A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Reminder: Ward 6 Gray Town Hall Mtg Tonight
When: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 6:30 pm
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street
Ask questions and share your ideas will the future Mayor of the District.
20 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I was surprised to hear that the Gray campaign is planning to stock the "Town Hall" with supporters who they are gathering at the seniors center on G Street to put in Gray for Mayor T-Shirts and bus over to the event. Strikes me as pretty cynical.
Slightly off topic (but maybe not, given Gray's flip flop on the H Street streetcars).....
Can anyone tell me if the H Street streetcar line will still allow for curbside parking on H Street? Or will we end up with a nice streetcar but no vehicle parking?
Also, will the streetcars run with traffic? Meaning, they will share a lane with vehicles and city buses, and won't have priority at stop lights?
Sorry to ask such obvious questions, but I can't find these answers in any of the DDOT plans I've seen.
The fact that the trolleys run with traffic continues to make me curious about turning them around. Also, was it a rally or a town hall meeting? tonyt the pug
Compared to how much street parking there was before road construction started, how much will be there when the streetcars are actually running?
And will they have priority at lights (meaning will they have a trigger sensor that will turn lights on H Street green to allow the streetcar a faster route)?
Streetcars should be able to run in fwd and reverse without really having a "front" and "back" (at least they should make them thatway). I think you just need to make a little criss-cross at the end to switch sides of the street.
I think we should hash out all the details here on FT, and forward them to the DDOT. I'm sure they haven't given a moment's thought to any of these issues.
What I want to know is, what sort of paint are they going to put on the asphalt? They know paint wears away after a while, right? And how are they going to make sure these lines are straight?
It appears they have given thought, but there are still 6 options, with a clear favorite that they are hoping to implement. Untial it is settled, it might be a little dicey. From the ddot october plan on the streetcars4dc site:
1. Bridge Surface Route to Union Station: This option was almost twice the cost of the other alternatives reviewed as it required significant construction on the bridge. It would also require DDOT to select Alternative 2 or 3 (Starburst or Spingarn) for the maintenance facility because it would not be feasible to place a maintenance facility in the garage or use the bridge abutment for a storage facility. While this option does connect to Union Station, it provides a much more circuitous path to the Metrorail station. Based on these factors, it does not compete on cost or community impact. 2. 2nd St South of H St: This terminus option would require building a turnback in the middle of 2nd St NE. A mid‐block turnback would require DDOT to shut down a block of 2nd St for three minutes every 10 minutes. This would impact the new development by Dreyfus, as well as Amtrak and PDC's access to their maintenance facility. It would also require DDOT to locate its maintenance facility at Starburst or Spingarn. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station. 3. 2nd St North of H St: This option would also require a mid‐block turnback, however, DDOT would locate the turnback north of H St. This would require DDOT to shut down the block for three minutes every 10 minutes. This would disrupt traffic entering the Senate Square parking garage and the REA Building. Furthermore, it would restrict Amtrak and PDC's access to the H St Underpass. It would also require a maintenance facility at the Starburst or Spingarn. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station. 9 | P a g e 4. Loop on 2nd St, G St, and 3rd St: This option would loop the streetcar around south on 2nd St to G St, east on G St to 3rd, and south on 3rd St to H St. This option would require a maintenance facility at the Starburst or Spingarn, adding both cost and community impact. In addition, this proposed loop would require major changes to the signaling of these intersections to accommodate the turning requirement of the streetcar. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station. 5. Loop on 2nd St, I St, and 3rd St: This option would loop the streetcar around north on 2nd St to I St, east on I St to 3rd St, and south on 3rd St to H St. This option would require a maintenance facility at Starburst or Spingarn, adding both cost and community impact. In addition, this proposed loop would require major changes to the signaling of these intersections to accommodate the turning requirement of the streetcar. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station. 6. 1st St NE and H St Underpass: This terminus would involve cutting a portal through the H St Overpass and traveling under the Amtrak tracks through the H St Underpass and terminating with a stop at 1st St NE. This would provide District residents with a direct connection to the Union Station Metrorail station. It would also allow DDOT to store vehicles under the Western Bridge Abutment, completely screened from the community.
It appears they have given thought, but there are still 6 options, with a clear favorite that they are hoping to implement. Until it is settled, it might be a little dicey. It is in the ddot plan on the streetcars4dc site posted above (page 10-ish I think)
"I think we should hash out all the details here on FT, and forward them to the DDOT. I'm sure they haven't given a moment's thought to any of these issues."
If you can forward me to a DDOT source that details the parking after the streetcar is up and running and the question about priority at lights by all means send me that link.
I can't believe i didn't think of that. Still think the pug's lampost would be black. Tonyt the pug ps i still think turning the trollies around seems difficult at best. Also hillman, i think part of trolly notion is to hhave less parking concerns.
i believe the lamp post is phallic enough, there's no need to paint it with a brett favre text. If one of the bases is painted white though, will it lead to a serious discussion on race and gentrification in the greater h street area?
20 comments:
I was surprised to hear that the Gray campaign is planning to stock the "Town Hall" with supporters who they are gathering at the seniors center on G Street to put in Gray for Mayor T-Shirts and bus over to the event. Strikes me as pretty cynical.
What's surprising? These are campaign rallies, plain and simple. Write in Fenty!
Slightly off topic (but maybe not, given Gray's flip flop on the H Street streetcars).....
Can anyone tell me if the H Street streetcar line will still allow for curbside parking on H Street? Or will we end up with a nice streetcar but no vehicle parking?
Also, will the streetcars run with traffic? Meaning, they will share a lane with vehicles and city buses, and won't have priority at stop lights?
Sorry to ask such obvious questions, but I can't find these answers in any of the DDOT plans I've seen.
@hillman -
Yes, there will be parking on H. Thats what the bulbouts will be for. And yes, streetcars will run in mixed traffic with cars.
-Jordan
The fact that the trolleys run with traffic continues to make me curious about turning them around. Also, was it a rally or a town hall meeting?
tonyt
the pug
Thanks Jordan.
Compared to how much street parking there was before road construction started, how much will be there when the streetcars are actually running?
And will they have priority at lights (meaning will they have a trigger sensor that will turn lights on H Street green to allow the streetcar a faster route)?
Streetcars should be able to run in fwd and reverse without really having a "front" and "back" (at least they should make them thatway). I think you just need to make a little criss-cross at the end to switch sides of the street.
Although the criss-cross could pose a problem if it had to do it in normal traffic. Just hold traffic up using stoplights if you need to.
Traffic patterns, end of line connections to Union Station, etc. are in the DDOT Plan (link in the following blog post which summarizes key points).
http://streetcars4dc.org/?p=205
I think we should hash out all the details here on FT, and forward them to the DDOT. I'm sure they haven't given a moment's thought to any of these issues.
What I want to know is, what sort of paint are they going to put on the asphalt? They know paint wears away after a while, right? And how are they going to make sure these lines are straight?
I'm concerned!
;)
same paint that is used on the street lamp bases.
different colors by block.
tonyt
Wiseass Oboe,
It appears they have given thought, but there are still 6 options, with a clear favorite that they are hoping to implement. Untial it is settled, it might be a little dicey. From the ddot october plan on the streetcars4dc site:
1.
Bridge Surface Route to Union Station: This option was almost twice the cost of the other alternatives reviewed as it required significant construction on the bridge. It would also require DDOT to select Alternative 2 or 3 (Starburst or Spingarn) for the maintenance facility because it would not be feasible to place a maintenance facility in the garage or use the bridge abutment for a storage facility. While this option does connect to Union Station, it provides a much more circuitous path to the Metrorail station. Based on these factors, it does not compete on cost or community impact.
2.
2nd St South of H St: This terminus option would require building a turnback in the middle of 2nd St NE. A mid‐block turnback would require DDOT to shut down a block of 2nd St for three minutes every 10 minutes. This would impact the new development by Dreyfus, as well as Amtrak and PDC's access to their maintenance facility. It would also require DDOT to locate its maintenance facility at Starburst or Spingarn. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station.
3.
2nd St North of H St: This option would also require a mid‐block turnback, however, DDOT would locate the turnback north of H St. This would require DDOT to shut down the block for three minutes every 10 minutes. This would disrupt traffic entering the Senate Square parking garage and the REA Building. Furthermore, it would restrict Amtrak and PDC's access to the H St Underpass. It would also require a maintenance facility at the Starburst or Spingarn. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station. 9 | P a g e
4.
Loop on 2nd St, G St, and 3rd St: This option would loop the streetcar around south on 2nd St to G St, east on G St to 3rd, and south on 3rd St to H St. This option would require a maintenance facility at the Starburst or Spingarn, adding both cost and community impact. In addition, this proposed loop would require major changes to the signaling of these intersections to accommodate the turning requirement of the streetcar. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station.
5.
Loop on 2nd St, I St, and 3rd St: This option would loop the streetcar around north on 2nd St to I St, east on I St to 3rd St, and south on 3rd St to H St. This option would require a maintenance facility at Starburst or Spingarn, adding both cost and community impact. In addition, this proposed loop would require major changes to the signaling of these intersections to accommodate the turning requirement of the streetcar. Finally, it would not provide a direct connection to Union Station.
6.
1st St NE and H St Underpass: This terminus would involve cutting a portal through the H St Overpass and traveling under the Amtrak tracks through the H St Underpass and terminating with a stop at 1st St NE. This would provide District residents with a direct connection to the Union Station Metrorail station. It would also allow DDOT to store vehicles under the Western Bridge Abutment, completely screened from the community.
Wiseass Oboe,
It appears they have given thought, but there are still 6 options, with a clear favorite that they are hoping to implement. Until it is settled, it might be a little dicey. It is in the ddot plan on the streetcars4dc site posted above (page 10-ish I think)
tonyt wrote: same paint that is used on the street lamp bases.
different colors by block.
tonyt,
be honest, is this phase one of the H Streetopoly boardgame marketing plan?
"I think we should hash out all the details here on FT, and forward them to the DDOT. I'm sure they haven't given a moment's thought to any of these issues."
If you can forward me to a DDOT source that details the parking after the streetcar is up and running and the question about priority at lights by all means send me that link.
Inked - That sounds like a neighborhood theme night waiting to happen. I'm totally in.
I can't believe i didn't think of that. Still think the pug's lampost would be black.
Tonyt
the pug
ps i still think turning the trollies around seems difficult at best. Also hillman, i think part of trolly notion is to hhave less parking concerns.
No more mention of lamp posts PLEASE!!!! Who cares?! It not like someone drew a penis on it.
I love lamp.
i believe the lamp post is phallic enough, there's no need to paint it with a brett favre text. If one of the bases is painted white though, will it lead to a serious discussion on race and gentrification in the greater h street area?
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