Category Archives: transit

>Streetcar on the “Honor System”

Posted on September 29, 2009 by perkinsms

> Like most other rail street transit systems in the world, the DC streetcar should be on the honor system.  This system requires passengers riding the streetcar to have proof that their current ride is paid for, but does not … Continue reading →

Posted in dc, efficiency, fares, passes, smartrip, streetcar, transit, WMATA | Leave a comment

>Infosnack and Greater Greater Washington Mentioned in the Post

Posted on September 27, 2009 by perkinsms

>I was mentioned in the Washington Post. Woot. Probably because Unsuck DC Metro mentioned me or perhaps Lena Sun of the Post has my business card after I talked to her at a WMATA board meeting, before I was writing … Continue reading →

Posted in journalism, meta, transit, WMATA | Leave a comment

>Board to Catoe: Cut service to balance the budget

Posted on September 23, 2009 by perkinsms

> According to this draft resolution, the Board will consider providing the following guidance to GM Catoe for preparing the FY 2011 budget, which starts next July: Assume that jurisdiction subsidies will not likely increase Assume a fare increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in budget, bus, dc, economics, fares, fiscal, government, spending, transit, WMATA | Leave a comment

>Metro Budget Possibilities

Posted on September 14, 2009 by perkinsms

> Metro’s 2011 budget starts out about $100M in the red from a preliminary analysis, but the General Manager has to submit a balanced budget to the Board by December. Here’s some things he could consider: Revenues: A fare increase … Continue reading →

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>Preliminary Metro Budget Forecast

Posted on September 11, 2009 by perkinsms

> As reported in the Washington Post, Metro’s staff released a report for the Board’s Finance Administration and Oversight committee meeting this Thursday.  Next year will certainly be a challenging year for Metro.  According to the report, even after an … Continue reading →

Posted in budget, fares, transit, WMATA | Leave a comment

>Metro Customer Service Complaints

Posted on September 11, 2009 by perkinsms

> At a meeting of a Metro board planning committee (audio), on Thursday Metro staff presented the results of the track maintenance this past Labor Day weekend. According to the staff member giving the report, the track repair was completed … Continue reading →

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>Fairfax conducts economics experiment

Posted on August 31, 2009 by perkinsms

> As part of the current fiscal years’ budget balancing measures, Fairfax County raised the price of express bus routes 380, 595 and 597 from $3.00 each way to $7.00 each way.  Their exact reasoning was not publicly stated, though … Continue reading →

Posted in bus, economics, fairfax, transit | Leave a comment

>Metro trip planner problems

Posted on August 26, 2009 by perkinsms

> Other than wanting to find out if they could be paid, the other reason Metro said they were not working on partnering with Google for their transit mapping service was the quality and availability of Metro’s own trip planner. … Continue reading →

Posted in bus, google, GTFS, transit, WMATA | 1 Comment

>What’s left for WMATA and Google Transit?

Posted on July 20, 2009 by perkinsms

> The Washington Post reported back in March that Metro had finally decided to release its transit schedule and routing information using the open Google Transit Feed Specification format. But a little while ago, I tweeted that WMATA and MBTA … Continue reading →

Posted in bus, dc, google, government, GTFS, transit, WMATA | Leave a comment

>Performance Parking is the most important transportation upgrade

Posted on July 16, 2009 by perkinsms

> Of all the transportation priorities DDOT has on its plate a full redesign of the District’s on-street parking environment using Performance Parking principles should be at the top. Performance parking is the only transportation upgrade that is self-financing in … Continue reading →

Posted in bus, cars, cycling, dc, economics, environment, government, parking, shoup, street, transit | Leave a comment