Friday, April 11, 2008
WP: Metro Seeking More Ticketing Power
I wanted to make sure people saw this Post story on the request from Metro for expanded ticking for its officers. Under Metro's proposal its officers would have the authority to ticket drivers who park in Metro bus stops. As many of you know, this is a huge problem on H Street and it often causes congestion. The other day I caught the bus and a large tow truck was parked in the bus stop slot. A second car was double parked on the other side of the Metro bus. A move like this is very important for now, and also extremely important to take in preparation for a streetcar.
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21 comments:
"Catoe said he will ask that other employees, such as bus supervisors, be given ticketing authority." That's interesting. If the bus driver can write a ticket, that increases the potential cost/risk of parking in a bus stop significantly (assuming the drivers take the time to write the ticket, which they may not do because of the potential delay).
I'm not so sure that a bus supervisor is the same thing as a bus driver.
When the streetcars are operational, tow trucks should be immediately on call. One lazy driver could halt hundreds of peoples mobility.
Agreed. When I was in Istanbul they had these cool "tow" trucks that would come with a crane on the back and just reach over, pick up the illegally parked car, and plop it on the flat bed to be hauled away.
The fine should be steep, too. I got nailed for $100 on 14th street for parking in front of a handicapped street crossing...there should be similarly steep fines for people who block buses or trolleys.
I think it's a great idea, however, looking at the Bethesda model I really wish DC, citywide, would invest in parking. I think having metro ticket is fine, but we are a driving nation. I live about five blocks from H, and at night, I don't walk it. I just don't feel safe. W/o a parking plan people like me will go to Bethesda, Crystal City, or elsewhere.
-Robby
Screw ticketing. Have tow trucks roving in the areas that are the biggest problems. Immediate tow (and ticket) offenders. After a couple weeks, the problem will likely drop off, as does running red lights after there is the installation of red light cameras and ticketing procedures.
Tickets aren't enough.
The Bethesda model is a lot less appropriate to DC which has not only invested in the installation of 40 subway stations and transit, but has a much higher use of transit.
At some point creating more parking induces driving.
That being said, I have come around, some, on the need for the addition of some parking. Still, charge a lot of @#$%^&*() money for it. It ain't cheap to build. The cost for building 1,000 spaces at DCUSA was in excess of $40 Million.
I suppose in MontCo, where everybody drives, it's equitable to do this. Here, it really privileges drivers at the expense of others, in a city where 40-50% of people/households do not have cars.
In any case, think what you can do with $40 million in terms of transit, versus creating parking, and how many people can be served with that $40 million (ROI).
"DC which has not only invested in the installation of 40 subway stations and transit"
Well first, DC - as in the District of Columbia Government, hasn't really invested a dime in Metro. WMATA is a federally chartered authority. DC's "payment" is really a federal appropriation to WMATA.
"In any case, think what you can do with $40 million in terms of transit, versus creating parking, and how many people can be served with that $40 million (ROI)."
False argument, having spent DC government money, and I mean hundreds of millions of dollars of it, Building one parking lot that could be leased and run by the private sector to ensure profitability, wouldn't really impact services to other citizens. In fact the city may gain revenue from the taxes such a business would generate.
"Here, it really privileges drivers at the expense of others, in a city where 40-50% of people/households do not have cars."
Well, no. The reason there is an H Street as wide as it is because of cars and drivers. I know there is this belief that we should get out of our cars but that's not going to happen. Furthermore, people from out of the city visit the Street. I don't expect someone from Mo County or Falls Church to take a bus, a train another bus to get to the theater. Yes, maybe in a world w/o reality. They will go elsewhere.
I know the religion is that we should kill our cars, walk everywhere, hug trees, and only drink fair or free or other good for the world coffee.
But, here me out, we are red blooded, money spending, fashion wearing, booze drinking people. We drive cars, and walk and have dogs and even our dogs have bling.
If we are going to compete with MC, PB, AC, FC, LC, City of Alex, BC, and City of Baltimore, then we need to be accessible to all that may which to come.
We need parking, we need it more than a Trolley - which like the circulator will just be seen as another encroachment, and like the Circulator, will probably be under used.
If you need evidence about the parking go to the AutoZone lot on Fridays or Saturdays. People are clambering the empty their wallets, and we should be doing what it takes to help them.
Is not that the purpose of commerce in a free market economy? Before you answer read some Thomas Sowell. If your answer is no read more. The answer is yes. God Bless the USA.
-Robby
DC should invest in city parking? Ridiculous. How much revenue would be generated by a parking lot versus dense commercial or residential development? How much foot traffic is generated by a parking lot versus other types of dense development?
More cars on already congested streets makes the problem worse (think M Street in Georgetown on a Saturday afternoon). Idling cars zaps times (opportunity cost) and wastes gas (environmental cost, cash in your wallet, additional opportunity cost)... just to name a few things. There are wide ranging "costs" you can't quantify. Just think about health costs -- fattys who sit and drive everywhere instead of walking.
I'm not saying there will be utopian bliss if people walk and leave their cars, but I wonder if there is a reason why Europeans can eat the foods they do and not have the weight problem their American counterparts have?
Basic point -- stop being a wuss and walk five GD blocks. If that's too much for you, head to the 'burbs where you can drive and sit in traffic 'til your heart's content.
Like I said we need parking, you can name call, you can be the elite person, but I'm with the people and we still drive, even with gas at $4.00 plus a gallon (9/10). So while you can talk about what people should do. The smart people pay attention to what people do.
Let's lookt at G'Town and M Street. Most people I know that would love to spend money, don't go there because they can't park or because driving there is a nightmare.
If you want to be so high and mighty to give up the oppertunity to make as much as possible money, cool.
But don't wrap your warped sense of eco-justice in economic or fiscal matters. Leaving money on the table isn't good for business or government. Knowing full well the that some other jusisdiction will take it off and it will be gone for good is just plain crazy if not stupid.
-Robby
"...but I'm with the people and we still drive..." <-- best line ever.
Climb off the cross Robby and instead drape yourself in the American flag. :)
Viva la resistance!
Perhaps Robby could answer Anon 8:06's questions about use of space? And then he could enlighten everyone how gas at excess of $4.00 (not there yet Robby -- but soon!) is going to encourage people to drive? Maybe it's me and my lowly job, but I've curtailed my driving and rely more on Metrobus and Metro to get around town.
It was a little over the top, but it is true, we need a mix of parking and nice public transit that connect H to the Subways. But the Subways need to improve and not be on reduced service every weekend.
As for the cost of gas, it should be more. I would love for it to be $8.00/Gal if that is what the market dictates. I'd still drive. although I may get a prius.
$8 gallon gas -- yeah, that's going to encourage driving and the use of your publically financed parking garages.
During the period of construction of the Metro, the _DC government_ directed _all_ of its share of federal _highway_ monies to the construction of the Metro system. VA and MD did not contribute in the same fashion to the finances required for the construction of the WMATA system. I don't know the numbers, but my understanding is that DC put more total money into the construction of the WMATA system than either VA or MD.
Because of the way the funding system is set up now, DC still pays more, because it has more stations than the other jurisdictions.
Anyway, this system must and should be leveraged. It is one of the key sources of competitive advantage for the city.
Plus, gasoline isn't getting cheaper.
Granted you wouldn't build a 1,000 space parking garage on H St. But say you funded 500 spaces. That could be $20MM or more.
Still, a streetcar likely would service far more people. That's why I am hesitant to support parking, given limited funds and the need to make choices.
In an evening, those 500 spaces might support what 1,500 people, maybe? You can move more people with transit.
Oh, H Street is wide, but it isn't utilized as much as you would think. Through observation, I would say over the past 5 years traffic has dropped significantly. But I haven't looked at the numbers.
Anyway, as many cars as you see on H Street, on a typical day the buses move almost as many people, about 15,000 on the X bus line alone. Plus the B2 and 90s buses service the corridor in a significant fashion, not to mention the D buses.
A city with transit should leverage its investment.
Sure people want car parking, and I am not even against accommodating it, but it's not the future, and it's hardly a source of advantage for DC proper.
To my understanding, the additions to H St (Starburst Plaza Renovation, The trolley) are desinged to encourage more out of towners to utilize H Street. It sure does seem that way. I mean, I have no problem navigating Starburst plaza in my car as it is, and I don't need a trolley to get to the Pug. What's wrong with accommodating sales tax revenue by building a few parking spaces for people to shop and play on H Street ? I hear the same complaints from customers all the time. "I won't go to G-town because of the parking." And G-town has loads of parking lots(!) We (the city) lose business to Tysons Corner and Bethesda just because of the parking situation.
But back to the issue at hand. I would prefer tow trucks to monitor illegal bus laden streets, but I would imagine those trucks would be costly to maintain, more so than passenger car tow trucks, and not worth the effort.
"I know the religion is that we should kill our cars, walk everywhere, hug trees, and only drink fair or free or other good for the world coffee. But, here me out, we are red blooded, money spending, fashion wearing, booze drinking people. We drive cars, and walk and have dogs and even our dogs have bling."
Poo poo?
"Let's lookt at G'Town and M Street. Most people I know that would love to spend money, don't go there because they can't park or because driving there is a nightmare."
Yep. If you had ever gone to G'Town, you might be surprised to find it *completely* packed. Every single day, and pretty much all night too. With folks of all economic classes spending money hand over fist.
Seriously...if you can't bring yourself to walk over there, take the Metro to Foggy Bottom, and walk the 6-7 blocks. You'll be absolutely *stunned* by what you find! Real red-blooded meat-eating Americans walking their blinged-out dogs, and spending money, wearing their fancy fashions, and drinking booze.
Viva la proletariat!
Can someone confirm that the first leg of the trolley is going to run from Benning Road to the Starburst Intersection?
"Can someone confirm that the first leg of the trolley is going to run from Benning Road to the Starburst Intersection?"
That would be setting the bar pretty low. ;)
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