Drivers Feeling Shunned by D.C. - City Less Welcoming to Suburban Cars

Washington Post | July 6, 2008 | Eric M. Weiss

[3AngelaD]

The District is escalating what some suburban commuters are calling its war against workers who drive into the city. The city has changed parts of Constitution Avenue NE from a reversible commuter artery back to a quiet side street and is considering removing the reversible lane on 16th Street NW, a key commuting route from Montgomery County...

The District is moving toward becoming "the most anti-car city in the country," said John Townsend, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "They see commuters as the enemy..."

"This is not about being anti-car, but increasing vehicles into the District is not a sustainable strategy for the city," said Emeka C. Moneme, director of the District Department of Transportation. "We want to encourage transit use, biking and walking..."

But some commuters contend that the District is striking back, trying to make life miserable for people who drive into the city because the courts and Congress have not allowed the city to levy a commuter tax... Moneme said the city will continue -- and increase -- the use of market pricing when it comes to allocating such scarce resources as on-street parking.

"Putting the real price of driving out there allows people to make better decisions," Moneme said..

The new parking meters, being installed across the city, are designed to encourage parking space turnover...around the new Nationals Park, for example, meters are programmed to charge up to $40 for four hours.... And the direction of city policy has near unanimous support among D.C. Council members....

U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) said the city should be careful not to chase people away. "D.C. could wind up as an island isolating themselves with these policies. Don't pray too hard for fear that all your prayers will be answered."

[3AngelaD]

How come the "government" of Washington, D.C. thinks it can close down a tunnel on the Interstate? And why do I suspect that Emeka C. Moneme was not born and raised in this country and is one of those people who fits my tagline to a T, and, by the way, has a job that some native-born Washington DC resident might have been qualified for, as well. "Better decisions," uh huh.

[theDentist]

Ummmm... what tagline?

[RexBeach]

The District government couldn’t scramble an egg. The city government is the center of more bad decisions that all other city governments in the country...save perhaps, Detroit, which like DC, is a third world nation.

[alarm rider]

Apparently, your tagline has been stolen.

Thanks for posting the article however, nothing the 3rd world government of DC does surprises me much.

[Don Corleone]

I have an idea. Lets make Government SMALLER! That would help with the traffic problem.

[3AngelaD]

This one. Sorry. I never noticed it doesn’t appear when you post.

[C210N]

The city has changed parts of Constitution Avenue NE...

Changed parts of the Constitution Avenue? Sounds like a metaphor for something...

[ViLaLuz]

“is not a sustainable strategy for the city”

The US government is in full compliance with UN directives. Wake up, citizens!

[3AngelaD]

See here...

[brushcop]

D.C. could wind up as an island isolating themselves with these policies. Don't pray too hard for fear that all your prayers will be answered."

Yes!! I say isolate the city and let them stew in their own grease. We were planning a trip to DC to see the sights, forget it, we'll drop our money elsewhere.

We'll just look at National Geographic pictures of DC that way, no hassle, no aggravation and possibly no fear of assault.

[Old North State]

In my humble opinion, one quick strike for sanity would be to move every cabinet department HQ to a different state, (not the same state a la Senator Byrd). Telecom makes it possible, the states would get a taste of government largess, and the toxic concentration of freeloaders in DC would be be reduced, something for everybody.

[Dems_R_Losers]

DC is a NIGHTMARE to drive into or out of now. The last time I drove in from Philly on a business trip it was horrible. Took me over an hour just to get out of downtown DC to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway when I left. I’m taking the train from now on. If that’s what DC is trying to do, it’s working.

[ken21]

d.c. has always had an elitist attitude to outsiders, be they neighboring marylanders and virginians, or people from across the united states.

i learned that when i worked in d.c.

for example, my boss would disparage any americans that came to the capitol to express their political views.

[freepertoo]

I’ve been driving into D.C. (work there) for almost 30 years. Due to high gas prices and the commuter nightmare, I have been taking a bus — not terribly convenient for me, since I live two hours away.

[alarm rider]

Well, actually you are OK as long as you stick to the “federal district”.

I would urge you to come see the monuments, the WWII, VN and Korean War Monuments are very much worth the trip. I am not a big Smithsonian fan, but many people are. The Spy Museum, and various other sights are interesting.

You can stay in Northern Virginia and take the Metro in to the city.

Most visitors never see the neighborhoods, nor would they want to see them as such.

[Malacoda]

I think most of the Fed would be more than happy to build a large wall around DC (like the one we ought to have at our damn borders!), and create checkpoints to keep the Great Unwashed out. Lord knows they have no real interest in hearing what we actually say — not being able to even SEE us would suit them better. They already live in a metaphorical bubble, protecting them from their constituents — why not make it a physical one, as well?