The Growler conducted an interesting analysis yesterday.We've been told in the course of the Ad Hoc Transportation Task Force deliberations that bus rapid transit (BRT) works best in dedicated lanes.
If you remember, the original draft of the Braddock Road Metro Plan showed BRT with and without dedicated lanes. That graphic was later excised but it is reasonable to assume that the City would want to remove parking and dedicate lanes in order to avoid a huge impact on the already congested highway.
Well, the Growler counted up the potential loss of parking spaces to our neighborhood, where many residents have no off-street parking and the supply of spaces is already constrained. Since buses are built to allow passengers to alight and descend on the right side (as one looks straight ahead from inside the bus), the Growler checked the spaces on the west of N. Henry Street from the 200 to 900 blocks and the east side of N. Patrick Street from the 200 to the 800 block (where on-street parking ends).
And it looks like Parker-Gray and the Braddock Metro area stand to lose approximately 200 parking spaces if a lane of each street is dedicated to BRT.
Of course these numbers are subject to more formal validation, but the Growler invites pedestrians or dog walkers to take the walk and help refine the counts.
E-mail the Growler (link on the right) if you would like a copy of the spreadsheet with the block-by-block analysis.
2 comments:
Growler,
I have no doubt this analysis is spot on. Parking problems around the Metro seem to be increasing as people are starting to take guest spaces away from some of the developments there, especially during the day.
Also disconcerting is what happens to the Metro parking lot. Due to the chronic crime problems at Adkins, many people tend to drive over to the Metro at night, park there, and then use the Metro. Are they planning to add any parking on that site at all? I would figure with new residents coming, more people will forgo the insecurity of walking by Adkins and try to park at the Metro. There are by my count only about 18 spots total that people can use to park at night.
I also wonder about the impact of BRT on the adjoining streets. Won't the BRT force more cars (parked and driven) onto streets like Fayette, Alfred, and Columbus? Already, these streets are unbearable during rush hour due to the cut through commuters avoiding already congested Rt. 1 and Washington during rush hour. Even though the weather is gorgeous, we can't leave our windows open becasue the whole house smells like exhaust. Not to mention the noise. It's disgusting.
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