I keep getting this real sense of déjà vu. I’m reading and hearing more about Northern Virginia politicians talking tough about the next legislative session and how this time for sure they’re going to get some relief for the region’s commuters. This is just a big carousel that keeps spinning ‘round and ‘round and pretty soon all the pretty horses look the same. Maybe the solution really is in the effort to get rid of the Dillon Rule restrictions.
Maybe “North Virginia” should become the 51st state in the Union so that its representatives can make decisions on things like transportation and developments that make sense for their constituents. If none of this is going to happen, then maybe somebody should pass a law that prohibits local politicians from running on traffic relief platforms. After all, if they can’t control it, then they shouldn’t promise it.
SoberRide
Here are some more statistics to show that the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide program really works: Almost 700 people took advantage of the free cab ride home on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day morning instead of possibly driving home drunk. That equates to nearly one potential drunken driver making a decision (or having a decision made for them) to not get behind the wheel every 41 seconds. This program is a winner, and I hope it gets implemented in other cities across the country. Just imagine the impact if we had another 697 drunken drivers on the roadways that rainy, slippery New Year’s night. Thank you to all who participated in setting up the program and to all of those cab drivers and dispatchers who contributed to making us all a little safer this year.
Friendship Heights
Wallace wrote in with an observation: “Friendship Heights offers more examples of idiocy than just the failure to allow for higher buses. Take a look at it sometime and admire the folks who planned the various manipulations and turns that the drivers have to make, the light sequencing, the timing of buses that causes regular blocking of traffic on Wisconsin, the lack of idling space, etc. etc. Watch the westbound buses from Western Avenue as the drivers perform feats of magic to accomplish 120-degree turns onto Wisconsin or even sharper and more restricted turns from Wisconsin onto Wisconsin Circle (an absurd name for about 1/10th of an arc). Check the condition of the curbs and wonder why they aren’t worse. Watch the RideOn buses park on the Wisconsin Avenue cutout and prevent the other buses from pulling in to pick up passengers. Friendship Heights needs a much more extensive redesign to address problems other than just the bus height issues.”
You pretty much nailed it, Wallace. This has been a poorly thought-out project from the beginning (not all of it Metro’s fault), and the situation was only compounded by the recent revelation that newer buses couldn’t even use the facility because they are too tall.
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