August 9, 2007
Go Home Already: Under Foot
>> Mayor Fenty has named Shannon Lee Hader, an epidemiologist and public health physician who has directed the U.S. AIDS program in Zimbabwe, to head the District's HIV/AIDS Administration. [WaPo]
>> D.C. Law enforcement officials are trying to seize control of a house at 1923 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a long-time location for illicit activity. [WJLA]
>> A small plane crash landed in the Hollywood area of St. Mary's County. Two of three passengers escaped unharmed, and 85-year-old woman was flown to a Baltimore trauma center and is in critical condition. [NBC4]
>> Amtrak recently began offering once-a-day Acela Express service between Washington, D.C. and New York cities that stops only in Philadelphia -- saving passengers ten minutes. [AP via WTOP]
Photo by blueiris2006
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YES!!! I totally needed those extra 10 minutes. Its soooo worth the extra $50!
It should be "1923 Rhode Island Avenue, N.E."
Maybe I am missing something, but I can get a round-trip plane ticket for almost the same price as a one-way Acela ticket. Seems like a waste, no?
The Acela seats are room and comfortable. The seats in those flying cattle cars are not. Neither method of transportation takes all that much time- there might be a market for comfort.
Yeah, it costs more. But I think there's something to be said for going from city center to city center, and skipping a taxi/Super Shuttle/bus/subway from JFK or LaGuardia. It's at least a wash time-wise. Probably still cheaper to fly.
Awesome photo.
After a horrible experience at Philadelphia airport a few weeks ago, I'll definately be more likely to take a train in the future. Train= comfort, convenience, productivity.
I just priced out a weekend trip from DC to NY on Amtrak. Total round trip for two people at the times we needed was about $320. Car rental for 48 hours + gas + tolls + overnight parking downtown NYC = less. If it's cheaper to freakin drive a rental car, something is wrong with train prices.
Krisa - that's impossible. Where are you getting those numbers? It's defintiely, DEFINITELY, not cheaper to drive a rental car.
Are you questioning my numbers or my math? I'll be extra generous and overestimate.
$100 car rental
$80 gas
$40 tolls
$40 parking
=$260
equals cheaper than Amtrak round trip for two people.
I was still considering it, for the luxury of not having to drive and the shorter travel time, but it's not so much shorter that it's worth giving up my XM radio for the drive up.
Krisa - you forgot to factor the health costs associated with the hypertension caused by driving up I-95/NJTP to NYC. That's gotta cost you thousands of dollars.
I went to school in Connecticut and made that drive about a zillion times in the 90s. It sucked then and has gotta be worse now.
You're right...doesn't make a lot of sense to take the Acela for a weekend trip - BUT keep in mind that Acela is targeted at business travelers. For them (us) its a FAR better than flying/driving.
All the Acela seats are Business Class so you're not really comparing apples-to-apples when you're pitting it against flying coach or driving. Also, while most companies don't let everyday employees ride business class on flights, a lot let them ride Acela to NYC. Why?
1) Far less travel time: Its downtown-to-downtown and you don't need to get there super early. The office-to-office time is much less.
2) Fewer delays
3) Travel Productivity: It is SO much easier to do work on the Acela versus waiting at an airport and on the flying tin can.
4) No cab rides: Beyond avoiding the wasted time of getting to JFK/LGA, you don't have a cab ride (which can run $30-50 each way)
Also, Krisa- I think your car rental and parking prices are a little low -- $100+$40 for 3 days? (if you're doing fri-sun)-- that doesn't seem right at all.
Screw Amtrak. Greyhound all the way. They now have Chinatown prices.