This is great. It corrects a historical wrong. I'm from Connecticut originally and familiar with its streetcar history. It was vast, interconnected and provided exceptional mobility until the big auto makers *managed* to convince political leaders to move to buses.
I remember this old photo of a streetcar -- the last one in this particular community -- and it showed the conductor and others standing in front of it. It looked like they were at a wake. They just knew.
At the very end of the article, there is a mention of the overhead wire ban we've discussed before in this space. In case you don't have the patience to read to the end, the issue is that Congress has banned use of overhead electrical wires in DC. While this somehow doesn't affect the buzzing transistors on the power pole behind my house, it evidently will require the development of a new power system for any H St streetcar.
Isn't it wonderful to have our most esoteric municipal issues legislated by a representative body in which we have no representation?
I'm somewhat surprised that the article spent three pages discussing streetcars in Anacostia and how they could be applied to the District but then gave only a brief mention at the very end regarding the overhead wire ban.
I think this ban is a major roadblock (pun intended) to streetcars in DC. You would think the reporter would've focused more on it and asked the relevant DC councilmembers and Metro people how the heck they plan on getting around it in order to bring streetcars to H St. (as planned).
So far, despite the fact that the streetscaping is well under way, I haven't heard anyone from Metro, DC council, or anyone else is DC government give any viable ideas as to how they are going to get around the ban. The only idea I've heard was that they were either going to go with batteries or electrified lines in the street. Neither of these ideas seems viable. (don't have the battery technology/infrastructure and electrified lines in the street have the potential to electrocute pedestrians who accidentally step on them).
As you look around the District, thee are no overhead line. This is so that the monuments and buildings will not be obstructed by the overhead lines and to distract from the streetscape. The technology does exist for the streetcars to happen with embedded tracks and safe power within them. THose in Office of Planning and NCPC know this. I once was friends with someone who works in NCPC and he mentioned this to me.
It is not a rollback when new technology is encouraged.
I agree with your sentiment YL, however; I'm pretty sure that the overhead ban affects only the area covered in the L'enfant plan (old city and maybe old city 2) There are over head wires in upper NW,and across the river in Anacostia, and far SE, and NE.
I think DDOT should know the and comply. This shouldn't be something that the City Council has to solve. Aferall, Graham went to one conference, and now he's a expert. The DDOT lackadasical planning allowed his meddling.
I would consider it an honor to get hit by a streetcar. It would be a sign of progress on H St. an even better sign would be if I could get hit by a solid gold Rolls Royce as the driver litters the street with his empty caviar tins, then, and only the will I know my neighborhood has arrived.
speaking of west end of h street. what's up with the abdo lofts and senate square developments? it still looks like no one is living in any of those places. lights are always out throughout whenever i drive by at night time. i heard mayor williams bought a place and you have to think at least a few more sold and leased (in senate square). is something strange going on?
It's called a bad investment, or maybe, too much, too soon. Once that other apartment complex opens across the street, there might be some change, or at least I hope so.
black man, I chuckled when I read your comment about the lights-out at the new lofts. For two years I have commented (probably annoying my girlfriend by now) on how few lights are on in one of the new SW condos--Cap Hill Towers--every time we drive by and see it from the SE freeway.
And now there are at least two more mammoth buildings going up. I suspect the lights will be dark in those too. Jenkins Row where the new Harris Teeter is in SE is also mostly dark but I do see more activity there lately. It must be creepy to live in mostly empty buildings.
12 comments:
This is great. It corrects a historical wrong. I'm from Connecticut originally and familiar with its streetcar history. It was vast, interconnected and provided exceptional mobility until the big auto makers *managed* to convince political leaders to move to buses.
I remember this old photo of a streetcar -- the last one in this particular community -- and it showed the conductor and others standing in front of it. It looked like they were at a wake. They just knew.
At the very end of the article, there is a mention of the overhead wire ban we've discussed before in this space. In case you don't have the patience to read to the end, the issue is that Congress has banned use of overhead electrical wires in DC. While this somehow doesn't affect the buzzing transistors on the power pole behind my house, it evidently will require the development of a new power system for any H St streetcar.
Isn't it wonderful to have our most esoteric municipal issues legislated by a representative body in which we have no representation?
I'm somewhat surprised that the article spent three pages discussing streetcars in Anacostia and how they could be applied to the District but then gave only a brief mention at the very end regarding the overhead wire ban.
I think this ban is a major roadblock (pun intended) to streetcars in DC. You would think the reporter would've focused more on it and asked the relevant DC councilmembers and Metro people how the heck they plan on getting around it in order to bring streetcars to H St. (as planned).
So far, despite the fact that the streetscaping is well under way, I haven't heard anyone from Metro, DC council, or anyone else is DC government give any viable ideas as to how they are going to get around the ban. The only idea I've heard was that they were either going to go with batteries or electrified lines in the street. Neither of these ideas seems viable. (don't have the battery technology/infrastructure and electrified lines in the street have the potential to electrocute pedestrians who accidentally step on them).
Any ideas?
As you look around the District, thee are no overhead line. This is so that the monuments and buildings will not be obstructed by the overhead lines and to distract from the streetscape. The technology does exist for the streetcars to happen with embedded tracks and safe power within them. THose in Office of Planning and NCPC know this. I once was friends with someone who works in NCPC and he mentioned this to me.
It is not a rollback when new technology is encouraged.
I agree with your sentiment YL, however; I'm pretty sure that the overhead ban affects only the area covered in the L'enfant plan (old city and maybe old city 2) There are over head wires in upper NW,and across the river in Anacostia, and far SE, and NE.
I think DDOT should know the and comply. This shouldn't be something that the City Council has to solve. Aferall, Graham went to one conference, and now he's a expert. The DDOT lackadasical planning allowed his meddling.
Are the streetcars going to hit as many walkers as the city buses do?
Will the streetcars get priority and be allowed to go through traffic lights? Or will they be stuck in gridlock like the cars and busses?
I would consider it an honor to get hit by a streetcar. It would be a sign of progress on H St. an even better sign would be if I could get hit by a solid gold Rolls Royce as the driver litters the street with his empty caviar tins, then, and only the will I know my neighborhood has arrived.
Is this why the west end side of H St. is so torn up - again?
speaking of west end of h street. what's up with the abdo lofts and senate square developments? it still looks like no one is living in any of those places. lights are always out throughout whenever i drive by at night time. i heard mayor williams bought a place and you have to think at least a few more sold and leased (in senate square). is something strange going on?
black man,
It's called a bad investment, or maybe, too much, too soon. Once that other apartment complex opens across the street, there might be some change, or at least I hope so.
black man, I chuckled when I read your comment about the lights-out at the new lofts. For two years I have commented (probably annoying my girlfriend by now) on how few lights are on in one of the new SW condos--Cap Hill Towers--every time we drive by and see it from the SE freeway.
And now there are at least two more mammoth buildings going up. I suspect the lights will be dark in those too. Jenkins Row where the new Harris Teeter is in SE is also mostly dark but I do see more activity there lately. It must be creepy to live in mostly empty buildings.
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