's services in one place. (BeyondDC) ... MetroAccess <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2012/05/expect-16-snazzy-new-metroaccess-vehicles-on-the-road-next-month-15614.html', '14933')" href="http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2012/05/expect-16-snazzy-new-metroaccess-vehicles-on-the-road-next-month-15614.html" style="color: black">gets a new</a>, snazzier vehicle. (TBD) ... A <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14141/', '14933')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14141/" style="color: black">post about DC's 1877 neighborhoods</a> inspires <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://thelocation.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hells-bottom-beer/', '14933')" href="http://thelocation.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hells-bottom-beer/" style="color: black">a new beer</a>, Hell's Bottom. (The Location)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14933/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/635/greater-washington-transit-future-a-multimodal-fantasy-map/ style="color: black">Greater Washington Transit Future: a multimodal fantasy map</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 21, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/950/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-pocket-version/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future pocket version</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11103/whats-the-status-of-our-major-transit-projects/ style="color: black">What's the status of our major transit projects?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 29, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14229/taxis-could-make-paratransit-service-cheaper/ style="color: black">Taxis could make paratransit service cheaper</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 28, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14933 Fri, 25 May 2012 08:23:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14806/speed-camera-torched/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Someone <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/speed-camera-on-south-rolling-road-torched', '14806')" href="http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/speed-camera-on-south-rolling-road-torched" style="color: black">set a speed camera on fire</a> in Catonsville. It had just been installed near a school where neighbors complained of speeding drivers. Some commenters <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/catonsville-patch-readers-sound-off-on-speed-camera-vandalism', '14806')" href="http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/catonsville-patch-readers-sound-off-on-speed-camera-vandalism" style="color: black">applauded the action</a>. (Patch, Ben Ross)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14806/speed-camera-torched/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8419/speed-camera-becomes-a-lottery/ style="color: black">Speed camera becomes a lottery</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3573/outrage-against-enforcement-is-unsafe-at-any-speed/ style="color: black">Outrage against enforcement is unsafe at any speed</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 22, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13803/lower-camera-fines-sure-once-we-have-more-cameras/ style="color: black">Lower camera fines? Sure, once we have more cameras</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4207/distribute-enforcement-camera-money-to-residents-alaska-style/ style="color: black">Distribute enforcement camera money to residents, Alaska-style</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 9, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9784/gene-weingarten-is-right-m-street-se-is-too-wide/ style="color: black">Gene Weingarten is right: M Street SE is too wide</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 22, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14806 Wed, 16 May 2012 08:50:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14637/baltimores-green-line/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The MTA is testing out <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=3296', '14637')" href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=3296" style="color: black">green tracks in Baltimore</a> that use grass and other plants in the track bed. They've included green track beds in Purple Line renderings as well. (BeyondDC)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14637/baltimores-green-line/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10579/transitways-can-run-on-top-of-grass/ style="color: black">Transitways can run on top of grass</a> <span class="nw">(May 23, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/910/whats-up-with-the-purple-line/ style="color: black">What's up with the Purple Line</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 4, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3421/baltimore-needs-central-transit-not-yellow-line-extension/ style="color: black">Baltimore needs central transit, not Yellow Line extension</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 8, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4028/how-the-purple-line-will-fit-through-the-silver-spring-transit-center/ style="color: black">How the Purple Line will fit through the Silver Spring Transit Center</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 11, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/950/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-pocket-version/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future pocket version</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14637 Wed, 02 May 2012 08:55:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14641/md-funds-bikeshare/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Montgomery, College Park and UMD, and Baltimore <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/2012/May%202012/GOVERNOR%20OMALLEY%20ANNOUNCES%20BIKESHARE%20GRANTS', '14641')" href="http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/2012/May%202012/GOVERNOR%20OMALLEY%20ANNOUNCES%20BIKESHARE%20GRANTS" style="color: black">won state grants</a> to build bike sharing systems. Greenbelt, Frederick, and Howard County also got grants to study the possibility of doing bike sharing. (MDOT)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14641/md-funds-bikeshare/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14641 Wed, 02 May 2012 08:55:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14254/tunnel-too-small/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The expansion of the Panama canal will bring larger ships to Baltimore, but the Howard Street Tunnel <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/aging-baltimore-tunnel-a-threat-to-shipping-economy-for-the-city-and-maryland/2012/03/28/gIQAjYCVhS_story.html', '14254')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/aging-baltimore-tunnel-a-threat-to-shipping-economy-for-the-city-and-maryland/2012/03/28/gIQAjYCVhS_story.html" style="color: black">is to small for double stacked freight cars</a>. CSX may build a transfer station to stack cars on the other side of the tunnel. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14254/tunnel-too-small/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5482/csx-plans-for-virginia-avenue-tunnel-replacement/ style="color: black">CSX plans for Virginia Avenue Tunnel replacement</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 13, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3467/washingtons-rails-part-5-unbottlenecking-baltimore/ style="color: black">Washington's rails, part 5: Unbottlenecking Baltimore</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 14, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8452/wmata-readying-software-for-farragut-virtual-tunnel/ style="color: black">WMATA readying software for Farragut "virtual tunnel"</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 11, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3369/washingtons-rails-part-3-marylands-wish-list/ style="color: black">Washington's rails, part 3: Maryland's wish list</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 3, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3353/washingtons-rails-part-1-the-network/ style="color: black">Washington's rails, part 1: The network</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 1, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=14254 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:43:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13831/which-citys-rail-system-has-the-best-walk-score/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/mcjohnson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Matt Johnson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Last week, David Klion <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://davidklion.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/dc-metro-stations-ranked/', '13831')" href="http://davidklion.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/dc-metro-stations-ranked/" style="color: black">computed the Walk Score</a> for all Washington Metro stops. How does Metro stack up to the other heavy rail systems in the United States? The answers may surprise you. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="/image.cgi?src=201202/282208.png&ref=13831" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/282208-1.png" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; border: 0"></a></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I analyzed the 11 heavy rail systems in the United States. Some of these cities also have light rail, commuter rail, or other transit systems, but I didn't count those. That means in Boston, I looked at stations on the Red, Blue, and Orange lines, but not Green. (<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13831/#why', '13831')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13831/#why" style="color: black">Why?</a>) <p style="margin-top: 1em">I also combined heavy rail stations from multiple operators in the same region. For example, the Philadelphia score counts both SEPTA and PATCO heavy rail stations. New York's includes PATH and the Staten Island Railway (SIRT). <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>And the winner is... Los Angeles?</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I was surprised by the results. Los Angeles scored the highest! I certainly did not expect that. Though in hindsight, it makes a good deal of sense. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Los Angeles has only 2 heavy rail lines, the Red and Purple lines. Those lines are confined to a relatively small area in the LA Basin, with the exception of 2 stations on the Red Line in the San Fernando Valley. And while Southern California has a reputation for being sprawling, the LA Basin is actually fairly dense, especially where the Metro has been built. As a result, its score isn't dragged down by suburban park and ride stations. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the same respect, I was surprised that BART scored better than WMATA. Large portions of the DC system serve areas that are urban or urbanizing. In contrast, BART's system is much more suburban-oriented and has very little in the way of urban circulation. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Also surprising is that New York is not an outlier. It does come in a close second to Los Angeles, but I really expected it to be off the charts compared to everyone else. The New York City Subway alone scores 90.47 without PATH and SIRT, still just below LA; SIRT averages 71.45 while PATH is higher, 92.23, but its relatively small size (13 stations) means it doesn't change the New York average even a tenth of a point. <p style="margin-top: 1em">What is not very surprising is that the sunbelt cities (except LA) score more poorly than the more urban older cities (except for Cleveland). Cleveland is at a disadvantage because of the structure of its transit system. The system only has one stop in the central business district, and that station's score isn't that impressive anyway, which harms the average. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Distribution matters</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/wscoredist.png" style="border: 0"></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The chart above shows how Walk Scores for stations in each system are distributed. The green bars give the average score. The rectangle shows the 25th and 75th percentiles, and the lines with dots at each end show the highest and lowest Walk Scores for any station in that system. <p style="margin-top: 1em">At the high end, several cities had at least one station (sometimes several) with perfect 100-point scores. The lowest score for any station nationwide was 28 points. Two stations in the Washington region<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>Arlington Cemetery and Morgan Boulevard<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>and one station in San Francisco<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>North Concord/Martinez<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>had that score. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The distribution is important in understanding how well distributed the well-scoring stations are in the system. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In Washington, the distribution is weighted more toward good-scoring stations, but there are still a lot of poor-scoring stations, too. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/wscoredc.png" style="border: 0"></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Compare that to San Francisco's BART, where there are fewer poor-scoring stations. Instead, there are a large quantity of stations in the middle of the distribution. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/wscoresf.png" style="border: 0"></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">New York and Cleveland offer contrast to each other. While most New York stations score very well, Cleveland's don't rank above medium. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/wscoreny.png" style="border: 0"></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="blog_image" style="width:500px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201202/wscorecleveland.png" style="border: 0"></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Limitations</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Walk Score algorithm is not perfect. It works by calculating the quantities and distances of various amenties. There are other factors which it does not measure that help to define the walkability of an area. <p style="margin-top: 1em">For example, a street grid makes an area much more walkable than a sprawling network of superblocks and culs-de-sac. The quality and proliferation of sidewalks also influences walkability. But these factors aren't currently part of Walk Score; there's no good data file for Walk Score to use that shows where there are and aren't good sidewalks, for example. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Regardless, Walk Score gives us a standard and fairly good measure to compare transit stations (and systems) to each other. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a name="why" style="color: black"></a><div class="footnote"><b>Why I didn't count light rail or other transit</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I'm sure this will prove to be controversial, and that's fine. I did not include the light rail elements of systems in cities like Boston for 3 primary reasons: <p style="margin-top: 1em"><ol><li>Peer comparison: I wanted to create an apples-to-apples comparison, as best as possible. While the Washington Metro is easily comparable to BART, it doesn't make as much sense to compare a Metro stop to a Muni LRT stop on the west side of San Francsico that is just a sign on a telephone pole. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><li>To limit the scope: This project took a good amount of time as it was. I did not want to extend that time by trying to measure too much. Besides, I (or someone) can always do a follow-up with light rail. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><li>To avoid "mode creep": If we take Boston as an example, limiting the scope of the survey to heavy rail avoids the mode creep that can exacerbate the problems listed above. If I were to consider the Green Line, I would need to consider all of it. And if I'm considering the street-running portions of the Green Line, how can I not consider the full subway portions of the Silver Line in East Boston? And then would I not have to also include the Washington Avenue portion, that is essentially arterial bus?</ol> <p style="margin-top: 1em">This analysis is limited, as any analysis would be. I chose to try to keep it from expanding too far by limiting it to one mode. It would be interesting to look at the omitted lines, and perhaps that will happen in a future analysis.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13831/which-citys-rail-system-has-the-best-walk-score/#comments">61 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5183/average-schedule-speed-how-does-metro-compare/ style="color: black">Average schedule speed: How does Metro compare?</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 16, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6656/metro-by-the-numbers-part-1/ style="color: black">Metro by the numbers, part 1</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 28, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/6818/walkscore-now-includes-transit-score/ style="color: black">WalkScore now includes Transit Score</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 16, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9600/brt-creep-makes-bus-rapid-transit-inferior-to-rail/ style="color: black">"BRT creep" makes bus rapid transit inferior to rail</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 9, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4525/cuts-would-make-metrorail-headways-worse-than-most/ style="color: black">Cuts would make Metrorail headways worse than most</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 5, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13831 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:03:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13807/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">New York Ave is Metro's <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/02/new-york-avenue-metros-fastest-growing-station/298461', '13807')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/02/new-york-avenue-metros-fastest-growing-station/298461" style="color: black">fastest growing station</a> in terms of ridership. (Examiner) ... The Economist <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2012/02/taxes-and-transport?fsrc=nlw%7Cgul%7C2-21-2012%7Cgulliver', '13807')" href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2012/02/taxes-and-transport?fsrc=nlw%7Cgul%7C2-21-2012%7Cgulliver" style="color: black">makes the case</a> for Gov. O'Malley's proposed gas tax increases. ... Why does a Baltimore art school <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/02/17/mica-president-not-convinced-bike-lane-on-mt-royal-makes-sense/', '13807')" href="http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/02/17/mica-president-not-convinced-bike-lane-on-mt-royal-makes-sense/" style="color: black">oppose bike lanes</a>? (Baltimore Brew)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13807/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9977/whats-wrong-with-these-pictures/ style="color: black">What's wrong with these pictures?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 6, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12566/new-york-avenue-bicycle-thief-caught-then-released/ style="color: black">New York Avenue bicycle thief caught, then released</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 28, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12787/ask-ggw-why-is-farragut-crossing-longer-on-weekends/ style="color: black">Ask GGW: Why is Farragut Crossing longer on weekends?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 16, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8074/let-bicycles-park-inside-new-york-avenue-metro/ style="color: black">Let bicycles park inside New York Avenue Metro</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 14, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10582/map-contest-winners-part-3-double-bubbles-and-subtitles/ style="color: black">Map contest winners, part 3: Double bubbles and subtitles</a> <span class="nw">(May 26, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13807 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:57:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13609/not-so-super-or-grand/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Big sporting events, like the Super Bowl and Baltimore Grand Prix, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2012/02/economics-of-super-bowl-and-big-sports.html', '13609')" href="http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2012/02/economics-of-super-bowl-and-big-sports.html" style="color: black">might not be the huge economic wins</a> that the host cities expect. (RPUS)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13609/not-so-super-or-grand/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1319/excitement-not-worth-1b-stadium/ style="color: black">"Excitement" not worth $1B stadium</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 14, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7193/maryland-launches-smartrip-compatible-smartcard/ style="color: black">Maryland launches Smartrip-compatible smartcard</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 20, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10371/weekend-video-streetcars-in-grand-rapids/ style="color: black">Weekend video: Streetcars in Grand Rapids</a> <span class="nw">(May 7, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12748/dc-united-and-the-university-of-maryland-a-perfect-match/ style="color: black">DC United and the University of Maryland: a perfect match</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 16, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/282/grand-street-is-crazy-wide/ style="color: black">Grand Street is crazy wide</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 5, 2006)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13609 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:39:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13599/fight-for-your-right-to-cycle/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Cyclists in Baltimore <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/02/03/cyclists-rallying-to-save-mount-royal-bike-lane/', '13599')" href="http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/02/03/cyclists-rallying-to-save-mount-royal-bike-lane/" style="color: black">went ballistic</a> when word leaked out that two college presidents may have quietly put the kibosh on a planned bike lane. Yet the lane isn't dead yet, and activists are fighting to keep it alive. (Baltimore Brew)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13599/fight-for-your-right-to-cycle/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5156/pennsylvania-avenue-cycle-track-slated-for-may/ style="color: black">Pennsylvania Avenue cycle track slated for May</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 10, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10838/weekend-videos-police-and-bikes/ style="color: black">Weekend videos: Police and bikes</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 11, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2796/bike-news/ style="color: black">Bike news</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 3, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7031/ddot-will-extend-successful-15th-street-cycle-track/ style="color: black">DDOT will extend successful 15th Street cycle track</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11060/ddot-may-cancel-l-and-m-street-cycle-tracks/ style="color: black">DDOT may cancel L and M Street cycle tracks</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 27, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13599 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:02:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13385/placemaking-in-baltimore/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Baltimore leverages its public spaces to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-01-09/business/bs-bz-open-space-plan-20120109_1_open-space-plan-mahan-rykiel-downtown-partnership', '13385')" href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-01-09/business/bs-bz-open-space-plan-20120109_1_open-space-plan-mahan-rykiel-downtown-partnership" style="color: black">increase value downtown</a>. If the neighborhood's public spaces are nicer, the thinking goes, local businesses and residents benefit. (Baltimore Sun)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13385/placemaking-in-baltimore/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3868/baltimore-hosts-first-sunday-streets-and-not-in-a-park/ style="color: black">Baltimore hosts first Sunday Streets, and not in a park</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 26, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3421/baltimore-needs-central-transit-not-yellow-line-extension/ style="color: black">Baltimore needs central transit, not Yellow Line extension</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 8, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9351/listen-moving-stories-about-getting-around-baltimore/ style="color: black">Listen: Moving stories about getting around Baltimore</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/950/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-pocket-version/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future pocket version</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 12, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/644/greater-baltimore-washington-transit-future-version-2/ style="color: black">Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13385 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:21:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13160/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/dedmondson/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Edmondson</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">US Treasury gets <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/11/12/25/us_treasury_earns_leed_certification', '13160')" href="http://wamu.org/news/11/12/25/us_treasury_earns_leed_certification" style="color: black">LEED-Gold certification</a> ... <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/11/12/24/ten_sites_added_to_virginias_landmarks_registry', '13160')" href="http://wamu.org/news/11/12/24/ten_sites_added_to_virginias_landmarks_registry" style="color: black">Ten sites added</a> to Virginia's Historic Landmarks list, including Dominion Hills ... <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://valawyersweekly.com/2011/12/19/a-charge-that%E2%80%99s-not-a-crime/', '13160')" href="http://valawyersweekly.com/2011/12/19/a-charge-that%E2%80%99s-not-a-crime/" style="color: black">Virginia officers have been ticketing</a> drivers without proof of insurance, even though there is no law requiring it (Virginia Lawyers Weekly) ... A swimmable Inner Harbor <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/11/12/22/baltimore_aims_to_make_inner_harbor_swimmable_by_2020', '13160')" href="http://wamu.org/news/11/12/22/baltimore_aims_to_make_inner_harbor_swimmable_by_2020" style="color: black">by 2020?<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13160/and/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1432/designing-sustainable-communities-with-leed-nd/ style="color: black">Designing sustainable communities with LEED-ND</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 18, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1935/ddot-website-first-to-get-landmark-status/ style="color: black">DDOT website first to get landmark status</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 1, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12793/nationals-park-falling-behind-in-green-standings/ style="color: black">Nationals Park falling behind in green standings</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 18, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13160 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:10:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13005/dc-united-not-considering-prince-georges/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ericfidler/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Eric Fidler</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">County officials are looking into <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2011/12/pg-officials-planning-lacrosse-stadium-bowie/1983806', '13005')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2011/12/pg-officials-planning-lacrosse-stadium-bowie/1983806" style="color: black">building a lacrosse stadium</a> that could double as a soccer stadium for DC United. DC United, however, says they're only looking for new locations in DC and Baltimore. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13005/dc-united-not-considering-prince-georges/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12748/dc-united-and-the-university-of-maryland-a-perfect-match/ style="color: black">DC United and the University of Maryland: a perfect match</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 16, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1700/how-to-create-a-successful-urban-stadium/ style="color: black">How to create a successful urban stadium</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 18, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8940/a-dc-united-stadium-is-likely-to-be-truly-urban/ style="color: black">A DC United stadium is likely to be truly urban</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 24, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8882/dc-united-eyeing-buzzard-point-florida-market/ style="color: black">DC United eyeing Buzzard Point, Florida Market</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 19, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/883/soccer-stadium-wont-stimulate-the-economy/ style="color: black">Soccer stadium won't stimulate the economy</a> <span class="nw">(May 29, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=13005 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:22:00 EDT