Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Washington DC

The Power of Transit-Oriented Development

By Ryan Avent | Aug 26, 2009 | 7 Comments

Back in the late 1970s, when Washington’s Metrorail system first began operating in Arlington County, Virginia, the future of Arlington and other old, inner suburbs was far from certain. Across the Potomac, the District of Columbia was suffering from depopulation, rapidly rising crime rates, and serious fiscal difficulties. Ballston Metro station, Arlington Co. Photo: Point […]

Understanding Washington’s Metro Crash

By Ryan Avent | Jul 15, 2009 | No Comments

The scene of the June 22 Washington D.C. Metro crash. Photo: AP The House of Representatives subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia convened yesterday afternoon to hear testimony related to the tragic Washington Metro accident of June 22. The proceedings got off to an appropriately somber start, as California […]

Streetfilms: D.C. DOT Director Talks “Transportation Freedom”

By Clarence Eckerson Jr. | Jul 2, 2009 | 4 Comments

Meet Gabe Klein, who was appointed to direct Washington D.C.’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) in December 2008. With a background including four years working for Zipcar, Klein was brought in to look at the city’s mobility problems from a fresh perspective. As he says: Cars are a part of our daily life here in D.C., […]

The Wall Street Tax Shelter That Crashed Your Local Transit Agency

By Elana Schor | Jun 26, 2009 | 9 Comments

The scene of Monday’s Metro crash in D.C., where the local transit agency still has 15 outstanding "SILO" tax deals. (Photo: AP) The D.C. Metro accident that killed nine riders this week has renewed calls for rail safety upgrades and reminders that car travel remains far riskier than transit. But the crash is also shedding […]

What Inauguration Day Means for DC Streets

By Ben Fried | Jan 20, 2009 | 7 Comments

Inauguration parade rehearsal. Photo: Travir/Flickr As many as four million people are expected to descend on the National Mall today for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th President. Contending with that mass of humanity has left officials with no choice but to implement temporary policies to get people in and out of […]

Sprawlsville Steps Back From the Edge

By Ben Fried | Dec 12, 2008 | 7 Comments

A section of Tysons Corner slated for infill development. Image: Fairfax County/PB PlaceMaking [PDF] Last week the Federal Transit Administration finally approved the Silver Line, a long-awaited addition to the capital region’s transit system that will extend to suburbs in northern Virginia. There are still a few hoops to jump through to secure the necessary […]

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