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Looks to me like there is plenty of room for more parking garages around several end stations.
You do realize someone owns that land and it might not belong to Metro, right? Metro would have to pay for the land and build additional garages. With what money, pray tell? You do know nothing is "free" -- someone has to pay for it.
Chicago's eL trains are super rickety/bumpy rides, same with Philly's system. DC's metro can be smooth as long as it runs with the automation. It was much better when I first moved here and it mostly ran on automation.
The metro is one of the smoother ones in the country though, but believe it or not there are not many systems in the US. DC, Boston, NYC, Chicago, Philly, SF, and LA. The rest is light rail.
The ones outside of the US though are much smoother.
You do realize someone owns that land and it might not belong to Metro, right? Metro would have to pay for the land and build additional garages. With what money, pray tell? You do know nothing is "free" -- someone has to pay for it.
Of course, I know all that. None of that means it was is impossible.
Haven't even addressed the MTA bus system.......which is an absolute joke for anyone outside of the District.
1) Given that rides take a tremendously long time, fares are simply too high to justify the inconvenience.
2) Trying to figure out the schedule is ridiculous. Sure there are smartphone apps...but that is about the ONLY way to easily figure out the route times. Try taking a bus on the spur of the moment anywhere outside DC. Complete pain in the ***.
3) Invest in more bus lines. Such as to major locales - anyone notice that it's rarely economicl to take public transit to an airport vs. paying to park ? That right there is a complete absurdity.
Experts say bus lines are on e of the best ways to get cars off the road - we should make the fares close to free; progressive "anti-tax' for the poor, and take cars off the road, saving on road costs.
MTA/local govt does nothing on this either.
First of all.. Metro is run by WMATA not MTA.
Probably every large transit authority in the US has been through something like this (the details all vary, but the thing that's common is the feeling that it will never improve). I recall some dark days with SEPTA in the 1980's, and we've all seen what the NYC subway was like in the 70's and 80's. Both of those are a far cry from where they were 30-40 years ago. On the flip side, look at the mess the MBTA has spiraled into.
WMATA will recover...it just may be a long ride to get there.
It's interesting also to see that the proposed Purple Line has not been mentioned yet. This is another example of the preposterously irresponsible local govt making ZERO effort to fix the existing system, and instead looking simpy for short-term political and economic gains.
The Purple Line is absolutely unnecessary - it's goals could be accomplished at a tremendously lower price by increasing bus lines on a route almost identical to the proposed light rail line. Of course, this would mean MATA would have to improve crummy bus service in the first place. (aka do their jobs.)
At a price of approximately $2.3 billion, there's simply no way to justify the Purple Line. It originally passed in Maryland largely due to the influence of those who wanted to re-zone for business large segments on and near Connecticut Avenue on the Maryland side. The proponents of public transit don't seem to bear in mind the most economical ways of accomplishing their goals......and the state govt of Maryland simple seems excited about having the federal govt pour $900 million into local construction projects.
A top transit expert at the Cato Institute best summarized the project as having as much economic worth as digging holes in the ground........but the worthless leaders of MD and Mtgmy County are excited about this because the feds will pay for so much of it. It's a worthless project helping only local developers and (maybe, but briefly) the local economy with short-term construction jobs. But hey, it's cool because the feds will pay for so much of it !!
How about fixing the existing system first though !!?
Your posts are starting to get really over the top and ridiculous.
People were talking the same trash right before they built the original Metro system, claiming bus service would be cheaper and accomplish the same goal. Unfortunately, that is not reality. Rail allows for exclusive "right of way" where buses are still limited by traffic and road conditions. You might as well just drive your car. Buses also make frequent stops and carry a limited amount of passengers. One 6-car Metro train can transport around 700 or 800 people AT ONCE. A bus can't touch that. Its not even close.
You just sound like someone who hasn't really educated yourself or thought about what you're saying and you're just spitting talking points you read somewhere.
Another issues you completely missed is the jobs created by building the purple line both during construction and after. In addition, transit leads to more development and higher rents in close proximity to it. In the end its a huge economic booster for the area.
Do more research. Educated yourself more. THEN come back and talk.
There is a bus rapid transit project in the works to service Montgomery County, MD. This will service the density of that region and clear some of the roadway congestion. There is also a new Takoma Langley transit center (not completed yet) and Silver Spring transit center (completed) that will connect with the new purple line and existing red line respectively. Both easing traffic congestion, taking buses off the main streets and moving car traffic, still heavy but better than it was. DC getting a brt system not sure it's necessary yet.
It's interesting also to see that the proposed Purple Line has not been mentioned yet. This is another example of the preposterously irresponsible local govt making ZERO effort to fix the existing system, and instead looking simpy for short-term political and economic gains.
The Purple Line is absolutely unnecessary - it's goals could be accomplished at a tremendously lower price by increasing bus lines on a route almost identical to the proposed light rail line. Of course, this would mean MATA would have to improve crummy bus service in the first place. (aka do their jobs.)
At a price of approximately $2.3 billion, there's simply no way to justify the Purple Line. It originally passed in Maryland largely due to the influence of those who wanted to re-zone for business large segments on and near Connecticut Avenue on the Maryland side. The proponents of public transit don't seem to bear in mind the most economical ways of accomplishing their goals......and the state govt of Maryland simple seems excited about having the federal govt pour $900 million into local construction projects.
A top transit expert at the Cato Institute best summarized the project as having as much economic worth as digging holes in the ground........but the worthless leaders of MD and Mtgmy County are excited about this because the feds will pay for so much of it. It's a worthless project helping only local developers and (maybe, but briefly) the local economy with short-term construction jobs. But hey, it's cool because the feds will pay for so much of it !!
How about fixing the existing system first though !!?
I stopped reading after you mentioned the Cato Institute. You might as well named it the Barry Goldwater institute. If you want me to bake you some numbers to prove the Purple Line is worthless, I will do it for free.
Here's another interesting opinion piece on the quality (cough) of Metro. Please note the author's experience and expertise on the subject before laughably referring to "talking points" or impugning my sources. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...dc6_story.html
I don't mean to chime in and get you all worked up because you seem to be having a good time and you were doing well, I should say. But as a logistics and transportation specialist myself, it goes way beyond what the author writes in saying : Blizzard shutdowns seriously inconvenience and sometimes strand passengers and deprive the regions that they serve of their last bastion of mobility during severe storms.
What happened during this past winter storm and the decision to shut it down was the perfectly right thing to do. We can't compare metros especially when a greater percentage of the rails are outside in some cities vs underground in other cities. One would think that the author would employ common sense but again, its the inability to see beyond one's inner space and take into consideration the "HUMAN ELEMENT". Regardless of the 8'' rule, it was an assessed decision made based on the forecast and current conditions. Why put workers at risk and waste funding and liabilities?
ORM comes to mind, which means Operational Risk Management. Safety above all else comes first. ORM is different for Snow Plow Removers as it is for unionized or laborers.
Sure, having pilot trains and crew members on standby in advance to minimize any possible electrical/mechanical failures should be SOP. However, these tasks would not alleviate rider risks away from the metro stations. SOP is to ensure that when conditions are appropriate, operations can resume with the least amount of delay. It's not there to risk employee lives for the comfort of a few customers.
-You would need rotating shifts and couldn't double up as it would be too costly. Furthermore, how would these workers get to work?
-Are you taking into account the human element in that many employees would not even risk their lives driving or hitching a ride if they had no transportation? Are you taking into account the current level of incompetence that is already in place? These workers aren't exactly ready to up and go at a moment's notice now. Know who you are dealing with... It never was and never will be.
-Why would you risk the safety of your workers only to have them on standby for just a few riders? Why would metro even risk the safety of civilians knowing that once known that metro is operating, there would be some rush to use it with the increase chance of accidents?
-How and where would these standby workers find shelter and food for the very few passengers, if any?
-Did the author take into account the communication that Metro had with power companies advising of possible power outages?
-Are you taking into consideration of the synergistic roles between metro, taxi, and other associating companies that create the foundation of all logistics in the DMV?
That's it for now, I think you get the picture. It's all love though!
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