Does “Induced Demand” Also Apply to Subway Capacity?
by Judd WileyAugust 8th, 2008, 5:23 pm
One of our readers, Eric W, brought up a very interesting point the other day. We hear a lot about the "induced demand" hypothesis - If you expand road capacity, more people will use these roads, which will become more congested. This ... more
Posted in Highways, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Subways | 9 Comments »
DC Metro Purple Line Extension – Opposed by Country Clubbers
by Lewis DerkinsJuly 14th, 2008, 7:28 pm
Yesterday, The Washington Post reported that the Alliance for Smart Transportation opposes the construction of Metro’s Purple Line extension in suburban Maryland. According to Maryland state officials, the Purple Line extension is intended to: run primarily above ground [and] connect Maryland's ends ... more
Posted in Bus-Only Lanes, Light Rail, Mass Transit, NIMBY, Politics, Traffic Congestion | 2 Comments »
Washington DC Streetcar Proposal
by Lewis DerkinsJuly 8th, 2008, 9:52 pm
Today on the Metro, I was reading my copy of the Washington Post Express when the following quote jumped out at me: “getting streetcars…is the single most important issue in DC transportation planning, so we’re writing to Councilman [Graham] for answers.” This ... more
Posted in Bicycle Lanes, Bridges, Highways, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Politics, Spending, Subways | 10 Comments »
Metro Customer Service - Beyond Terrible
by Lewis DerkinsJune 28th, 2008, 12:56 am
Today, I saw something gut-wrenchingly terrible on Metro. Occasionally I see a blind man in my Metro station when I head home from work. We take the same train, and it always strikes me how difficult something as simple as riding ... more
Posted in Government Workers, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Subways | No Comments »
Subway Sex Sting
by Lewis DerkinsJune 26th, 2008, 10:25 pm
Of all the abysmal service I have personally witnessed, and the horrible stories I have read about Metro, this has to be the worst. A station manager and custodian were just arrested on prostitution charges. Apparently, they ran their little “business” ... more
Posted in Government Workers, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Subways | 3 Comments »
The Curious Case of Kansas City Mass Transit
by Lewis DerkinsJune 25th, 2008, 7:27 pm
Today, I got a comment on one of my posts about Midwestern bus ridership. I knew bus systems were getting hammered by rising gas prices, but I decided to go see what was new in this area since I hadn’t ... more
Posted in Buses, Government Workers, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Politics, Spending, Tax Increases | No Comments »
DC Metro’s Problems With Aging
by Lewis DerkinsJune 14th, 2008, 3:10 pm
Today, the Washington Post carries more of Metro’s whiny excuses for poor performance. For those readers who don’t live in DC, Metro has second largest and second busiest rail transit system in the country and transports nearly one third ... more
Posted in Government Workers, Light Rail, Subways | No Comments »
Rwanda Trip Review: Does Rwanda’s Transportation Infrastructure Stomp Us?
by Lewis DerkinsJune 14th, 2008, 2:10 pm
At last, I’m back from Rwanda. I had a very enjoyable trip, but it’s good to be home. The Rwandans were very hospitable and friendly, and they have a beautiful country. As most of you know, I spent some time ... more
Posted in Airports, Highways, Light Rail, Railroads, Spending, Third World Hellholes, Traffic Accidents, Traffic Congestion | 3 Comments »
Colorado CDOT to Expand I-70 - Decides Constitutional Rights Not Important
by Lewis DerkinsMay 30th, 2008, 6:17 pm
I just beat up on Colorado yesterday, but I’m going to have to do it again today. A Colorado Department of Transportation sponsored panel made a recommendation today to expand I-70 and build commuter rail to help alleviate congestion between ... more
Posted in Government Workers, Highways, Light Rail, Politics | No Comments »
Chicago Subway Wreck – Never Fear, the Moron Patrol is Here!
by Lewis DerkinsMay 28th, 2008, 5:05 pm
Judd! This just in! The Chicago Transit Authority’s superhero waste squad is speeding to the scene of this crash right now to help alleviate the suffering. HoDar and L.E. Jack are Taking the Red and L trains right now. Hopefully the ... more
Posted in Light Rail, Mass Transit, Subways | No Comments »
Why the Automobile Will Never Die – Part II
by Lewis DerkinsMay 27th, 2008, 5:31 pm
Today began on a sour note for me. I catch the same Metro in Virginia every morning, but this morning, as I walked into the station three minutes before the scheduled arrival time of my usual train, I listened as it ... more
Posted in Highways, Light Rail, Mass Transit | 7 Comments »
Broken: DC Metro Smart Cards, Escalators
by Lewis DerkinsMay 13th, 2008, 11:30 am
Today, I noticed my SmarTrip card was running low as I exited the Metro. Not wanting to find myself in the unfortunate situation where I try to put more money on later this afternoon after work, but the machine doesn’t ... more
Posted in Government Workers, Light Rail, Subways | No Comments »
NY Subway Ridership Skyrockets, City Unprepared
by Judd WileyMay 5th, 2008, 4:44 pm
New York commuters are switching from cars to subways/light rail at a rapid clip, according to the NY Post. In March, 4.8% fewer drivers (roughly 15,000 per day) took Port Authority's six crossings between New York and New Jersey, compared with ... more
Posted in Bridges, Gas Prices, Light Rail, Mass Transit, Subways, Tolls, Tunnels | 4 Comments »
