Dr. Gridlock columns  |  Weekly Q&A  |  Add Dr. Gridlock:    Twitter  |    RSS  |  phoneLocal/Commuter Alerts

Get There Archive: Transportation Politics

Reminder: Taxi Cab Boycott in Adams Morgan

Some District taxi operators say they will refuse to pick up passengers in Adams Morgan in the early morning hours on Saturday and Sunday to protest their continued opposition to the new metered fare system, and to a bill from council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) that would have overhauled the city's taxi industry. Graham withdrew that bill this week. But they're going on with the strike anyway. The proposal from Graham could have led to a medallion system, which drivers worried might require them to pay a monthly fee to operate in the District. Protest organizers said that, on Saturday and Sunday between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., taxis will not pick up customers north of U Street NW, east of Connecticut Avenue NW, south of Harvard Street NW or west of 16th Street NW. It was unclear how many taxi drivers planned to participate in the protest,...

By James Hohmann  |  October 2, 2009; 7:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  Transportation Politics Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

Today's Read: Metro Chief Faces Challenge

The Metro board is likely to discuss the contract of General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. at its regular meeting today, Lena H. Sun writes in today's Post. He has solid support, but after months of turmoil in the rail system, some angry riders are calling for his resignation. Columnist Robert McCartney shares his experiences with Car-Free Day. Metro transit police officers have arrested more than 260 juveniles this year on offenses including robberies and assaults. (Yamiche Alcindor) Chevy Chase will wait two years, or until more detailed design work is finished, before deciding whether to file a lawsuit against the Purple Line transitway project. (Katherine Shaver) Drivers using the Intercounty Connector could pay toll rates of up to 35 cents per mile during peak commuting times. (Katherine Shaver)...

By Robert Thomson  |  September 24, 2009; 6:53 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Commuting , Metro , Transportation Politics , transit  | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Today's Read Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

Today's Read: Metro Safety, Transportation Politics, Taxis

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued urgent safety warnings about track circuits to Metro and the federal agencies that monitor rail safety, Lena H. Sun and James Hohmann write in today's Post. The warnings are part of the investigation into the June 22 Red Line crash. Meanwhile, Hohmann writes that the Metro board on Thursday is likely to approve a contract to repair all the doors on the 1000 Series rail car. These cars, the oldest, make up about a quarter of Metro's fleet. Since April 2008, Metro train operators have manually opened and closed the doors after four incidents in which the doors opened on the wrong side of trains. Construction of new 11th Street bridges could get started next month following D.C. Council approval of a plan for the federal government to transfer some of the needed property to the District, Tim Craig writes. And on the...

By Robert Thomson  |  September 23, 2009; 7:50 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Metro , Transportation Politics  | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Today's Read Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

Today's Read: Metro Funding Bill Passes Congress

Now the transportation bill that includes the funding needs to get through a conference committee to work out differences in the House and Senate versions before going to President Obama. The $122 billion transportation bill includes $150 million for the first year of the decade-long Metro funding program, which must be matched by the regional jurisdictions that back the transit authority, Lena H. Sun writes in today's Post....

By Robert Thomson  |  September 22, 2009; 9:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Metro , Transportation Politics , transit  | Tags: Congress oversight, Dr. Gridlock, Metro funding, Today's Read Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

Metro Talks About Possible Fare Increases

The transit authority staff today is presenting the Metro board with a preliminary outline of an operating budget for next year that would include a fare increase and no service cuts. There's a long way to go: The staff won't present a formal budget for fiscal 2011 until December, and then the board will get a crack at making significant changes, as it did last year. But today's meeting provided a look at some of the issues ahead. A fare increase, which would be the first in four years, would not close the budget shortfall if it were pegged to the rate of inflation, the staff said. The staff and board are not discussing a specific proposal at this point. For next year, the staff is assuming conservative growth rate on bus and rail ridership of 1 percent, as well as a drop in advertising revenue. After 10 years, the...

By Robert Thomson  |  September 10, 2009; 12:40 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  Metro , Transportation Politics , transit  | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Metro fare increases, Metrobus, Metrorail Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

O'Malley Backs Light Rail For Purple Line

Maryland governor said today's announcement is part of a long process. (Thomson) Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley picked light rail over a bus rapid transit system for the 16-mile transitway between New Carrollton and Bethesda. He also endorsed plans to follow the route of the old Georgetown Branch railroad right of way through Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the largely above-ground route through downtown Silver Spring. Maryland is "moving forward with our plan to develop the light rail option," O'Malley said. The next step, he continued, will be to submit a request for federal approval. "It's a process," he noted. "Some would say we've had 50 years of discussions." "Among our citizens, there have been disagreements," he said, stressing that the decisions he has made about the Purple Line follow "the locally preferred alternative" backed by Montgomery and Prince George's county leaders. The governor made the announcement this...

By Robert Thomson  |  August 4, 2009; 9:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (8)
Categories:  Purple Line , Transportation Politics  | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, bus rapid transit, light rail Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble

Older Entries in This Category »

O'Malley to Announce Purple Line Decision, Robert Thomson , August 3, 2009
House Panel Set to Hold Hearing on Metro Crash, James Hohmann , July 14, 2009
Each Driver Has Personal Misery Index, Robert Thomson , July 8, 2009
Purple Line Passes Important Test, Robert Thomson , June 17, 2009
Virginia Needs More Than Stimulus Can Provide, Robert Thomson , June 17, 2009
Who Owns the Streets?, Robert Thomson , June 16, 2009
DC Left Commuters In Lurch, VA Congressmen Say, Robert Thomson , June 5, 2009
Changes in Montgomery Bus Plan, Robert Thomson , April 22, 2009
Budget Cuts Pit Bus Riders Against Drivers, Robert Thomson , April 22, 2009
Montgomery Considering Bus Fare Increases, Robert Thomson , April 21, 2009
Hybrids Can Continue in Virginia HOV Lanes, Robert Thomson , April 21, 2009
Many Concerned About Speed Cameras, Robert Thomson , April 6, 2009
Riders Challenge Bus Service Cuts, Robert Thomson , March 25, 2009
Montgomery County Proposes Bus Cuts, Christopher Dean Hopkins , March 16, 2009
New Metrorail Line Really Coming, Robert Thomson , March 10, 2009
Metro Budget Deal Not Ready, Robert Thomson , March 5, 2009
Fairfax Planning to Undo I-66 Decision, Robert Thomson , February 25, 2009
Maryland Dreaming of Route 5 Upgrade, Robert Thomson , February 25, 2009
No Drama in Transportation Stimulus, Leaders Say, Robert Thomson , February 20, 2009
I-66 Spot Improvements Blocked, Robert Thomson , February 18, 2009
Delaware Considering I-95 Toll Plaza Improvement, Robert Thomson , February 11, 2009
Transportation Addition and Subtraction, Robert Thomson , February 10, 2009
Stimulating a Better Commute, Robert Thomson , January 29, 2009
The Year in Transportation, Mike McPhate , December 31, 2008
Purple Line Hearings Beginning, Robert Thomson , November 12, 2008
Metro Riders Urged to Flex Rights, Robert Thomson , October 30, 2008
Metro Should Bag the Searches, Robert Thomson , October 28, 2008
Hearing on I-66 Plan Tonight, Robert Thomson , October 27, 2008
Legislators Push Purple Line, Robert Thomson , October 23, 2008
Hearings Set on Fairfax Bus Fares, Robert Thomson , October 21, 2008
Maryland Releases Purple Line Study, Robert Thomson , October 17, 2008
Maryland to Cut Transit Services, Robert Thomson , October 17, 2008
VRE Holding Fare Hearings, Robert Thomson , September 16, 2008
The Future of Pedestrian Safety, Robert Thomson , August 12, 2008
D.C. Transportation Director to Metro, Robert Thomson , July 23, 2008
Rooftop Groundbreaking for HOT Lanes, Robert Thomson , July 22, 2008
Who Will Rule the Streets?, Robert Thomson , July 7, 2008
Why the Money Matters, Robert Thomson , June 23, 2008
Kaine Presents New Transportation Plan, Robert Thomson , June 19, 2008
Virginia Likely to Delay, Cut Projects, Robert Thomson , June 17, 2008
Kaine Talking Transportation Tonight, Robert Thomson , June 11, 2008
Northern Virginians Hear Kaine Plan, Robert Thomson , May 14, 2008
Plan Would Restore Transportation Authority, Robert Thomson , May 12, 2008
Despite Comeback, Rail Plan Still Faces Hurdles, Robert Thomson , April 30, 2008
MD Senate Passes Camera Bill, Robert Thomson , March 18, 2008
How Do You Want to Pay?, Robert Thomson , March 17, 2008
Hybrids Stay in HOV Lanes, Robert Thomson , March 17, 2008
Va. Transportation Taxes Halted Today, Robert Thomson , March 4, 2008
Another Blow To Northern Virginia, Robert Thomson , February 29, 2008
Kaine: Ice Storm Response "Abysmal", Robert Thomson , February 26, 2008
Md. Considering More Speed Cameras, Robert Thomson , February 20, 2008
Dulles Rail Not So Dead, Robert Thomson , February 6, 2008
Gov. Kaine Sticks by Dulles Rail, Robert Thomson , January 29, 2008
Plan B for Rail Transit?, Robert Thomson , January 28, 2008
Feds Slam Dulles Rail Project, Robert Thomson , January 24, 2008
Dulles Rail Decision Near, Robert Thomson , January 24, 2008
Dulles Rail Plan Vital to Suburbs, Robert Thomson , January 17, 2008
National Transport Report Draws Praise, Criticism, Robert Thomson , January 16, 2008
Toward a New Era in Transportation, Robert Thomson , January 15, 2008
Comment Time on Transportation Agenda, Robert Thomson , January 9, 2008
Fare Wars at Metro, Robert Thomson , October 10, 2007
New Meaning for HOT Lanes, Robert Thomson , October 1, 2007
Staying Here and Staying Mobile, Robert Thomson , September 17, 2007
An Unstoppable Train to Dulles, Robert Thomson , September 14, 2007
Anti-HOT Lane Petition Online, Robert Thomson , August 20, 2007
Revolt of the Slugs, Robert Thomson , July 26, 2007
Northern Virginia Gets Some Authority, Robert Thomson , July 13, 2007
Big Decision Tonight in Virginia, Robert Thomson , July 12, 2007
More Forums Set on Virginia Transportation, Robert Thomson , June 27, 2007
Virginians Debate Transportation Authority, Robert Thomson , June 22, 2007
Transportation Authority Moving Quickly, Robert Thomson , June 21, 2007
Fairfax Votes For Tysons Rail, Robert Thomson , June 18, 2007
Tough Decision on Tysons Rail, Robert Thomson , June 5, 2007
Fairfax Board Will Vote on Rail Line, Robert Thomson , June 4, 2007
District Floats Toll Ideas, Robert Thomson , May 3, 2007
Regional Board Punts on Va. Road Projects, Robert Thomson , April 18, 2007
Road, Rail Projects in Pipeline, Robert Thomson , April 17, 2007
Where Will Va. Transportation Money Go?, Robert Thomson , April 5, 2007
Kaine Proposes Changes to Transportation Bill, Robert Thomson , March 26, 2007
Citizen Impact on Transportation Issues, Robert Thomson , March 1, 2007
Meetings on Traffic and Transit Concerns, Robert Thomson , February 27, 2007
Imperfect Solutions Better Than None, Robert Thomson , February 12, 2007
It's Only Mostly Dead, Robert Thomson , February 2, 2007
Maryland vs. Virginia, Robert Thomson , January 22, 2007
Breakthrough in Virginia, Robert Thomson , January 19, 2007
What's Ahead For Projects, Robert Thomson , January 18, 2007
Maryland's Transportation Plans, Robert Thomson , January 16, 2007
Meet the New Boss, Robert Thomson , January 10, 2007
Kaine Sets Transportation Goals, Robert Thomson , January 4, 2007
What's Your New Year's Outlook?, Robert Thomson , January 3, 2007
Metro Moves to Control Costs, Robert Thomson , December 19, 2006
What About the Roads and Rails?, Robert Thomson , December 6, 2006
What the Elections May Bring, Robert Thomson , November 10, 2006
Bumper Politics, Robert Thomson , November 8, 2006
Turning on the Hydrant, Robert Thomson , November 7, 2006
Who's To Blame?, Robert Thomson , October 19, 2006
Impasse in Virginia, Robert Thomson , September 29, 2006
Va. Transportation Politics Heating Up, Robert Thomson , September 13, 2006
 
RSS Feed
Subscribe to The Post

© 2009 The Washington Post Company