Category: Transportation
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Playing with Fire
Wow, I wouldn’t have expected this from the Washington Post editorial board, but an editorial today lacerated the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 for threatening to conduct an illegal strike. One might think the union was driven to the edge of such a drastic move, which would be the first such labor action to hit…
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Fill Up Your Gas Tanks, Boys, You Might Be Driving to Work
Ninety-four percent of the Washington Metro’s largest labor union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 voted to authorize labor leaders to call a transit strike. Metro workers are forbidden from striking under the mass transit system’s governing authority, and a judge could order strikers back to work. But even a one-day walkout could cause massive disruption to…
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Uberizing Van Pools: A Useful Experiment
Northern Virginia transportation officials will try an interesting experiment to help cope with traffic disruptions during construction of the $2.3 billion Interstate 66 widening project — they will allow commuters to sign up and pay for van-pool services through a smartphone app. Reports the Washington Post: “This is not just new technology for the area,…
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Embrace the Scooter Revolution
Bird, the Uber of the electric scooter world, has deployed its first 50 scooters in Virginia — in Arlington County, to be specific. Arlington has no official policy regarding electric scooters, and Bird placed its black-and-white scooters without county permission. Whether that becomes a problem remains to be seen. “We will be having discussions with…
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Franklin Street Bike Lanes Coming Next to Residential Brook Road
People who regularly drive downtown Richmond, including many of us who consider ourselves somewhat in touch, were surprised and initially confused by the new dedicated bike lane on Franklin Street that reduced vehicle traffic to one lane after the morning rush. A similar configuration – except in both directions – is planned for Brook Road…
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Pulse Is Pumped about Early Ridership
The Pulse, Richmond’s new bus rapid transit system, is off to a good start. On Monday, the first weekday of service, GRTC Pulse counted 8,669 riders, far exceeding the daily weekday goal of 3,500, reports the transit company. First-week performance at mass-transit roll-outs benefit from media attention and, in the case of the GRTC, free rides.…
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Washington Metro Downsizes Board
Succumbing to political pressure from Virginia, the Washington Metro board has voted to reduce the participation of so-called “alternate” board members. The move, which will enhance the power of the eight “principal” board members, was necessary to comply with the Commonwealth’s demand for board restructuring as a condition for receiving $500 million a year in…
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Needed: The Right Parking Policies for a Growing Richmond
by Stewart Schwartz Editor’s Note: The City of Richmond has launched a parking study focused on seven distinct areas of the city and is holding seven public meetings this week. Meeting dates and locations. Parking is perhaps the most important aspect of a city to get right if we are going to address traffic, make…
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No Contract, No Pulse… No Riders, No Sympathy
What a clever way to introduce Richmonders to their new Bus Rapid Transit service, Pulse, when it is scheduled to commence in less than two weeks — a drivers’ strike. The Amalgamated Transit Union has been negotiating with the GRTC Transit System since September 2017 over a new contract, and apparently union members are getting…
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Can Chesterfield Ride the Uber Revolution?
<i>This piece was originally published in the Chesterfield Observer.</i> Only a few years ago, taxicabs were a non-factor in the Richmond region’s transportation equation. Few Richmonders used a taxi other than to ride to and from the airport. Then came the Uber revolution. While Richmonders still rely upon their own cars for routine needs, they…
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Taking Another Look at Tolls on I-81
Interstate 81, which slices through western Virginia, is one of the most heavily trafficked highways in the Old Dominion. Nearly 12 million trucks travel the Interstate, accounting for 42% of all interstate truck traffic in the state and transporting more than $300 billion in goods per year. The tractor-trailers make other drivers miserable by hogging…
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There’s No Such Thing as a Free Parking Space
Following up on thoughts in the previous post about what is to be done about the Washington Metro… Here is a basic maxim to remember: If we want more people to avail themselves of shared ridership, be it commuter rail, bus, or shared ride-hailing services, they need to pay the full cost of their transportation…
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Metro Rot Runs Deeper than Anyone Imagined
Washington Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld has earned plaudits for his forthright management style and the improvements he has instituted since taking over the troubled commuter bus and rail system in 2015. But the latest news raises questions whether he, or anyone, has the grit to take on a deeply corrupt organizational culture. Reports…
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Does Uberization Increase Traffic Congestion?
The ride-hailing market in Washington, D.C. is booming — ridership for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services have more than quadrupled since late 2015, reports the Washington Post. And that’s a problem, some say. All those vehicles on the road are adding to traffic congestion. According to figures provided by the Washington mayor’s office, some…
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Hey, Uber, Over Here! Over Here!
So, Uber decides to use Washington, D.C., as a test bed for its vision for urban mobility. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi visited Washington Wednesday to publicize company plans to expand its ride-hailing app so customers can access and pay for bike share, car rentals from private car owners, and eventually mass transit. And what does Washington…