Comments on: Stretching the Limits of Washington’s Dense Core

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:37:10 +0000

It could work, then…

But just one nitpick: maybe DC should redraw its map to be a little more geographically accurate. The current map makes the Blue Line look like it’s taking a bigger detour than it actually is, and makes your proposed Pink Line look like an even bigger detour.

By: Yonah Freemark

Yonah Freemark — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:29:52 +0000

Alon -
They sure seem to be getting themselves together in relation to the streetcar project. And don’t forget that the last Metro station within city limits opened less than 10 years ago at Congress Heights (2001). If representatives from Maryland and Virginia can be convinced of the importance of the Blue Line reroute (perhaps by adding the incentive of a project like this Pink Line and another such project in Maryland), I don’t see why D.C. won’t be able to invest in big Metro projects again.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:17:35 +0000

Yonah, does the DC region succeed in producing funding for projects that are actually useful, like rerouting the Blue Line or any other construction in DC itself rather than its exurbs?

By: Yonah Freemark

Yonah Freemark — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:30:33 +0000

What’s funniest to me about this discussion about the lack of funding for transit expansions such as this one is that the Washington region has actually been pretty successful in securing big money for big infrastructure projects — the Silver and Purple Lines come to mind immediately, as does the Blue Line extension, which was completed just after the “original system” was finished. Whether the Pink Line proposed here should be the top priority for the region is a discussion worth having, but dismissing it because it would cost “too” much is unreasonable considering recent history. Politicians from the region have been good at securing the money for billion-dollar transit expansion projects, and it seems likely that major Metro extensions will be funded in the future.

By: Mike O.

Mike O. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:40:10 +0000

“All at the measly cost of some billions of dollars no one has yet made available.”

Ah, yes. Details. Stinking little details…

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:26:20 +0000

Allen, if you can build 50-100 miles of metro for $5-10 billion, stop commenting on blogs, and go register your patents, now. All the cities that are currently spending $30-60 billion for 50-100 miles of metro would pay you millions to save them all this money.

By: Allen

Allen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:15:35 +0000

Interesting proposals but I wouldn’t be so poo-poo about the money issue. DC Metro already needs $10-$15 billion just to fix up what currently exists before it falls apart and before more people die. And there’s the $3 billion going into the silver line. Another 50 – 100 miles worth of metro and light rail is likely to cost another $5 to $10 billion. Where exactly does this system come up with $15 or 20 billion (cost of repairs + proposed new construction)?

By: NMRguy

NMRguy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:15:30 +0000

However, I question if DC should build “a bunch of streetcar” lines if the planners are not willing to give the streetcars full right-of-way with priority signaling along their paths. Last I read, only a couple of the lines are planned to include designated rail lanes. Streetcars have distinct advantages over buses, but they are not easily maneuverable. If we are going to have a bunch of streetcars stuck in traffic, then we may as well be stuck on buses than trams. The additional advantage of building designated transit lanes is of course that buses can also use lanes to more quickly deliver commuters across town, so it is money better spent.

By: BeyondDC

BeyondDC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:43:29 +0000

>I am proposing eliminating the streetcar for Columbia Pike. — I do not think it’s the right investment for the corridor.

Well ideally we’d have maglev subways beneath every major arterial in the region. Unfortunately, we can’t fund that. On the other hand, we can build a streetcar. In fact, we can build a bunch of streetcars.

If the point of this post is to say “look what sort of thing we could do with a lot more money” then OK, fair enough, but if the point of this post is to suggest a real world scenario then it is way off.

By: John W

John W — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:20:52 +0000

What about, rather than doubling back, running the Pink Line through Pentagon, interlining it with the Yellow Line as far as L’Enfant Plaza and then breaking off to connect with Union Station? This would give a direct link between Union Station and Pentagon and speed up access from Fairfax Co to the eastern half of DC. Desirable?

While I love the maps on this site, I think this one is a bit flawed when it comes to selling this idea. With circuit-diagram maps, you always end up with some stations being out of whack with reality (including in the London original), with stations that are actually walking distance looking like they are miles apart, for instance. Geographically, 4 Mile Run is more or less due south of Ballston, but on the schematic it appears to be due south of Rosslyn. Tweaking the schematic map so that, perhaps, Pentagon was pushed up or the stops west of Ballston were more spaced out and the Orange/Silver and Pink were closer to parallel would reduce the appearance of doubling back an enormous distance, when in reality it’s just turning the corner and the distance between Pentagon and Rosslyn is roughly the same as Pentagon to Glebe Road.