Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project
I tire of it [the bridge] causing backups and delays, especially since the construction to fix that problem is currently making the problem worse.
Where is affordable, useful mass-transit? I live 5 miles from work and it takes me at least half an hour to get there these days (for awhile I was doing better at about 20 minutes) and it could easily be getting worse (everyone thank the project again). I’d love to take the bus or metro if it we [DC metro area] did mass-transit right. Of course, we don’t. The actual metro (subway for thsoe not from around here) is far more expensive to take for me than the drive. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all.
Here are the problems as I see ‘em:
- Public Transit Capacity
The system doesn’t have the physical capacity to carry enough people to make a dent in the car-based commute.
- Cost
Because the capacity doesn’t exist, prices are high. This does two things: 1) discourage users (thus staying within capacity) and 2) helping to defray the cost some due to having too few users.
- Parking
Or the "pre-commute" commute. Let’s face it, commuting to get to the train presents many of the same problems, just at outlying way-stations.
So how would I fix it? I’d make it cost-effective for the city/district to run effecient mass-transit PLUS I’d make it cost-effective for the commuters and convenient. "Ok," I hear you say, "but how?"
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure, but here are the things I’ve considered:
- Drastically decrease the reasons to drive to work or to the train (convenience and comfort are two of the big ones, I think) by increasing the number of buses and bus stops and the staff to keep them clean. Using the transit system cannot be a "miss one bus/train and you’re going to be late" type of affair and the walking distance to the bus must be modest.
- Partion the roads so that in multi-lane roads, one lane is reserved for buses (maybe only during rush hours?). Make the fines huge for being in them with a personal vehicle during any restricted hours.
- Pay for the additional buses and staff by reducing the road maintenance budget. With fewer individual cars using the roads all the time, the roads will last a lot longer and you won’t have to increase the road capacity.
- Increase the metro capacity and drastically reduce the price to use it. It must be cheaper than driving in to be effective. Again, I bet the cost for this could be made up through cuts to the road budgets. Roads get a LOT of money and it wouldn’t be needed if less people used them all day, every day.
- Only after the public transit capacity has been raised, apply "stop and think about it" sized tolls/fines/taxes to rush hour driving on major roads (such as the DC beltway and other major "arteries") in personal vehicles; offer discounts based on ride-sharing that increase with the number of people. It would be nice if it were non-linear, meaning that the discount for taking each extra person grows (so, like $10 for 1 passenger, $25 for 2, etc.). There’s no need to penalize cargo/freight vehicles or mass transit vehicles (e.g. buses) and some people are going to have to drive in no matter what changes are made, so try and convince them to share that ride.
If buses could be made comfortable for the people riding (cleanliness would be the #1 request, I think, followed by room), there were enough of them, and they made enough stops, then I think they could be a big help. As it is, if you take the bus you’re stuck with the same abysmal wait in traffic on a loud machine that may be dirty, crowded and noisey. Why would you want to take that?!
How about this, put wifi access on the buses so that business people can connect to the ‘net while commuting. Maybe bring back the trolley.
Anyway, just some rambling thoughts about the sucky nature of mass-transit.
