Washington Post Article on 15th Changes

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   Washington Post Article on the 15th Street changes. Title is: Slug ride-sharing lines to move to New York Avenue

	Here is the URL:

	http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022603190.html

	By Kafia A. Hosh

	Washington Post Staff Writer 

	Saturday, February 26, 2011; 9:44 PM 

	The sluggers have spoken - again. 

	Beginning Monday, slug ride-sharing lines on 15th Street NW in the District will relocate for the second time in recent months because of commuter complaints that the site was too crowded and difficult to access. 

	Commuters gave input at a public meeting that the District Department of Transportation held in October. At the meeting, it was determined that the slug lines on 15th Street between H Street and New York Avenue limited the number of vehicles that could pick up sluggers because H Street is one-way, said John Lisle, a spokesman for the department. 

	"We got some great feedback from them about the location changes," Lisle said. "They actually suggested: 'What about here? Can you do it on New York Avenue instead of 15th?' " 

	The slug lines will move to a new location on New York Avenue, between 14th and 15th streets. 

	Passengers can be picked up between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the new location, and transportation officials will be on site Monday to provide commuters with assistance. 

	The 15th Street spot was selected last year as a pilot location after the transportation department asked commuters for input on a new slugging spot. At the time, it was considered a preferred location compared with the busy 14th Street corridor, where some drivers were being ticketed for blocking rush-hour lanes. 

	But as it turned out, 15th Street had issues, too, because "it was kind of tight, and for the drivers to get over there was kind of a problem," said Dave LeBlanc, who runs the Web site www.slug-lines.com. "It really just wasn't a very good location from the start." 

	The New York Avenue site provides access directly off 14th Street and is easier to get to from other parts of the city. It is more spacious, too, with wider sidewalks for slug lines to form, LeBlanc said. 

	Stops for the Omniride bus routes, operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission , will also move Monday from 14th Street and New York Avenue to 15th Street and New York Avenue, where buses will be closer to the new slug-line location. 

	Omniride is another commuting option for sluggers, so it was critical to have the bus stops nearby, said Christine Rodrigo, a spokeswoman for the bus system. 

	"We have people who will slug in the mornings [and] will ride the bus home," Rodrigo said. "They need to be starting and ending in the same location." 

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Admin Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Admin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Washington Post Article on 15th Changes Posted: 28 Feb 2011 at 9:52am
	Washington Post Article on the 15th Street changes. Title is: Slug ride-sharing lines to move to New York Avenue Here is the URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022603190.html By Kafia A. Hosh Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, February 26, 2011; 9:44 PM The sluggers have spoken - again. Beginning Monday, slug ride-sharing lines on 15th Street NW in the District will relocate for the second time in recent months because of commuter complaints that the site was too crowded and difficult to access. Commuters gave input at a public meeting that the District Department of Transportation held in October. At the meeting, it was determined that the slug lines on 15th Street between H Street and New York Avenue limited the number of vehicles that could pick up sluggers because H Street is one-way, said John Lisle, a spokesman for the department. "We got some great feedback from them about the location changes," Lisle said. "They actually suggested: 'What about here? Can you do it on New York Avenue instead of 15th?' " The slug lines will move to a new location on New York Avenue, between 14th and 15th streets. Passengers can be picked up between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the new location, and transportation officials will be on site Monday to provide commuters with assistance. The 15th Street spot was selected last year as a pilot location after the transportation department asked commuters for input on a new slugging spot. At the time, it was considered a preferred location compared with the busy 14th Street corridor, where some drivers were being ticketed for blocking rush-hour lanes. But as it turned out, 15th Street had issues, too, because "it was kind of tight, and for the drivers to get over there was kind of a problem," said Dave LeBlanc, who runs the Web site www.slug-lines.com. "It really just wasn't a very good location from the start." The New York Avenue site provides access directly off 14th Street and is easier to get to from other parts of the city. It is more spacious, too, with wider sidewalks for slug lines to form, LeBlanc said. Stops for the Omniride bus routes, operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission , will also move Monday from 14th Street and New York Avenue to 15th Street and New York Avenue, where buses will be closer to the new slug-line location. Omniride is another commuting option for sluggers, so it was critical to have the bus stops nearby, said Christine Rodrigo, a spokeswoman for the bus system. "We have people who will slug in the mornings [and] will ride the bus home," Rodrigo said. "They need to be starting and ending in the same location."

Flyby Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Flyby Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2011 at 6:45am
	Isn't it funny how those in the print and broadcast media just cannot bring themselves to call us 'slugs.' I see in the POST article the same thing I heard on NPR last night. They call us SLUGGERS. Leave the term sluggers to those who hit 30 home runs or more in the big leagues and let's get back to reality media. We're slugs and proud of it. Flyby

Beth Pagni Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 21 Oct 2010 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Beth Pagni Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2011 at 3:51pm
	Should be noted that the new slug lines on NY between 14th and 15th are NOT for 234 lot- was directed back to 14th and F by people assisting with the lines last nite. ended up taking the bus because noone was slugging at 14th/F -but about 15 people were in line to take the bus to the 234 lot. (well...except for the one guy with the 234 sign that hopped the bus w/the rest of us) What do we need to do to get an active line at 14th and F?? help? anyone?

sluDgE Members Profile Find Members Posts Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501	Post Options Post Reply Quote sluDgE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2011 at 4:59pm
	If drivers pick up slugs at 234 for downtown locations in the morning, you'd think some (if not most) of them would drive back by 234 in the afternoon. A suggestion ... Try handing out flyers to the morning drivers at 234 to let them know they can get slugs at your afternoon downtown slug line location (and not have to stop at the Pentagon) when they make the drive home each day. It seems like it might be a driver awareness problem. Flyers could help.

keelhauld Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote keelhauld Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2011 at 9:20pm
	14th and F is as good a place as any to bring together the 234 crowd in the afternoon. As Pagni pointed out in a different thread now that the Dale City and Lake Ridge buses have been pushed to 15th Street it should be easy to establish a 234 line at 14th and F. 234 Slugs, tell your morning drivers that more and more slugs are looking for rides to the 234 lot from 14th and F in front of the old Borders bookstore. The bus line tends to form against the building and the slugs usually line up at the curb. Signs help! Maybe we can finally get a regular line going to 234 from downtown. quote: Originally posted by sluDgE If drivers pick up slugs at 234 for downtown locations in the morning, you'd think some (if not most) of them would drive back by 234 in the afternoon. A suggestion ... Try handing out flyers to the morning drivers at 234 to let them know they can get slugs at your afternoon downtown slug line location (and not have to stop at the Pentagon) when they make the drive home each day. It seems like it might be a driver awareness problem. Flyers could help.