Transit on Thursday: Exit Not, Pay Not
If you don't want to pay a toll, just don't leave the city.
Information is sketchy at best, but the federal government may soon propose a toll on cars entering the city via the 14th Street bridge, reports The Examiner.
According to the story, the proposal seems to be nothing more than another one of those fabulous pipe dreams feds float from time to time for improving our city. Like Sen. Sam Brownback's "flat tax" idea. Or that ingenious plan to give the District back to Maryland instead of just granting us a vote in the House.
The toll idea contains precious few details. The Department of Transportation has apparently not worked out exactly how much they plan to charge, when the toll would start, whether toll booths would be on the Virginia or D.C. side of the river, etc. In fact, the plan was presented with 43 other "options" for relieving congestion. Feds are also investigating water taxis, extending HOV lanes and changing some of the George Washington Parkway's on and off ramps between the bridge and the Pentagon.
The report with options and details is due sometime next year.
Photo by andertho
And the debate goes on
The Metro Board is meeting today to continue to grapple with our Metro fare futures. As The Post reported this week, the debate has now moved onto the classic city v. 'burbs affair.
D.C. Council Member Jim Graham wants to raise minimum rush-hour rail trips by 30 cents and parking fees by $1.25, a deal that clearly puts the financial pressure on those commuting into the city, since the majority of Metro's parking facilities are in Virginia and Maryland. Under Graham's plan bus costs would go unchanged.
Compare that to Metro Chief John Catoe's plan — raise the cost of rush-hour trains 20 to 40 cents, bus rides 25 cents, and parking fees 50 cents.
The fare raise is meant to help cover the $173 million budget shortfall projected for next year. But that date is quickly approaching, and so far all we've been doing is chatting about fare possibilities without taking any real action.
The question: when will we finally get a move on?
Weekend track work, delays
The Yellow Line will be completely closed between King Street and Fort Totten Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon while local officials conduct an emergency response exercise over the Potomac. To get around that, riders should take the Blue Line from King Street. Those who need the Yellow Line from Huntington will be able to take a shuttle train from Huntington to King Street. That train will single track because of track work at Huntington. All passengers should add at least 30 minutes to their trips.
Single tracking on the Yellow Line between Huntington and King Street will occur between 9 p.m. Friday and midnight Sunday. After the drill Saturday the Yellow Line will run from Ft. Totten to Franconia Springfield with shuttle trains to Huntington.
On the Orange Line, trains will share a track between New Carrollton and Cheverly between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To help make service into downtown faster, every other Orange Line train will end at Cheverly and return to Vienna/Fairfax-GMU. Riders should add 30 minutes to their trips.
Green Line trains will share a track between College Park and Prince George's Plaza from midnight to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday due to cable maintenance. Riders should add up to 15 minutes to their trips. They should also add 10 to 15 minutes to trips between Greenbelt and College Park between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday thanks to continued new car testing.