Pork-Barrel Spending on a New D.C. Metro Line Could Cost Democrats
Reader Comments
Mischaracterization
I think that you do your readers a disservice by characterizing the Purple Line as an experiment in "social engineering." As the Art of MD stated, a BRT would be required to use lanes on roads that are already congested with cross-county traffic between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties and would not be an attractive option to new Metro customers. Those who currently use personal vehicles to commute across these counties to work might be swayed by the efficient service that would be afforded by a rail connector line. A "swanky" bus that required commuters to sit in the same traffic they could endure in a private vehicle would convince few individuals to choose the more environmentally friendly option of mass transit.
I also find it odd that you support the Dulles expansion, which will also expand the burden on taxpayers, but fail to mention that there are bus routes that do currently serve this commuter corridor.
RE: Purple Line
As a commutter who lives in Silver Spring, a point I feel needs to be made is that the Roads that the proposed new busses would use, like the beltway, also come to a stop during the morning and evening rush hour.
As for improving the roads, that impossible, at least in downtown Silver Spring and Bethesday, namely because the only thing that can be done is to tear down existing office buildings to widen the roads.
Thoughts?
I disagree
I see your point regarding the rapid bus system. However, I think the purple line affords the DC metro area a wider long-term plan. As we see in metro areas like Atlanta, rail attracts development. The same was the case in DC, until the recent economic down-turn.
A solid, comprehensive metro network could finally provide some order and sense to what is otherwise a scattered area of urban development (think Tyson's Corner). I think we have to look at the long-term here. Furthermore, why is it such a poor idea to associate public transportation projects to urban renewal? That is one of its primary purposes, after all.
