Thoughts/Experiences on the DC Streetcar Now That It's Open

[gomason]

Originally Posted by jpdivola

It took DC 10 years to build this 2.1 mile section. You are going to be waiting a long, long time for the full line. Even then you are still going to have the mixed-traffic streetcar getting clogged issue. Unless DC is going to give it its own lane than this simply doesn't make sense as a transit option.


In the mean time, DC already has a Georgetown to Union Station line, why not just add a 2nd spur that runs down H Street to Minnisota Ave? That could be up and running in a year or so. DC could built out the entire streetcar network as a circulator bus system in 5 years. Then once that is up and running worry about gradually converting it over to trams with deadicated lanes.

Union Station to Foggy Bottom extension will be in completely separated lanes on K Street.

Believe me, I know DDOT screwed this project up. But I dont have enough words of praise for Muriel Bowser's DDOT Chief -- the dude knows what hes doing. Vincent Gray's administration might as well have been a continuation of Marion Barry's administration.

[Chriz Brown]

I was walking down H Street yesterday and finally saw the street car in motion. I saw a X2 bus go right by it. So clearly the bus is the faster option. But it gets better than that. I was walking to Union station in the same direction as the street car. Because of the slow speed of the street car, plus traffic lights and stops, I ended up beating it to Union Station on foot by about 30 seconds. So in some cases.. walking is the faster option.