Posts about Marcel Acosta

What riders want is shorter names. Assistant General Manager for Communications Barbara Richardson said, "Our customers want one name. They want one, common name. They want these to be short."

Few people refer to "West Falls Church Vee Tea You Vee Eh" or "Van Ness You Dee See." Instead, they say they're going to West Falls Church or Van Ness. With a few exceptions like "Franconia-Springfield" and "Stadium-Armory," which really are truly compound names, other station names have a main portion, like "U Street" or "Grosvenor," and then sometimes additional points of interest.

Metro staff got that from their focus groups, and our surveys backed it up. People told Metro that long station names was their biggest complaint about the map. It's annoying and confusing for riders.

Richardson presented the staff recommendations after playing an amusing song, "The Metro Song." It parodies Johnny Cash's "I've been everywhere" to name 46 of the stations in the Metro system:

The staff suggest:

• Navy Yard Ballpark
  
• New York Ave Florida Ave-Gallaudet U
  
• Smithsonian (no National Mall)
  
• Waterfront (no Arena Stage)
  
• Forest Glen (no Holy Cross Hospital, but with an H logo denoting a hospital)
  
• King Street Old Town

Montgomery County alternate member Kathy Porter defended the county's request to add Holy Cross Hospital, or at least "Holy Cross" along with an H symbol, to Forest Glen.

Porter lamented that the county hadn't pushed for the change earlier, since it would have qualified under the previous policy, and suggested the board let Montgomery "grandfather" in the name. However, Fairfax's Jeff McKay pointed out that the reason they're changing the policy is because there have been problems with overly long station names in the past.

Porter noted that the hospital runs a shuttle to the station and there is Ride On service to the station. But in WMATA's focus groups, many members expressed a feeling that anything attached to a station name ought to be within a short walk, not a bus or car ride away.

DC Councilmember Muriel Bowser also wanted to grandfather a non-subtitle, Georgia Ave-Petworth. On this one, there's some good argument either way. I've heard many people call this "Georgia Ave Petworth" or "Georgia Petworth." Several commenters recommended actually making it Petworth, since Georgia Avenue is very long and Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont are also on Georgia Avenue.

Or, perhaps it could follow the pattern WMATA recommends for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and make the station Georgia Ave Petworth?

Bowser also took the position held by Gallaudet management and students for keeping that university in the primary name instead of a subtitle, endorsing NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Avenue. She pointed out that no other DC university is slated to become part of a subtitle. We've advocated instead for actually putting all universities and other points of interest in subtitles, and 83% of you agreed.

There seemed to be some interest on the board for this option. Mary Hynes of Arlington noted that they have many universities around their Metro stations, and that perhaps it's not feasible to expect to put all universities in primary names or even station names in general. McKay recommended holding off on any change concerning Gallaudet until this broader question is resolved.

Artis Hampshire-Cowen, though, seemed to be wearing her hat as an executive for Howard University rather than necessarily representing riders of Prince George's County. She argued against moving universities into subtitles, using Howard as a specific example.

Bowser also asked for the ballpark to be part of a main station name, Navy Yard-Ballpark, instead of the staff-recommended Navy Yard Ballpark.

The curly W seems completely dead, though that may be a very recent change. Last week, I'd heard that the Nationals only wanted to pay if the station could be named Navy Yard-, not just for "Ballpark." Today, however, DDOT told WMATA that DC would pay for any change, and Bowser told the board that DC expects the Nationals would cover those costs.

Under WMATA's policy, the jurisdiction has to pay for the station name itself. Another entity can reimburse the jurisdiction, but it has to guarantee the funding to WMATA. WMATA won't enter into a side agreement with a separate organization to collect the funds directly.

McKay asked what would happen if the ballpark gets a corporate name at some point. Would they want to, and would Metro feel any pressure to, rename the station? Members agreed that the staff should further flesh out the no corporate naming policy.

Alexandria mayor Bill Euille pushed for King Street-Old Town, their original request, instead of King Street Old Town, the staff recommendation (and one you overwhelmingly supported).

Marcel Acosta stood up for holding to the policy that the board had just adopted. He noted that the shorter names make things easier for customers, and "we need to temper" the impulse to accommodate local organization requests.

Alvin Nichols, alternate for Prince George's, asked about a request by Mount Rainier to add their name to West Hyattsville. However, Maryland has not officially requested this change, so it's not on the table at this time.

The board adjourned their discussion until next Thursday, November 3, where they will hold a public comment session followed immediately by a full board meeting to vote on changes. It's clear that some members are not paying much heed to rider concerns, or at least the comments of those who participated in the focus groups or filled out our survey (while others very much are).

Maybe if riders come to the public comment session, it will help those members start thinking about the interests of the riders instead of the interests of their universities, hospitals and sports teams.

Bianchi: Does the NCPC have a relationship with MD-NCPPC? If yes-then please help convince MD-NCPPC to treat bike trails, any bike trails but especially those within 3 miles of metro train stops as the commuter routes they are. Currently these trails are 'closed' at dark even within a half mile of a metro stop, i.e. West Hyattsville. This is patently stupid. During winter its dark during 'peak' hours.

Marcel Acosta: The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) often requests that NCPC provide comment on its plans, particularly on draft versions of Vicinity Sector Plans (i.e.: Kensington Sector Plan). Additionally, if changes are proposed to the stream valley parks NCPC review may be required, as authorized under the Capper-Cramton Act of 1930.

NCPC's comments usually focus on consistency with the planning principles and policies outlined in NCPC's Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital: Federal Elements. The overarching principles in the Comprehensive Plan states: "Reinforce 'Smart Growth' and Sustainable Development Planning Principles. NCPC staff views transportation elements as part of this effort and when providing feedback, NCPC strongly encourages the improvement of trail linkages between transit stations and the stream valley park bicycle trail system. I will ask my staff to talk to planners at MD-NCPPC about exploring ways that would allow the bike trails to serve as a more usable commute option.

timfry: If you have some power to coordinate the work of the region, I would like to see more emphasis placed on putting new Federal agency offices near transit. I live near the new DoD building (Seminary and 395). I take the bus from the area to the Pentagon to catch Metro so there are some transit options. But it is currently a one-way trip with the flow of commuting traffic.

Maybe we will get a reverse commute option but my anticipation is a lot more traffic around Seminary and 395. Why are we allowing the federal government and especially DoD to put these offices all over the region that are inaccessible except by car? Please stop it, it will cripple our region.

Marcel Acosta: The federal government has a long history in this region of having facilities located near transit and supporting transit options for its employees. NCPC has policies that we use to encourage federal facilities to make multi-modal, transit accessible location and design choices.

Over the last decade, NCPC has been working closely with numerous federal agencies to find approaches that balance security needs with convenient access to transit. These objectives are important, and solutions that achieve both are not easy. We recognize that many of the BRAC 2005 (Base Realignment and Closure) actions, in particular, have had significant transportation challenge, some of which are still being addressed.

We're also pleased that President Obama's Executive Order 13514 requires sustainable location policies for federal facilities nationally, which are currently under development. To help facilitate the Executive Order, NCPC has been working with other federal agencies to develop a national sustainability policy on facility location. We plan to incorporate this policy into our Comprehensive Plan that the Commission uses to guide its review of projects in the National Capital Region.

Lucy: Is it possible for NCPC to educate local officials and promote smarter planning policies? And control smarter development.

Marcel Acosta: As the region's largest "corporate citizen," the federal government has a significant impact on regional development patterns and the economy. We have a stake in what happens in the region. It impacts our day to day operations and our ability to recruit and retain great employees. The current Administration has placed a high priority on sustainable, livable communities and coordinated regional action.

NCPC has recently been working to foster discussions between the region's leadership and federal representatives on opportunities to advance shared objectives. In July 2009, NCPC joined forces with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) to launch Building the Region Together. Our goal is to establish our region as a model of cooperative planning leadership.

Through several planned pilot projects, NCPC and COG aim to improve the built environment surrounding federal facilities, showcase federal sustainable practices, and support the region's livability goals outlined in COG's Greater Washington 2050 Initiative. Over the next several months NCPC and COG will continue working with federal and local partners to advance identified projects. Stay tuned.

Omar: Does the NCPC have an opinion on the NPS' proposal to narrow the Reflecting Pool from an aesthetic point of view?

Marcel Acosta: Omar must be referring to the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which was installed on the Mall in the early 1970s when the freeway was constructed. The draft National Mall Plan proposes the redevelopment of this pool and surrounding area as Union Square, a concept from the McMillan Plan. Staff supports redevelopment of this important site, to connect the Mall and the U.S. Capitol, and to create a place suitable for a range of public activities.

The National Park Service (NPS) envisions providing much-needed visitor amenities, such as restrooms, at this end of the Mall. While the draft Plan proposes uses and general redevelopment ideas for the site, it states that the location will require a comprehensive landscape plan. The size and nature of a future water feature and other features will be the subject of continued planning and public discussion. NPS has suggested that a national design competition would be appropriate for this site, and NCPC staff agrees.

Neil: Outside of the mall, the National Park Service has an even poorer record of managing the other properties it has scattered throughout the city. Maintaining non-historical, non-interpretive city parks is really outside their mission, as we learned over the blizzard. Would you consider spinning off some of the less central parks if it made better park uses available to Washingtonians?

Marcel Acosta: NCPC recognizes the myriad challenges facing management and upkeep of the many of parks and open spaces located throughout the nation's capital. In past years, jurisdiction over a number of the parks and open spaces within the District of Columbia has been transferred back and forth between the District government and the National Park Service.

That is one of the many reasons why we launched a partnership in 2006 with the National Park Service and the District government to develop a shared plan for Washington's parks, and particularly those in the city's neighborhoods. In the final plan, which comes before our Commission for review in April, we focused on a number of strategies for working together to achieve the full potential of our existing park resources, and to effectively balance both national and local demands on the parks. Additionally, since many of our downtown parks are historically and culturally significant; management of these spaces and improved park coordination between NPS and the District has become a key objective of the CapitalSpace effort.

I wish to note that public participation was an extremely important aspect of this planning process—the partners held numerous public meetings to hear what residents wanted—and public feedback has been incorporated into the final draft. I'd encourage you to check out the draft plan at www.capitalspace.gov.

1. If you ride Metro, what do you like best about the system and what do you like least?

2. If you could make a single change at Metro, what would that be?

3. Metro recently announced it will temporarily raise fares versus reducing service or using capital funds. I'd like to hear your thoughts on how to best deal with the system's projected $189M shortfall, as the board will have to make important financial decisions regarding its 2011 budget.

4. What factors might make you stop taking Metro, and if you did stop using it, what other mode of transit would you choose and why?

5. As one of ultimately four new federal representatives on the WMATA board, I am interested in what role you believe the federal representatives should play, and how we can contribute to the making of future decisions.

6. My full-time job is executive director of the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal planning agency for the nation's capital. Are there any particular local or regional issues that you'd like to see NCPC become more (or less) engaged in?

If you want to be sure not to miss the reverse interview or the chat, sign up for our daily email of recent articles each morning.

And for some background reading on some of the issues, here are some recent posts:

• WMATA budget: The latest proposal, fare policy principles, the debate over using capital, and the need for leadership.

• Safety: A missing culture of safety, barring safety inspectors, lapses discovered, and the recent derailment.

• Customer service: The rock-throwing incident, reporting problems, and integrating customer service.

• Board procedures: Discussing items in secret, and Virginia members' pushback.

• General Manager search: Look to the private sector?

• The Mall: Our chat with Kirk Savage, Monument Wars, Save Our Mall's ideas, the lack of transit service, and the invisible building problem.

• Streetcar overhead wires: a a possible compromise between power systems and visual impacts.

• Framework Plan: BeyondDC's pages summarize and critique NCPC's master plan for the capital's public spaces, roads and rails.