14th Steet Changes Feedback/Suggestions

"Since a network approach was taken to address the location changes, the current 14th/Constitution location could not be preserved. 15th street is the main slugging corridor, therefore, maintaining connectivity with other slug line destinations along the corridor is the main reason for the change."

This really doesn't make any sense, unless the argument is that it would be unfair to allow slugs to continue to use 14th Street at Constitution while all other 14th Street slugs were being moved to 15th Street. And even that would be an extremely weak argument. Slugs forced to move might be jealous if others could remain on 14th Street, but then again they might admire DC's implicit admission that there was no good reason for targeting that location. I still think in the absence of credible evidence that there was no good reason for targeting any of the existing locations.

There is no rationale to using "a network approach," and "maintaining connectivity" only makes sense if drivers pick up from more than one location during a single trip home, which I don't think is a common practice.

No matter what the report states, the intention of DDOT from the beginning was to move ALL slugging pick-up locations off of 14th street. I do feel for those who have to walk the extra 2 blocks to get to the replacement stop for the commerce building (I will probably switch to the 15th and NY stop now). For drivers, I hope this detour may end up being quicker than dealing with traffic on 14th.

In the end, the only way DDOT can move the slug lines is if the slugging community buys in... I just hope that it doesn't come down to police officers ticketing every driver that stops to pick up slugs at the old locations.

Forgive me if this was mentioned and I missed it, but if I understand this right, the bus stops are not moving? If that's the case, the only one benefitting from these moves is PRTC. Many people take whatever comes first, and often can't afford to wait and take a chance on getting a ride. So more people will be riding the bus, many of which are already overcrowded.

DDOT needs to investigate the buses before messing with the slug system. Since so many of them lately are sitting, for whatever reason, for more than 5 minutes (at least they do at 14th & D) after picking up riders, waiting 20 seconds for a car to load up and pull off isn't going to disrupt their schedule, so there's absolutely no need for them to be stopping in the middle lane or pulling half into the curb lane and blocking both lanes.

On top of that, the no parking zone during rush hour apparently only applies to cars, because trucks are always sitting in the curb lane across from the Reagan Building, and the police don't do anything about them. Cars that stop for half a minute is a huge issue, but large trucks parked for an hour or more...no big deal.

Yesterday I went to the 15th Street location to pick riders up at about 4:45pm. I usually go to Horner Road but no one was in that line so I moved down to the Hechinger line - only one person in line. I put my hazards on to wait for another rider. Maybe one minute later a police car is behind me flashing his lights telling me to move. I thought that one reason behind moving the 14th Street line to 15th Street was so that the cars could wait for riders. I had to do the big circle back around 14th, Vermont, H and back to 15th Street. By the time I arrived back to where the lines form, three cars were waiting for riders - no riders for any location. What gives? Can we wait for riders and where are all the riders these days?

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Originally posted by luv2slugg

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Originally posted by Admin

Please provide feedback and/or suggestions on the changes to the 14th and NY slug line being moved to 15th and NY street.

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Drivers have mentioned that it's difficult to get to the new location especially with H St. being one-way in the opposite direction, leaving them to weave their way around I and 16th Sts. Many now just continue on 14th to the Commerce Building. I have walked to Commerce -- the rides are plentiful!

ForeverrSlugggerr

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The rides have been plentiful... but where are the riders? Slim pick'ns these days.