Maryland drivers probably ruined it for everyone /s.

But it makes sense that's more the norm than the exception in one of the smallest, densest counties nationwide.

Either something the legislature came up with out of thin air, or maybe it was crafted with a slightly more logistical view. Can't say for sure, but it has been 3.5 years since this was enacted and MoCo has 80 buildings that are not compliant yet. However, not only do you have to think about the time it takes to retrofit but you also have to consider that all these sprinkler companies certified to work in Maryland are also tasked with new construction projects of all building types, not just high-rise residential.

Then include Baltimore and other cities that have these buildings that will have to meet the same guidelines, and add on additional time for permitting and processing paperwork. Once you factor all of that in, it's really not that difficult to see why the legislature put a deadline that was so far out. But they ran out of time before a major fire happened.

The National Fire Sprinklers Association had this article about retrofitting that talked about a project from nearly a decade ago in Philadelphia. While the residents of that property weren't inconvenienced much during the process, it still took nearly a year to complete. And that's just one building.

I'm on board with this, however I view it as a service issue and not really a fare issue. If you're going to run weekend service, then charge weekend rates. Full stop.

But you would have to do something about Fourth of July. I point this out because think about the crowds coming and going to the National Mall and how you have to pay for staff, operators and MTPD to handle that demand. I guess they could try splitting it up so the morning was weekend rates and afternoon was full fare, but the simplest/easiest thing to do would be normal fares for that day.

>You lose out on spurious connections because the other people are hybrid on different days.

This. This so much! What good is it for me to be in the office if the people that I would need or want to work with in-person aren't there on my dedicated day? Why go if just to attend virtual meetings?

Also doesn't help that a lot of spaces aren't designed well to foster the collaboration one might want on a hybrid schedule. No, I don't want an entirely open office floor plan, but the cubicle farm isn't any better in 2023.

If Metro is taking too long to get you from Ballston to Pentagon/Pentagon City, check your preferred maps/GPS for the ART 42 bus times.

If Metro is running on-time, there's probably not much in the way of time saving. But if they're delayed or doing track work it's a convenient alternative.

The Purple Line is still years (like half a decade at this point?) away from completion.

>That actually has major real-life consequences.

Just playing devil's advocate here, but if you don't view this as having real-life consequences then why waste taxpayer dollars trying to stop this under the guise of antitrust?

I’m surprised Fairfax Connector or Loudoun County Transit hasn’t jumped on operating an express bus. Didn’t Fairfax Connector run the bus from Wiehle-Reston East to Dulles anyway?

That place in West Virginia where you can’t even have Wi-Fi.

Wish the little light up flashy signs had red lights instead of yellow.

For souvenirs, take a look at White House Gifts. Might be on the pricier side compared to other souvenir stores but from what I remember (pre-pandemic) they had the best selection compared to the other few stores I visited.

I also really like the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Gift Shop.

Cycling through a group of Honor Flight veterans, no less? Asshole.

If we can't do fare free (which I see a nightmare trying to get the state legislatures to fund that) or flat fares regardless of distance, I think a zone-based system is the next best alternative. Just not necessarily the ones showcased yesterday. I think five zones is still convoluted since you're trying to make it easier for not just residents but also business travelers and tourists to understand.

The more that I look at the three-zone plan the more that I like it with probably a few minor tweaks. (For example, I think King Street Station in Alexandria and East Falls Church should be in zone two with everything beyond those -- at least on Blue and Silver lines -- in zone 3 since they are transfer stations. I don't like the stops at Arlington Cemetery and Pentagon being zone 1 since if you were coming from Rosslyn you'd have to cross zone 1 just to get to office spaces at Crystal City in zone 2.)

I wish we could be having a different discussion about the Silver Line. Not that it's not open, not about express service, but rather just how long the entire line is from Ashburn to Largo. Wouldn't splitting that and only running Silver service into downtown D.C. be more efficient as far as train timing than a Silver Line Express? But I guess outside of Stadium-Armory there's not really another track to turn a train around on that corridor.

There have definitely been some pains throughout the past year(s), but I do appreciate Metro displaying these different ideas on how things could function in the future.

Why do all of the newly-constructed Silver Line stations have center platforms whereas this new infill station will have platforms on the sides of the tracks?

It beats the alternative of saying they're behind schedule for the rescheduled continuation of service south of DCA.