Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
1 day after talking to bloggers, Metro's Catoe announces resignation - William World News
Thursday, January 14, 2010
1 day after talking to bloggers, Metro's Catoe announces resignation
Catoe stepping down after three years at the helm - Not even 24 hours after he sat down with leading D.C. bloggers, including my former colleague Tom Bridge of We Love DC, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager John Catoe announced he would resign on April 2. The move signals the end of Catoe's rocky 3 years as WMATA head saw the nation's second largest subway system suffer its worst accident on June 22 (Red Line crash is worst Metro accident ever ), several employees killed on the job, a number of suicides on the tracks and worsening service. To blame Catoe, a D.C. native, for these incidents would be unfair, but he has not been able to reverse the trend. Catoe's career was more focused on buses than rails which may have hindered his time in charge. His quote about the safety problems becoming "an unhealthy distraction" is telling though. Safety problems are not what I call a "distraction." Ultimately though, the problems of an aging system and the economic crisis has been Metro's biggest problems.
As soon as I heard the news, I wondered if Dan Tangherlini would be a candidate to replace Catoe. In 2006, Tangherlini was interim general manager of Metro to great acclaim. He wanted the job permanently, but when the WMATA board wanted an extended search, Tangherlini took a job with the Adrian Fenty administration (Tangherlini leaving Metro to return to District government). I remember when Tangherlini left I told a few people that he might get another shot someday. I don't envy him if it is now though, the outlook for Metro is grim on just about all fronts.
Traffic reports used to originate from the Washington Monument - William World News
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Traffic reports used to originate from the Washington Monument
30 years of steering you home - WTOP The dean of D.C. traffic reporters Bob Marbourg celebrated his 30th anniversary as a traffic reporter yesterday. Congratulations to him, but the most interesting part of the story was that before he took the job, traffic reports used to come from a department of transportation employee stationed on top of the Washington Monument. That's pretty cool and just about impossible to imagine these days with traffic stretching up to 40 miles away from the monument now, but back that then it was pretty resourceful.
Back to Marbourg, what do you suppose the odds that he and morning traffic reporter Lisa Baden have a rivalry with each other?
I thought Northeast Pa. liked NY teams: GO YANKEES on I-81 variable message sign - William World News
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I thought Northeast Pa. liked NY teams: GO YANKEES on I-81 variable message sign
PennDOT: "Go Yankees" Sign Inappropriate for Interstate - WNEP A variable message sign along Interstate 81 near Pittson, Pa. (not far from the home of the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) said "GO YANKEES." The sign, typically used for traffic information, is owned by a contractor, Barletta Construction. I wonder if they are at all connected to Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta. Anyway, this supports my theory that Northeast Pennsylvania skews more towards New York teams like the Yankees and Giants than they do to Philadelphia teams. Of course, during my two years in Northeast Pennsylvania, the Yankees were just starting their most recent dynasty, so that may have made a difference.
VDOT can't spell 40th president's name - William World News
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
VDOT can't spell 40th president's name
Next Exit: Reagen Nat'l Airport - NBC Washington The Virginia Department of Transportation is replacing big green guide signs along Interstate 395 and made a big mistake, two actually. Now, far be it for me to knock somebody misspelling something, but VDOT put up "Reagen National Airport" instead of "Reagan National Airport." The airport was renamed by Congress in honor of President Rongald Reagan in the late 1990s, a decision fraught with irony.
Most Washingtonians, regardless of their feelings about the 40th president, still call it National. If anything, it is good way to determine how long someone has been in the area by what they call the airport.
As for the other mistake, the clearview typeface on the signs. I've mentioned before I don't like it and prefer the old highway gothic fonts.
Water taxi service to Nationals Park has begun - William World News
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Water taxi service to Nationals Park has begun
Nationals Navy? Water taxi offers river ride to games - WTOP At last water taxi/ferry service has begun to Nationals Park, the September after the venue opened.* Fans can get on the boat at Alexandria and head up the Potomac and Anacostia rivers for $20. I am looking forward to doing this sometime next season in good weather. Hopefully, it can grow into one of the great D.C. experiences.
*Reminds me of MASN going on Comcast on the same time-frame.
In which find a similiarity between New York and West Hazleton, Pa. - William World News
Monday, August 31, 2009
In which find a similiarity between New York and West Hazleton, Pa.
NEW YORK -- When I was student at Penn State Hazleton, many of us often passed an intersection that had a "WAIT FOR GREEN" sign next to a traffic light in West Hazleton. Obviously, this from the Redundant Department of Redundancy Department, so we we made fun of the borough of West Hazleton/PennDot for posting it. As much as I like New York, I have to poke fun at them now too.
Maybe next time, they'll post the more appropriate DELAYED GREEN sign and spare themselves my mockery.
No toll for cyclists on Ocean Drive bridges - William World News
Thursday, August 20, 2009
No toll for cyclists on Ocean Drive bridges
AVALON, N.J. -- In Cape May County, a series of roads connecting the barrier islands all the way to Atlantic City are known as Ocean Drive (Wikipedia). The "Follow the Gull" signs direct motorists to a thru route that avoids the mainland. The route has a number of drawbridges over inlets connecting the islands. There are tolls between the islands though, likely so that Ocean Drive won't be used as an free alternative to the Garden State Parkway, not too mention bridge upkeep.
When I started going to Seven Mile Island for extended stays again, I started making sure I had my bicycle with me. The first year, I decided to cross off the island, I asked the toll taker if I had to pay a toll. I was pleased to learn that I did not. It is a good thing too -- tolls are now $1.50 which is more expensive than the Parkway I believe. This year I wound up biking across the bridges between Stone Harbor and North Wildwood as well as the bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City. I also drove across those bridges in addition to the one between Sea Isle City and Ocean City when I went for a drive with my son to get us out of the house on cleaning day.
The project will expand six lanes to 12, between Exits 6 and 8A and will add two lanes to the 10 between 8A to Exit 9. Car and truck traffic will be separated, and the expansion is expected to ease one of the more crowded roadways in the region, currently used by an average of 680,000 drivers each day.
"On any given Friday that merge can back up 10 miles," said Gutierrez-Scaccetti, "On a holiday it can back up for 12."
Officials at the Turnpike Authority say the expansion is the most ambitious in the history of the 58-year-old highway. It is part of a larger, $7 billion capital plan announced earlier this year by Corzine that also includes a widening of the Garden State Parkway.
Basically, this extends the dual-dual lane configuration all the way to the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange (technically the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension). Left unsaid in the article is the realignment of Interstate 95 onto the far eastern end of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to meet the mainline NJ Turnpike at interchange 6. That project, which was mandated by Congress in 1982 after the Somerset Freeway was canceled between Trenton and Edison, will finally complete I-95. By the way, back when I was an underclassman in college, I exchanged a few emails with the lead project engineer on the Pennsylvania project and they are now just getting close to getting shovels in the ground. He acknowledged they were not thrilled about having to build this interchange because NJ didn't build 30 miles of I-95. I can see their point, but they should have built a direct connection there anyway.
Also, I have not confirmed, but suspect that a redesigned interchange 8 near Hightstown will mean a connection to NJ 133 instead of NJ 33.
New Shirlington Connector signage - William World News
Monday, July 06, 2009
New Shirlington Connector signage
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Signs were recently added to the new Shrlington Connector portion of the Four Mile Run Trail, but they could be better. For one thing nothing is signed as the Four Mile Run Trail which is silly because the Shirlington Connector makes the trail continuous. Eastbound cyclists leaving Shirlington for Glebe Road get pretty good signing, but those headed westbound still have some guess work. One highlight is the map at the end of the W&OD Trail, located about half a block across Shirlington Road from the Connector.
A similar map should be installed on the opposite side.
The group, TysonsTunnel.org, has been pushing for an underground route through the area. It is teaming up with the environmental group, Sierra Club, to file the suit.
A national watchdog group is expected to join the suit.
Scott A. Monett, president of TysonsTunnel and the vice chair of the Sierra Club's Great Falls group, won't name the watchdog group, but does say it's a "good governance group."
Again, too little too late. While I would have preferred an underground Metro line through Tysons Corner for long term cost and aesthetic concerns, I can live with an above ground one. The mobilization for making sure the Silver Line was a tunnel came years too late. This suit, if it does not get thrown out, will just add years to the construction and millions to the cost.
Silver Spring seems to do just fine with the Red Line elevated through it, so I think Tysons will too. Crystal City gets by with having an airport and at-grade railroad adjacent to it as well and nobody seems to mind.
Wilson Bridge Trail: State/city borders are 75% great - William World News
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wilson Bridge Trail: State/city borders are 75% great
OVER THE POTOMAC RIVER -- On my initial ride along the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail, I did not see anything marking the borders between Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland. On my second ride, I was pleased to see that some were there. The line seperating Maryland and D.C. is shown above. However, there is a problem with D.C. and Virginia:
Virginia is covered up by warning stripes! Oops. Obviously, this is not a high priority, but I would like to see it corrected. Virginia residents paid for it too, so we should get our state clearly represented.
I would also like to see the border painted on the walls too.
The Wilson Bridge trail is wonderful - William World News
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The Wilson Bridge trail is wonderful
LOOKING WEST -- Foreground: Pedestrian signal for the drawspan. Background: Overlook and Wilson Bridge Trail
OVER THE POTOMAC RIVER -- Last Saturday, the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge trail opened and on Monday, I bicycled on it for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed my it, the trail is a triumph for several reasons.
The trail, located on the northern bridge span (which actually carries I-95/495 SOUTH/WEST also known as the Capital Beltway's Outer Loop), is a comfortable 12 feet wide and enclosed by attractive fences on either side. The height of the fence on the river side is such that I can still see out, but not feel like it is too low. On the highway side, the fence is slightly lower, but reasonable. The grade of the trail, while steeper than the highway portion of the bridge on the Virginia approach, is barely noticeable. The pavement, concrete, is perfect, but that is too be expected.
By itself, the trail is great, but the inclusion of information signs about local history and ecology and landscaping on each shore make it more than a non-motorized transportation corridor -- it is a linear park. There are also three overlooks on the span that provide more information signs, some mounted binoculars/telescopes and benches and northern views of Alexandria and Washington D.C. The magnification on some of the telescopes are stunning, so much so that I if I lived along the Alexandria waterfront, I might keep the blinds closed.
On the Virginia side, the trail begins at the Washington Street deck which essentially a large overpass, that the Beltway travels under, with park like features. Additional trails to US 1 and the Mount Vernon Trail are adjacent connect here. Embedded compass-like wayfinders provide riders/walkers with guidance to these points.
On the Maryland side, the trail corkscrews on either side of the overpass spanning Capital Beltway (I-95/495). It looks steeper than it feels and is aesthetically pleasing. The overpass also includes a great deal of information about Prince George's County's early history as well as some ecological information. The trail diverts from the Beltway in direction of a trail to Oxon Hill Road and National Harbor. Upon entering the National Harbor property the pavement ends, something that will hopefully be rectified soon. There are unpaved trails all the way down to the completed National Harbor area that are annoying but were not a deal-breaker for me.
Even though it was a Monday, there were a fair amount of cyclists and pedestrians on the bridge. I chatted with a few, including a Park Police officer, about the project and the consensus was that this was an extremely well done project. There were lots of smiling cyclists on it. The only drawback seemed to be the lack of connections to other trails on the Maryland side, something that will have to be addressed by National Harbor and PG County. However, the biggest and hardest piece of the project is now complete and hopefully the connections will arrive soon. The stakeholders of the project, the Federal Highway Administration, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, the city of Alexandria and Prince George's County deserve a lot of praise for this latest and perhaps greatest addition to the area's trail network.
The bike trail on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is actually along the inner loop and not the outer loop. Thus you are looking at the City of Washington and not away from it.
# posted by Anonymous :
Monday, February 08, 2010 12:20:00 PM
Post a CommentGov. Rendell still pushing for tolls on I-80 in Pennsylvania - William World News
Friday, May 29, 2009
Gov. Rendell still pushing for tolls on I-80 in Pennsylvania
Rendell: Congress should remove restrictions on tolling of interstates - Post-Gazette There he goes again -- Gov. Ed Rendell wants Congress to give Pennsylvania and other states the ability to establish tolls along highways. Interstate 80 which runs through the northern half of the state has heavy out-of-state traffic. This leads to people with no familiarity of highway funding to believe that out-of-state drivers do not contribute to the roads maintenance costs. This is fiction of course, since American motorists are responsible for 90% of interstate highway funding that is collected primarily through a national sales tax on gasoline. State gas taxes tend to fund the other 10%. in short, all American drivers pay for interstate roads. Politicians, like Rendell and a previous recent governor, Tom Ridge, apparently do not understand this either. Both called for tolls on I-80. I have even created a label called I-80 so you can follow along.
American motorists and taxpayers have paid for I-80 for over fifty years. If Pennsylvania wants to toll the road or any other previously "free" interstate highway, they should have to reimburse the highway trust fund for all costs associated up until this point. If that happens, I have no problem with them putting tolls up. I'd laugh and call Pennsylvania "the toll booth state" too. It is worth noting too that Pennsylvania got more funding from the Federal Highway Trust Fund throughout the 1990s than any other state. Of course, much of it was sent to the Altoona area by Bud Shuster, who ruled the powerful infrastructure committee that allocated highway funds. Congress shouldn't give Pennsylvannia a free pass because they spent the money poorly. If Pennsylvania wants more highway funding, they ought to increase their statewide gas tax appropriately.
Garden State Parkway's Driscoll Bridge now 15 lanes - William World News
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Garden State Parkway's Driscoll Bridge now 15 lanes
Multi-year Driscoll Bridge project completed - Asbury Park Press How about this for a birthday present Brad? Your favorite bridge, the Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge, has just had its rebuilding completed. Instead of being a meager 12 lanes, it is now 15 (steep) lanes wide. Now the Garden State Parkway has the widest bridge in the nation.
Cheaper Northeast Corridor Amtrak this summer - William World News
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Cheaper Northeast Corridor Amtrak this summer
Amtrak cuts Northeast fares 25 percent for the summer - Bloomberg/The Inky This summer many one way fares to New York from D.C. will be $49. This is pretty good news, since I have been thinking of spending an afternoon up there to catch up with a few people. This is also good news for people trying to take a daytrip to catch a ballgame, like we did last year.
By the way, the construction of the northern end of i-99, a high speed interchange with I-80 (CDT) is encountering local resistance. It is not funded yet, so the resistance is not a big deal -- yet.
By the way, the i-99 shields on big green signs were not directly applied, they are on a green panel and look sloppy.
District will pay to keep Metro open for late Nats games - William World News
Thursday, April 23, 2009
District will pay to keep Metro open for late Nats games
In Change, City Will Cover Metro Fees for Late Night Games - The Post This morning, I wrote a post about the District's decision to stop paying Metro to keep the trains running after Nats games that go past regular closing time. I had it scheduled to go live at 10 a.m. However, the District reversed the decision:
In an about-face, a top District official says the city will cover the costs for Metro to extend its hours to accommodate ticket holders at Washington Nationals games that are rain-delayed or go late because of extra innings.
"We want people to have a wonderful time at the games and not be stranded on the way out," Deputy Mayor Neil O. Albert said today.
Albert's comments came after District transportation director Gabe Klein informed Metro officials in a letter last week that the city would no longer pay the late-service fee because of the city's budget difficulties. Team officials said they did not find out about the change in policy until Monday night, when a rain delay pushed the game past Metro's midnight closing.
Albert said the confusion about the city's payment of late-service fees was the result of "one part of the administration not communicating with another part of the administration."
This should not be too big a deal, given the 1-3 times a year this tends to happen. The front office ought to keep this in mind next time though, rookie pitcher or not.
On Monday, April 13, the regular season home opener for the Washington Nationals, Metro will start afternoon rush hour service at 1 p.m., a full two hours before the start of the baseball game. Metro expects to carry about 20,000 people to and from Nationals Park for the 3:05 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies. With the game expected to conclude between 6 and 7 p.m., Metro will be operating rush hour service on all rail lines to accommodate the crowds.
Metro reminds everyone attending Monday’s home opener to expect large crowds at the Navy Yard Metrorail station, and the two main transfer stations to the Green Line, Gallery Place-Chinatown and L'Enfant Plaza. Metro will have personnel and Transit Police at all three stations.
Following the game, Metro volunteers sporting Nationals gear will be at the Navy Yard Metrorail station to remind patrons to check their SmarTrip card or farecard to ensure they have enough money to enter or exit the Metrorail system.
THe ride home could be a little hairy, maybe I can bum a ride off of someone back to Pentagon City where I am going to park.
"To do it right, we ought to start it at the King Street station, go all the way up King Street through Alexandria, go through Bailey's Crossroads, pick up the light rail passengers at Columbia Pike so that you would tie into the light rail system that Arlington County is proposing, and then extend this system through Bailey's, through Seven Corners and connect it to the Metro system at Tysons Corner.
Sure, why not? I have a feeling this won't go anywhere, but if it had its own right-of-way like Moran wants, it would work. The thing is where is the money and oh yeah, some folks in Alexandria might not want it encroaching on their property along King Street.
Some I-66 widening in Arlington now funded - William World News
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Some I-66 widening in Arlington now funded
Funding Passed for Widening Of I-66 - The Post One part of the I-66 widening inside the Capital Beltway (I-495) has been approved -- extending the on-ramp from Fairfax Drive along the westbound lanes all the way to EXIT 69 Sycamore Street.
The move reversed a decision by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board last month to strip the $75 million project from the region's transportation plan. Yesterday, the swing votes were cast by two Fairfax County supervisors, Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) and Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence), who last month had voted against the project.
In exchange, the Virginia Department of Transportation assured the board that no further funding for the I-66 project beyond the first phase would be committed until several studies are completed. But, as some board members pointed out, that is not much of a concession, because the state does not have money to fund the other two phases of the project anyway.
They might as well not do anything until they extend that lane all the way to EXIT 67 Dulles Access/Toll Road. As for the transit alternatives that some Arlingtonians want there is one coming -- the Silver Line. When I lived in Pentagon City, I have happily have taken Metro to Tysons everyday instead of driving.
Arlington funding initial planning of Columbia Pike streetcars - William World News
Arlington funding initial planning of Columbia Pike streetcars
Streetcars and desire in Arlington - WTOP Arlington County will spend $3 million over "two years to to look at ways to fund, construct, operate and maintain a streetcar system" along Columbia Pike (VA 244). Initially, I was skeptical of streetcars on Columbia Pike, but after going to a workshop about two years ago, I have come around on them. They certainly have more cachet than buses too.
Currently, Columbia Pike is the busiest bike corridor in the Commonwealth. Hopefully, this does get built and if/when it does, headline writers will have outgrown their need to invoke a certain Tennessee William's play/film every time the topic comes up.
How the Silver Line Metro is going to be built - William World News
Monday, March 16, 2009
How the Silver Line Metro is going to be built
Metrorail Heading In a New Direction - The Post Details of what the Silver Line construction through Tysons Corner is going to be like over the next several years. It won't be much fun, but the payoff is huge.
...the real action will start in a matter of days about 15 miles to the west, where demolition of roads and bridges and heavy construction of overhead piers will become an unwelcome fact of life during the next six years for commuters and residents of McLean, Tysons Corner, Vienna and beyond. The result, boosters say, will be worth it: a public transit system serving the region's primary international airport and Virginia's most prosperous jobs corridor.
Today's ceremony at the Transportation Department's headquarters near the Washington Navy Yard featured a roster of local, state and federal luminaries seeking to revel in -- and take credit for -- the project's success. Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and former senator John Warner (R-Va.) were among those attending.
Emphasis added by me. This is long overdue and much needed. The next few years in Tysons may not be fun to commute to and from but it is not like it is right now.
The second phase of the project from Whiele Ave. to Ashburn still has some hurdles to clear.
Project Web site: Dulles Metrorail Project I like the headline and the tone of this blog post which includes the backstory of the last year -- make sure you read it.
Catoe stepping down after three years at the helm - 
Metro, WMATA,Mass Transit, John Catoe, Dan Tangherlini
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