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The Silver Line will go 40 miles from DC and it opens in 2013. So we are discussing cities that are 40 miles from DC and 40 miles from NYC. The fact of the matter is that new subway systems that travel into the suburbs are more efficient in the 21st century than older pre-suburbanization designed subways. The smart growth designs of the present and future benefit from the newer transit infrastructure.
This has nothing to do with design... if they wanted to make Metro North 24/7 they could. There are no technical showstoppers. The ridership is probably not there. And making NJT 24/7 is priority for the state of New Jersey, NYC has nothing to do with it. I'd like to add that DC equivalents to the systems we are discussing here (MARC and VRE) are so far behind NYC's equivalents that you guys don't even bring them up.
The Silver Line will go 40 miles from DC and it opens in 2013. So we are discussing cities that are 40 miles from DC and 40 miles from NYC. The fact of the matter is that new subway systems that travel into the suburbs are more efficient in the 21st century than older pre-suburbanization designed subways. The smart growth designs of the present and future benefit from the newer transit infrastructure.
Dulles airport is NOT 40 miles from DC, its more like 27-30. Anyway, who is taking the Silver Line to the Airport in the middle of the night anyway after drinking?!
my issue is unless you live walking distance from the train station in the suburbs (regardless of city), you most likely will still need to drive. The Silver Line stop in Reston, which is at Wiehle and VA267 isnt really near any residential areas. Its about 1.5 miles away from the Reston Town Center which has a majority of the jobs in the area. Who is really going to use that for late night rides back to the suburbs? Same with NYC, I would never sit on a train for 40 miles to get back to Long Island; make a friend who lives in the City or take a taxi.
Dulles airport is NOT 40 miles from DC, its more like 27-30. Anyway, who is taking the Silver Line to the Airport in the middle of the night anyway after drinking?!
my issue is unless you live walking distance from the train station in the suburbs (regardless of city), you most likely will still need to drive. The Silver Line stop in Reston, which is at Wiehle and VA267 isnt really near any residential areas. Its about 1.5 miles away from the Reston Town Center which has a majority of the jobs in the area. Who is really going to use that for late night rides back to the suburbs? Same with NYC, I would never sit on a train for 40 miles to get back to Long Island; make a friend who lives in the City or take a taxi.
People take the train now from the terminus stations. Do you know how hard it is to find parking in DC? Do you know how expensive it would be to take a cab to the terminus of the silverline out in Loudon county? People take the train because its easier. Also, if you do have to drive once you get off the train, its not that far and you probably sobered up a bit by then. It cost $2.75 to get the terminus stations of the DC metro. It cost 3-4 times more than that on commuter rail in NYC suburbs.
People take the train now from the terminus stations. Do you know how hard it is to find parking in DC? Do you know how expensive it would be to take a cab to the terminus of the silverline out in Loudon county? People take the train because its easier. Also, if you do have to drive once you get off the train, its not that far and you probably sobered up a bit by then. It cost $2.75 to get the terminus stations of the DC metro. It cost 3-4 times more than that on commuter rail in NYC suburbs.
I have no doubt people do that, but the vast majority of people taking the Metro to the suburbs are not driving to the terminus just to park. Somebody living in Bethesda will drive up to Shady Grove to Park? that is nonsense.
How many people arriving into DC are coming from Loudon County? I would guarantee the vast majority of people coming into DC are from Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Southern MoCo.
How do you know "its not that far and you probably sobered up a bit by then"? How do you know where people live and how much they drank? That is a ridiculous statement and contradicts your entire premise.
Dulles airport is NOT 40 miles from DC, its more like 27-30. Anyway, who is taking the Silver Line to the Airport in the middle of the night anyway after drinking?!
my issue is unless you live walking distance from the train station in the suburbs (regardless of city), you most likely will still need to drive. The Silver Line stop in Reston, which is at Wiehle and VA267 isnt really near any residential areas. Its about 1.5 miles away from the Reston Town Center which has a majority of the jobs in the area. Who is really going to use that for late night rides back to the suburbs? Same with NYC, I would never sit on a train for 40 miles to get back to Long Island; make a friend who lives in the City or take a taxi.
Agree and regardless of the location or form this is a higher percentage than those living in close proximity on nearly all farther afield destinations.
Also NONE of these systems are designed with ability to cart drunks home as remotely even close to main design element.
My parents used to live off Wiehle closer to baron Cameron and while the Silver Line will be an exceptional addition I would be hard [ressed to see how this may would have helped all that much in going out and walking from this station to that location as one example. The same holds true on say an NJT or LIRR line - a fraction of the population is walkable to the train stations
Agree and regardless of the location or form this is a higher percentage than those living in close proximity on nearly all farther afield destinations.
Also NONE of these systems are designed with ability to cart drunks home as remotely even close to main design element.
My parents used to live off Wiehle closer to baron Cameron and while the Silver Line will be an exceptional addition I would be hard [ressed to see how this may would have helped all that much in going out and walking from this station to that location as one example. The same holds true on say an NJT or LIRR line - a fraction of the population is walkable to the train stations
I have friends in the DC area who work at Oracle in Reston (Which is at Reston Parkway and Sunrise), and even that walk from the Reston Silver Line Stop is a hike. I can't picture a bunch of White Collar Workers leaving their BMW's at home to walk 1 mile from the station to their office (or waiting for some shuttle bus)
I have no doubt people do that, but the vast majority of people taking the Metro to the suburbs are not driving to the terminus just to park. Somebody living in Bethesda will drive up to Shady Grove to Park? that is nonsense.
How many people arriving into DC are coming from Loudon County? I would guarantee the vast majority of people coming into DC are from Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Southern MoCo.
How do you know "its not that far and you probably sobered up a bit by then"? How do you know where people live and how much they drank? That is a ridiculous statement and contradicts your entire premise.
My only point is give people the option. Give people a choice. It is all in the public good at the end of the day. If someone chooses not to take the train into the city, that is their choice. At least allow them the option though by running trains late into the night at a frequency that is convenient and comparable to the comfort of their own car or Taxi with a cheaper price incentive.
I have friends in the DC area who work at Oracle in Reston (Which is at Reston Parkway and Sunrise), and even that walk from the Reston Silver Line Stop is a hike. I can't picture a bunch of White Collar Workers leaving their BMW's at home to walk 1 mile from the station to their office (or waiting for some shuttle bus)
The development is filling in at all silver line stations to existing job and residential center's as we speak. The massive amount of development at the silver line stations going on or about to start can't be compared to the experience people have had in the past in Virginia. The area is changing and smart growth has finally arrived in Virginia which is by far the most sprawled out part of the DMV. Bus lines, new highrise residential development, great streets projects etc. are the Virginia the silver line will embrace. Reston Town Center etc. all have projects right not that bring the development all the way to the station. If you are interested in the silver line and development around the stations, this site has everything you would want to know about DC development. DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC
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