I hope all is well. As you know the H Street Shuttle service is coming to an end effective December 31st. We have been circulating the attached notice to businesses and riders on the H Street Corridor. If there is anything you can do to help circulate the notice it would be greatly appreciated. Many business will be tremendously affected by this.
It's true that this is really going to hurt businesses on H Street (and in the Capital Diner area, as that stretch is served by the same shuttle). Wouldn't it make sense to keep it going until the streetcar is up and running, or at least until construction is complete? Concerned about the shuttle? You might want to send a quick note to Tommy Wells and Harry Thomas. You can reach them at twells[at]dccouncil.us and hthomas@dccouncil.us.
Here's more info from another email forwarded to me. I think this one lays it out pretty well:
Here are the ridership numbers for the shuttle. I was immediately struck by the impact that stopping this service could have on the neighborhood.
Subject: H Street Shuttle ridership numbers
Please find below ridership numbers as per our conversation. Please note that there was an event booked at the Atlas relying on transporting its customers using the H Street Shuttle. Since they just received the news about the H Street shuttle service being terminated, they are frustrated and reconsidering their future booking.
Month | 2009 | 2010 |
January | 0 | 3688 |
February | 0 | 3925 |
March | 1425 | 4854 |
April | 1426 | 5,158 |
May | 5110 | 4923 |
June | 4560 | 5187 |
July | 6218 | 5831 |
August | 6376 | 6016 |
September | 4604 | 5913 |
October | 4814 | 6991 |
November | 4475 | |
December | 2107 | |
Totals | 41115 | 52486 |
16 comments:
Sorry to be the skeptic, but how were these numbers tallied? I rode the shuttle countless times and I know the drivers weren't keeping track of how many people were getting on and off. Were there cameras in the shuttle or some other means of tracking ridership?
-Jordan
The seats had sensors underneath. As soon as you sat down, it sent a wireless signal to Tommy Wells's iPhone.
I'm waiting to hear what Colbert King has to say before I make up my mind on this issue.
I'm also curious how the numbers were compiled. Additionally, if the numbers are per month (not really made clear) there are less than 250 riders per day... That's pretty pathetic. And likely quite expensive to drive around a near-empty van so that a few people can conveniently avoid using the X2 which takes nearly the same route... I say kill it. Whenever I see it pass it usually has 0-2 people in it.
Another blow to Toyland on top of the neighborhood boycott ;)
i really wonder how much impact losing this thing will have. i know it has a schedule, but does it ever follow it? it takes a shitty route to h st (up 7th NW to like K or something). X2 plus nextbus is a much better combination, people just need to know about it. It should be easier to know about than the shuttle. Just go to the WMATA site.
I think that H Street has enough critical mass now that the cancellation of the shuttle won't really have much of an impact on business. H Street is now a destination and people who want to go there will find a way to get there.
Inked, where does this information come from? I find it really suspect. The numbers seem imaginary and they don't take into account all the riders that were not bar/retail patrols but rather commuters getting a free ride home. Tell us the source of the "information" and it may have credibility, but if not.......
The election is over, so the one thing that people could point to that Tommy had done for NE and H street, will be gone. He will return to being the Councilmember for ANC 6B.
Speaking of Toyland what's going on? Why is there a boycott?
Let the neighbors boycott Toyland forcing the owner to change the name to Boyland and give the other neighbors refuge from the breeders.
For the last 2-3 years I've heard a ton of complaints on listservs and meetings about parking around H street. Assuming the numbers are correct (I've got no reason to doubt them) and the same number of people still decide to come to H, that's probably about 90+ parking spots that the shuttle freed up. Plus I'd rather not have people driving home from the bars. The X9 doesn't run evenings or weekends, so the shuttle was a good complement/alternative.
Maybe they should just get a big golfcart like they have down on 8th St.
I've never ridden the H St shuttle, but I might be tempted to have few and then take a ride over the humpback bridge.
rickshaws
Does anyone have a clear answer on how many onstreet parking spaces will be left on H St after the trolley comes in (as compared to how many there were before construction began)? I've asked this question to numerous city officials and no one has a straight answer?
I'm not too worried. I just plan on parking in your wife.
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