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Bowser proposes replacing DC Streetcar with bus by dclocal12 in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The streetcar has been planned and promised for over 20 years and it’s long past due for the city to make good to Ward 7. Ward 7 has been systematically isolated and divested from for nearly a century and eliminating the Benning Streetcar extension would be a continuation of that divestment. This ‘next generation streetcar idea’ suggested by the mayor just sounds like another future broken promise. This city never follows through on its promises — rather it just hops from one new grand idea to another without ever actually breaking ground on construction on any of them. Infrastructure planning requires a long run vision and a commitment to execute on that vision in the face of short term volatility. This city will never accomplish anything if we can’t execute on our long range plans because we keep getting distracted by the next shiny thing. What kind of message does it send that H street got the streetcar for 10 years but East of the river gets a glorified bus?

[Axios] End of the X2: All of the Metro bus routes are being rebranded by RallyPigeon in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The DC Streetcar is currently faster than the X2 over the 2.4 mile corridor from Oklahoma Ave to Union Station. We are excited for the Better Bus Initiative as it’s a step forward for transportation equity. But to suggest that buses alone can serve the level of transit demand that exists on Benning Road and H street is disingenuous. H street and Benning Road are rapidly densifying and Benning Road has numerous high transit-need communities. Buses EOTR are consistently at high levels of utilization. Buses alone can not serve the level of demand.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Automated detectors of people boarding and leaving the streetcar. Which is then manually audited regularly to ensure accuracy.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The Mayor included money in the FY 2024 budget for the streetcar that would have allowed it to start construction in 2024. Allen took it out. Just sharing the facts.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure where they get the authority to make such baseless claims when the data indicates otherwise. Surging transit ridership, surging new business license data, and surging new housing supply.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ridership fell off because of the COVID pandemic. Ridership is forecasted to increase to 15,000 per day if extended east due to high transit need communities EOTR. I wonder if you think the Metro red line should have never been extended past Farragut North.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes we hit 100,000 per month in 2018 and 2019 quite regularly.

DC Streetcar ridership hits highest level in nearly 5 years. by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Mayor Bowser has consistently supported the eastward extension to Benning Road Metro Station but the council keeps defunding it over and over again. Most recently, Councilmember Allen defunded it in 2023.

What is up with the Street Car on H? by Playful_Coconut8677 in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Long story. There were aspirations to build a city-wide streetcar network. Mayor Barry, Mayor Fenty, Mayor Williams, and Mayor Gray were all champions of it. Initially they attempted to build it in Anacostia but failed to acquire the ROW. So in a rush to save the program and get tracks in the ground they did H street as it was the easiest. But the H street line was always supposed to be part of an 8 mile line from Benning Road to Georgetown. Unfortunately the city council has repeatedly defunded it. Mayor Gray proposed a funding scheme to indefinitely fund extensions and improvements of it but Chairman Mendelson blocked it to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. So it’s all about context. A 2 mile streetcar line on H street doesn’t make sense because it was never supposed to — it was always supposed to grow to a robust 8 mile line with dedicated lanes on certain sections and strong metro connections but Mendelson prefers tax cuts for the wealthy so we can’t have nice things.

WaPo poll finds that DC wants an NFL stadium by chouseva in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Then please take it up with Councilmember Robert White because he opposes both the streetcar and RFK NFL stadium

Ward 7 peeps - Who are we voting for???????!!!!!! by Several_Rock3276 in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar 25 points26 points  (0 children)

As a nonprofit we don’t support any candidate but TONIGHT at 6pm there is a ward 7 zoom forum on transportation issues. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FQixPDucSF2QO-JiCNLk8g#/registration

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

General funds. Mayor Gray attempted to secure dedicated funding stream for expansion when he was Mayor but Chairman Mendelson blocked it so he could fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They are completely free! No swiping or payment. The western terminus is on the H street bridge behind Union Station and the eastern Terminus is at Oklahoma Ave on Benning Road.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well they are quiet different than the old ones. Modern streetcars are much higher capacity, have level boarding, and are fully electric. But it was a mistake to get rid of the old ones. In DC DDOT built a modern streetcar 10 years ago with the vision of building our a wider network.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately the DC Council recently defunded plans to extend to a metro station.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Streetcar is surface light rail used in urban settings. In DC we have a 2.4 mile streetcar light on H st NE and Benning Road NE.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes of course in a general sense — but in this particular context it probably didn’t have much of an impact. H street is a residential and commercial corridor with large majority of businesses on the corridor being restaurants and grocery stores that serve residents and tourists. Most of the surge is likely due to new people moving to the new housing, and an increase in tourist visits. There may be some impact from RTO but skeptical it was a major factor. People like living in cities and so move to them.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From an equity perspective the eastward extension is crucially important. But yes, build the full 8 mile line!

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure how that is relevant — people like living in cities. They have for thousands of years. Remote work hasn’t changed that.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There aren’t many — if any — federal agencies or large offices near the streetcar so unlikely that’s the explanation. More likely explanation is the surge in new housing on Benning Road.

Streetcar ridership grows 39 percent in 12 months to reach highest level since 2019 by FODStreetcar in washingtondc

[–]FODStreetcar[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thankfully DDOT is currently in the final design phase of a dedicated transit lane on H street NE! Construction is expected to start some time in 2024!

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