This is National Work Zone Awareness Week for those who didn't get the memo. The National event kicked off right here in our own backyard with a ceremony near the Humpback Bridge Replacement Project site. If any of you have driven through there you know what a challenge and how dangerous that work is for motorists. That's one of the messages of this week's campaign: of the approximately 1,000 lives that are lost each year in work zone incidents, the majority are motorists and not the workers themselves. There is a positive and that is that the number of work zone fatalities and injuries has decreased in the ten years since the Awareness Week was first celebrated.
Congratulations to Gabe Klein who has been named Director of the District's Department of Transportation (DDOT) after serving in an "Acting" capacity for some time. Mr. Klein announced the other day that the District was joining most other jurisdictions around the country in doubling the fines for speeding and other traffic infractions in work zones.
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If you are a fan of trolleys or of history you might be happy to know that the National Capital Trolley Museum is getting ready to open once again. The Museum suffered a horrific fire many years ago and was moved to a temporary location while a permanent location was put together. A preview day is coming up soon. The museum is located at 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, MD. Their phone number is 301-384-6088 and their website address is www.dctrolley.org. It is a place that the whole family can enjoy.
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They have been given tax credits and they have been allowed to drive in the High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes without any passengers. Now there is another perk for those who own hybrid vehicles. Four bed and breakfasts up in Ithaca, New York are offering a free night's stay for hybrid owners. The owners of the B&Bs say they want to reward hybrid drivers for choosing an alternative vehicle while encouraging other motorists to travel green. Elan Shapiro, owner of Frog's Way at EcoVillage, one of the participating B&Bs says "By switching to hybrids, people are making a positive change in the world. A free night of lodging is a simple way for us to say thanks, we share your vision."
No word on deals for owners of hydrogen or biodiesel vehicles.
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This has become a somewhat regular thing now although I am still not sure where all the calculations come from. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has released its latest Transit Savings Report that compared the monthly and annual costs of car ownership to the costs of taking public transportation. It takes the total cost of the national price of gas and the 2008 Colliers International Parking Rate Survey (that must be a mind-numbing job) of the cost of an unreserved monthly parking space which it places at $143. As of April 8 APTA's Report calculates the monthly savings for transit users at $723. The Washington area actually finishes 8th on the list which is topped by Boston and New York. The Report says that the monthly savings of those living in Washington who use transit is $809 with an annual savings of $9,703. In these tough economic times, when local radio stations are running reports about the cheapest toilet paper to buy, these can be life-altering savings.
Bridge photo: U.S. Dept. of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
Trolley photo: National Capital Trolley Museum
Steve Eldridge is a long-time reporter, observer and
commentator on the Washington region's transportation issues. You can
contact him directly by writing to: Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com.
Unless otherwise requested, letters or portions of letters can be used
within future columns. Letter writers will be identified by their first
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