Thursday, July 08, 2010

Building a Streetcar Line Without Federal Funds?

FYI, this message popped up in Tommy Well's Twitter feed:

NCPCs intervention helped DC lose 25 mil FTA grant for Benning Rd streetcar ext into Wd 7. We will have to use local funds instead 
about 1 hour ago via Twitterrific

This is, of course, a response to that letter from Preston Bryant (download the letter from Greater Greater Washington), chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, to the Federal Transit Administration  asking them "to withhold federal funds from the District" for streetcars.

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UPDATE 12:29pm
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Greater Greater Washington now has a new post up on the topic.

10 comments:

Dave B said...

Is there any other appropriate response than WTF?

Anonymous said...

When's the next public NCPC meeting? We should organize a group and go raise hell. This is completely outrageous.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know, would it be possible to have an email campaign to have him removed for misrepresenting the board and inappropriately exercising his position?

Ohh, and maybe have someone from the DC region replace him?

Anonymous said...

I think it only means that no funds for the extension into Ward 7. " Benning Rd streetcar ext into Wd 7"
However, it doesn't say anything about the H-street street car project. I could be wrong though.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it only affects the funding for the Ward 7 portion of the street car line. So are really saying that means that we shouldn't be upset, or consider action(s) against NCPC? I mean, I'd kinda like to take the streetcar to Ray's the Steaks myself.

poo pooper said...

I would rather not have the street car connect to ward 7 for the same reasons why Georgetown doesn't have a metro stop.

Dave B said...

is Ward 7 even upset about this? maybe they are just content to use Minn Ave metro to get places?

their councilman voted against all the streetcar funds didnt he?

is the home ownership rate there not high enough for people to care about home values?

after my initial reaction, maybe it isnt a big deal. ideally it would connect, but maybe for now, it isnt worth it and nobody cares.

inked said...

Dave B,
Ward 7 is represented by Yvette Alexander.

Dave B said...

did she vote with gray on that thing a couple weeks ago? didnt wells only have another vote on his side? i thought i remember people saying the two other h st - benning road line ward council members voted against funding.

regardless she should be the one upset about this. it is in H St's best interest to link up, but i would think it is more in ward 7's interest

inked said...

She did indeed cast an initial vote for Gray's budget. It sounded like you were confusing her with Barry who seemed to thing that streetcars on H Street were a harbinger of the apocalypse.