Comments on: In Praise of Lesser Lesser Lesser Washington http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/ Climate Change News & Analysis Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:41:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Alexander7http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61310 Alexander7 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:47:44 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61310 <strong><b><a href="http://www.trustedpillspot.com/?ml=buy-generic-LEVITRA buy@generic.LEVITRA" rel="nofollow">...</a></b></blockquote>...</strong>Need cheap generic LEVITRA?... ……

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]]> By: Marc Scribnerhttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61295 Marc Scribner Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:36:20 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61295 W2R,I'm glad you can read outdated and misleading Sourcewatch profiles. But I fail to see how oil company contributions, presumably ExxonMobil, CEI last received three years before I worked here for departments that I've never worked in somehow influences what I write. Those darn Koch Brothers must be behind it, right?Stephen,I do. If only they'd shut up about all the trivial anecdotal "evidence" that keeps them up at night and ditched their green-tinged pwoggy thinking, we'd be closer to being on the same page wrt transport and land-use.Will,Thanks for your comments. What can be done to improve AM/PM peak coordination? And isn't DDOT supposed to be in a process of optimizing their traffic signals? I recall hearing something like that earlier this year from a TRB meeting attendee. And wrt congestion pricing or tolling period in MD and NoVA, you're right. There remains bipartisan opposition to doing anything sensible with their roads. W2R,

I’m glad you can read outdated and misleading Sourcewatch profiles. But I fail to see how oil company contributions, presumably ExxonMobil, CEI last received three years before I worked here for departments that I’ve never worked in somehow influences what I write. Those darn Koch Brothers must be behind it, right?

Stephen,

I do. If only they’d shut up about all the trivial anecdotal “evidence” that keeps them up at night and ditched their green-tinged pwoggy thinking, we’d be closer to being on the same page wrt transport and land-use.

Will,

Thanks for your comments. What can be done to improve AM/PM peak coordination? And isn’t DDOT supposed to be in a process of optimizing their traffic signals? I recall hearing something like that earlier this year from a TRB meeting attendee. And wrt congestion pricing or tolling period in MD and NoVA, you’re right. There remains bipartisan opposition to doing anything sensible with their roads.

]]> By: Willhttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61288 Will Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:05:02 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61288 I happen to work in the signals arena at DDOT. Of course, people don't appreciate that most of our major corridors already are coordinated, which is why we could clear traffic as quickly as we did on 4th of July to cite one example. Usually the people asking for coordination forget that there are cross streets where people also want to have some green time, and there are pedestrians who need to cross those streets, timed at a rate of 3.5 feet per second. When people tell me I need to coordinate a corridor, it is universally the one they drive on, and they don't consider that there are demands on the cross streets to their route; it's classic windshield perspective every time. I'll admit that there are problem spots here and there that could be improved, but most involve genuine choices of policy and priority, and it's not a tech issue at all.In DC we have also made the decision to have most signals (traffic and ped) on a pre-timed system, rather than an actuated system (in-road sensors and push button cross walks). We get criticized on this as well, but it's a genuine policy choice that has various benefits and costs, which we've weighed over and over the past 40 years.The reality is we make decisions in the interest of safety every time, and in an environment with as many pedestrians as we have, safety means keeping the cars as close to 25 mph as we can and giving pedestrians adequate time to cross. "Speed kills" and "everyone is opportunistic" are about the only two rules you can count on in traffic engineering, and we make decisions accordingly.Per your comment on congestion pricing, that would work great, we all know it, but our dear neighbors in Maryland and Virginia would never stand for it, and they have votes in congress while we don't, so no one in my line of work believes its politically possible within the next few years. I happen to work in the signals arena at DDOT. Of course, people don’t appreciate that most of our major corridors already are coordinated, which is why we could clear traffic as quickly as we did on 4th of July to cite one example. Usually the people asking for coordination forget that there are cross streets where people also want to have some green time, and there are pedestrians who need to cross those streets, timed at a rate of 3.5 feet per second. When people tell me I need to coordinate a corridor, it is universally the one they drive on, and they don’t consider that there are demands on the cross streets to their route; it’s classic windshield perspective every time. I’ll admit that there are problem spots here and there that could be improved, but most involve genuine choices of policy and priority, and it’s not a tech issue at all.

In DC we have also made the decision to have most signals (traffic and ped) on a pre-timed system, rather than an actuated system (in-road sensors and push button cross walks). We get criticized on this as well, but it’s a genuine policy choice that has various benefits and costs, which we’ve weighed over and over the past 40 years.

The reality is we make decisions in the interest of safety every time, and in an environment with as many pedestrians as we have, safety means keeping the cars as close to 25 mph as we can and giving pedestrians adequate time to cross. “Speed kills” and “everyone is opportunistic” are about the only two rules you can count on in traffic engineering, and we make decisions accordingly.

Per your comment on congestion pricing, that would work great, we all know it, but our dear neighbors in Maryland and Virginia would never stand for it, and they have votes in congress while we don’t, so no one in my line of work believes its politically possible within the next few years.

]]> By: Stephen Smithhttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61285 Stephen Smith Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:11:44 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61285 Seems to me, Marc, like you actually have a fair amount in common with the urbanistas. You both support tolling existing highways and allowing developers to build their own property out more densely, and I seem to recall a recent GGW editorial against the suburban Metrorail expansions. Also, though you didn't mention it, I'm sure you agree with Tommy Wells' "performance parking" initiatives (i.e., pricing on-street parking as high as the market can bear). Seems to me, Marc, like you actually have a fair amount in common with the urbanistas. You both support tolling existing highways and allowing developers to build their own property out more densely, and I seem to recall a recent GGW editorial against the suburban Metrorail expansions. Also, though you didn’t mention it, I’m sure you agree with Tommy Wells’ “performance parking” initiatives (i.e., pricing on-street parking as high as the market can bear).

]]> By: Ward 2 Residenthttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61282 Ward 2 Resident Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:22:05 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61282 Ah, yes the old signal priority panacea. It's like Medicare fraud. If only we could just fix this one thing, then it would all be perfect! The reality is that there's congestion because there are too many cars. Changing signals would accomplish little except move the problem around. It's of course no surprise that a CEI hack cares more about burning as much fossil fuel as possible; those oil companies didn't pay CEI's bills for nothing! Ah, yes the old signal priority panacea. It’s like Medicare fraud. If only we could just fix this one thing, then it would all be perfect! The reality is that there’s congestion because there are too many cars. Changing signals would accomplish little except move the problem around. It’s of course no surprise that a CEI hack cares more about burning as much fossil fuel as possible; those oil companies didn’t pay CEI’s bills for nothing!

]]> By: Marc Scribnerhttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61280 Marc Scribner Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:46:05 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61280 Ronnie,No, I'm talking about a) tolling highways in the metro area, and b) upgrading traffic signals to reduce congestion in D.C.--Marc Ronnie,

No, I’m talking about a) tolling highways in the metro area, and b) upgrading traffic signals to reduce congestion in D.C.

–Marc

]]> By: Ronniehttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61278 Ronnie Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:46:52 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61278 Marc, "instituting variable tolling and modern traffic signal coordination, ending suburban rail expansions, etc."So is what you are saying is you want to crisscross DC with freeways so everyone with a car can live in PA and WV and get to work on time? Marc,
“instituting variable tolling and modern traffic signal coordination, ending suburban rail expansions, etc.”

So is what you are saying is you want to crisscross DC with freeways so everyone with a car can live in PA and WV and get to work on time?

]]> By: Marc Scribnerhttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61277 Marc Scribner Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:18:05 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61277 Steve,I do love throwing bombs, but as far as my suggestions go: prohibiting Complete Streets projects, allowing taller buildings, killing rent control, abolishing most or all of DCRA's functions, instituting variable tolling and modern traffic signal coordination, ending suburban rail expansions, etc.--Marc Steve,

I do love throwing bombs, but as far as my suggestions go: prohibiting Complete Streets projects, allowing taller buildings, killing rent control, abolishing most or all of DCRA’s functions, instituting variable tolling and modern traffic signal coordination, ending suburban rail expansions, etc.

–Marc

]]> By: Ward 7 residenthttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61276 Ward 7 resident Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:09:53 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61276 As an almost 10-year Ward 7 resident who is not in an upper income bracket, and who rides his bike because I can't afford to get my car fixed...what the hell are you talking about when it comes to bike lanes? We should be at the top of the list promoting this. You spend too much time listening to the old ladies who can't ride bikes and are afraid of change. Gentrification in my neighborhood means people moving in who aren't willing to put up with the bullshit and poor service. This benefits me and my neighbors who have been here for 40, 50, and 60 years. Places to shop, places to eat, and less worry about getting shot or stepping on a used needle is a good thing, trust me. As an almost 10-year Ward 7 resident who is not in an upper income bracket, and who rides his bike because I can’t afford to get my car fixed…what the hell are you talking about when it comes to bike lanes? We should be at the top of the list promoting this. You spend too much time listening to the old ladies who can’t ride bikes and are afraid of change.
Gentrification in my neighborhood means people moving in who aren’t willing to put up with the bullshit and poor service. This benefits me and my neighbors who have been here for 40, 50, and 60 years. Places to shop, places to eat, and less worry about getting shot or stepping on a used needle is a good thing, trust me.

]]> By: Stevehttp://www.globalwarming.org/2011/07/19/in-praise-of-lesser-lesser-lesser-washington/comment-page-1/#comment-61275 Steve Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:53:58 +0000 http://www.globalwarming.org/?p=10033#comment-61275 So Marc, how exactly should we enhance the mobility of DC residents? More lanes? New roads? Less walking? Less biking? What's possible and feasible? Enlighten us and provide a vision rather than constantly just tossing stones and telling us what you don't like, mate. So Marc, how exactly should we enhance the mobility of DC residents? More lanes? New roads? Less walking? Less biking? What’s possible and feasible? Enlighten us and provide a vision rather than constantly just tossing stones and telling us what you don’t like, mate.

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