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Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
The Saturday Morning Post
Back in May, we learned about the National Zoo's desire to install an aerial tram, similar to the one at the San Diego Zoo (pictured left). Today, the Examiner and AP are reporting that massive, 20-year long $1 billion master plan to renovate the Zoo has been approved, and it includes installing the aerial tram.
In addition to the sky tram, the master plan also increases exhibit space from 35 to 47 acres by repurposing surface parking lots and constructing a new 300-space underground garage. The restructuring would increase the total number of parking spaces from 868 to 1,285. The Examiner quotes D.C. planning director Harriet Tregoning as questioning why the Zoo is placing such a big emphasis on increasing the amount of parking, instead of encouraging visitors to use Metro, which stops right in front of the Zoo entrance.
Parking battles aside, the aerial tram sounds pretty awesome. As for a timeframe on how long it'll be before it's constructed, the project will still need to clear other bureaucratic and financing hurdles before it becomes a reality.
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damn. I shouldna eaten all those chili dogs.
LOOK OUT BELOW!
Does this mean they'll have room to save Happy the Hippo from being relocated to another zoo?
Which Metro station is right in front of the zoo entrance?! While neither Cleveland Park nor Woodley Park is that far away, it's not quite right in front.
Not only is the Zoo entrance not right in front of the Metro, but it's largely the Zoo's fault that it's that way. They could have their entrance a couple blocks further south of where it is if they would just realign the main path.
That aerial tram is going to be awesome. It will make it much, much easier for the orangutans to fling their poo at visitors.
Where will the rats go?
hmm, naming a metro stop after the zoo does not make it in front of the zoo.
Maybe after sitting around on the aerial tram, people will have the energy to bike home, though.
does this mean the smithsonian is not going to have money to spend elsewhere, unless they brand some buildings downtown? (welcome to the exxonmobil museum of natural history?)
Tell me more about this Metro stop directly in front of the zoo. For some reason I always seem to be missing it.
I heart online mapping!
Woodley Park station is exactly .44 miles from the Zoo entrance on Connecticut Ave
Cleveland Park station is exactly .33 miles.
Walking from Woodley over the Duke Ellington Bridge to the back entrance is 1 mile.
They are right in front of the Zoo compared to, say, the White House.
Why not install a tram station at Cleveland Park Metro? Haha, I know. Just kidding.
While you're at it, run the tram all the way up Harvard St. to the Columbia Heights Metro. It's not in the L'Enfant city, so you can have overhead wires.
I read the article and she doesn't say that the Metro stops right in front of the Zoo. She thinks that more parking will take away from people using the Metro and other public transportation.
I try, on hot days, to tell people to get off at Cleveland park and walk down to the Zoo instead of getting off at Woodly Park and walking up. It saves some energy since there are so many darn hills in that zoo.
Do they have any plans to rebuild the gorilla house? It is beyond depressing to see the animals in there. I'd much rather have an improved space for them vs. an aerial tram.
Yeah, I know a lot of people who live in Woodley Park would be much happier if they had attached the "Zoo" suffix to Cleveland Park. You don't have to stand around the corner of Woodley and Connecticut for too long before some fanny packed tourist asks you how to get to the zoo.
Of course I always respond "practice, practice, practice".
Can we get season lift tickets? Which way is the Bunny Slope?
On the one hand, trams strike me as wasteful concessions to the lazy. I mean, the Zoo is not that large, and the hills are not that taxing. Get a grip people.
On the other hand, having dragged my (then) 8 and 10 year old nieces around the Zoo in 95 degree August heat, I developed an appreciation for the travails faced by parents in such a scenario.
On balance, given the percentage of visitors to the Zoo with children, I guess I can see the logic.
Hmmm...I remember these at Disneyworld. I think they were closed down in part because of accidents and non-ADA compliance.
this is just another way for a terrorist to drop a dirty bomb
"I read the article and she doesn't say that the Metro stops right in front of the Zoo. "
I am not sure which article you are reading.
"...encouraging visitors to use Metro, which stops right in front of the Zoo entrance."
But regardless, that is not the point. The short walk should not be a problem really for most people, and if it is, there is this other pretty cool public transportation phenomenon called a bus. It does stop literally stop at the entrance.
And yes, that gorilla house is possibly the most depressing exhibit I have ever been to. Although I have spent a lot of time sitting there in awe of how cool gorillas are.
@connie_dobbs and everyone else... The White House comparison works.
According to Google maps, McPherson Sq Metro to directly in front of the White House on Penn is .3 miles.
So, if indeed Cleveland Park is .33 miles, then they are indeed comparable.
If tourists (or locals for that matter) can't walk, there is always a taxi.
@UrsusMajeure: try pushing a stroller in 95 degreee heat with a too-large-for-it-but-exhausted four-year-old in it whilst carrying the two-year-old that the stroller was intended for on your back. Oh, and the stroller is also loaded down with water bottles and snacks. Then you'll know exactly why the Zoo is a pain in the ass with kids. I usually try to go with one child per adult, if at all possible.
I dunno if a tram would help laziness, I mean you can't go in the animal houses is you're not actually walking it. Not much of a Zoo trip, if you ask me.
Those chimps and orangutans on the high wires have been dropping "dirty bombs" for quite some time now.
"I read the article and she doesn't say that the Metro stops right in front of the Zoo."
Not quite sure which article you are reading...
"...encouraging visitors to use Metro, which stops right in front of the Zoo entrance."
If people can't walk less than a half a mile, there is this other pretty awesome public transportation phenomenon called a bus. It does drop you off right at the entrance.
I am sure the parking will also bring in some revenue for the zoo which is probably an additional motivation to increase capacity.
don't forget the pedi-cabs!
"They are right in front of the Zoo compared to, say, the White House."
Except the White House (Penn Ave) is 0.25 miles from the Metro...
Nevermind, I misread the comment
Here's where you can find the Zoo's Master Plan:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/FuturePlans/FacilitiesMasterPlanJune2007.pdf
p.s. More cheetahs, please!
Who exactly approved this nonsense? And how can they be stopped? What other hurdles must it clear, and how can I help those hurdles hinder?
Bravo on the alliteration bp
I am with bp...the tram is an incredible waste of money for American's who generally need to work off some extra around the waist (have you been to the zoo recently?)
edit: Americans (damned apostrophe)
bp ... formerly known as Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii
I think the tram, and the parking for that matter, are more about making the Zoo on par with what is found at the supposedly "better" zoos. I am not really a zoo person, but it seems like every out of town visitor I have ever taken there comments on how the zoo in San Diego, or Philadelphia, or Atlanta, or wherever is so much better.
Personally, I think the fact that the zoo is free and has the pandas should be enough, but I guess not.
Ruckme,
I read both articles, The Examiner and the AP, and no where does she say that the Metro stops right in front of the Zoo. Unless you are getting two different articles than the ones listed above, I did not read that.
@KrazyKat (and others)
End of Sommer's second graf in the DCist piece, not the linked articles. To wit:
"...instead of encouraging visitors to use Metro, which stops right in front of the Zoo entrance."
"Personally, I think the fact that the zoo is free and has the pandas should be enough, but I guess not. "
Agreed. The National Zoo rocks.
I lived for several years in Lanier Heights, back entrance to the Zoo, and I used to wander in periodically and take in portions of the zoo, or just sit on that hill by the tigers/lions and read. It was fantastic.
Should mention that I'm interpreting/assuming the text in question is Sommer's paraphrasing of Harriet Tregoning's response to Examiner questioning.
Also, I have to agree with other posters that most of the zoo crowd could use a little exercise. And quite frankly, if the tourists don't appreciate a free, well-appointed zoo (sans aerial tram) in the greatest city in the world, then eff 'em. Cleveland or Nashville would love to have your tourist $$$.
Maybe, instead of the tram, they should issue Segways to all of the overweight tourists.
Sigh.
I did read that in Sommer's article, however, I am saying that she did not say that in the linked articles and could be a gross misrepresentation of what she actually said.
I understand DCist is trying to get a laugh, I just wanted to make sure that people knew that she didn't actually say that in the article.
Sigh.
This is only a good idea if the animals get to use the tram too.
This town needs a tram running the full length of K street, maybe even running through the halls of the Capitol building.
Some people may not realize it, but there are disabled and physically-challenged people who would welcome a tram at the National Zoo.
"This town needs a tram running the full length of K street, maybe even running through the halls of the Capitol building."
Where's Monkey at? Barbecue slip-n-slide from the Gaylord National Convention Center? Anybody? Anybody?
I'm with sumergocognito but suggest one more tweak:
Extend it in BOTH directions so it runs from Columbia Heights, through the Zoo, and onto Cleveland Park. It's about time we linked this divided city!
Besides, there is something kind of enchanting about Aerial Trams.
The National Zoo needs a lot to make it first class, but an areal tram and parking don't make the top ten list. The designers appear to be stuck in the era when the National Zoo was a drive through animal park.
That's no way to appreciate nature.
Take a look at SD and the Monterey Aquarium for first-rate exhibits that show wildlife in situ. Amazonia was a brave start...
Was this article intended to be funny?
I see the snarky anti-fat people commenters are out in force. Next time you are at the zoo please notice that a high percentage of the visitors are not overly large, but in fact quite small. Small, tired, cranky visitors with harried parents. This is the reason for the tram.
that money needs to zomehow be reappropriated into building more smart bike stations, particularly one near gtwn law, union station, eckington, e market, and congress heights. Also, dc needs a waffle house and a cracker barrel
Also, dc needs a waffle house and a cracker barrel
Agreed. But DC had a Waffle Shop and they couldn't afford the rent and closed. And I imagine if the Cracker Barrel opened, yuppies would complain that the food was white trash and where the hell are the $12 tapas and you can't play banjo music over the outdooor speakers after 8pm.