New Slug Lines at FBC and Rt 123 - 2 May 2011

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   quote:
Originally posted by Admin

To be honest, I kind of grouped L'Enfant with the 14th and 18th street slugs (downtown destinations). However, I think I now understand that L'Enfant is unique. Correct? 

	It's a hub-point to much of DC

	What L'Enfant slugs need are more options. If you are not able to slug out of Horner Road to L'Enfant, what other options do you have? 

	Dale City lot to "Pentagon"; and since I *cannot* get to a CL until 7am or later - that's about it (I drive 20min cross-town to drop son off @ d/c; am not spending another 25-40min to go to Hechinger lot - when I then have to cross a LOT of Woodbridge to pick him up - by 6:30 or $1/min

	Yes, I appreciate your comments about the shuttle service. From my understanding, the shuttle was to be free. The limited and late schedule is a problem and is more of an emergency get-home option to me. It is nice that PRTC was willing to try and help since they said they could not provide more bus service directly to FBC.

	My prediction is that very few will use the shuttle because, just as you stated, it runs late and is infrequent. Low ridership will then question why have it at all, and then it may be discontinued.

	For FBC, there seems to be interest in a Pentagon line but little interest in a Rosslyn line. So, I think is is feasible to start of L'Enfant line. 

	The major obstacle is the return. FBC is a out of the way for both Horner and Potomac. However, I would recommend that we use FBC destinations co-located with the Horner line. Drivers may be willing to continue on the FBC.

	Dale City lot is slooooowly catching on @ Pentagon returns, from what I can tell. Frankly, for the unreliability of Metro, the time it takes me to get to the Pentagon from WNY in hopes of a ride to Dale City lot - I'd rather just slug from WNY -> Horner, then pay for the bus (or shuttle, if it would run there).  

	Part of the problem, from what I've seen at the 2 Town Halls, is that the county & PRTC want commuters to use the lots (Dale City, Lindendale) that have space - but don't want to listen to how to make it attractive. To get to Dale CL from Horner via the bus is 20-40min depending on Telegraph & Gideon traffic - you get TWO choke-points. I'd much rather park @ FBC, and take my chances back - the one-destination-shuttle is going to be a lot faster than the typical (non-Rosslyn) bus trip, if I miss the Rosslyn bus.

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VAwitch Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote VAwitch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2011 at 2:53pm
	quote: Originally posted by Admin To be honest, I kind of grouped L'Enfant with the 14th and 18th street slugs (downtown destinations). However, I think I now understand that L'Enfant is unique. Correct? It's a hub-point to much of DC What L'Enfant slugs need are more options. If you are not able to slug out of Horner Road to L'Enfant, what other options do you have? Dale City lot to "Pentagon"; and since I cannot get to a CL until 7am or later - that's about it (I drive 20min cross-town to drop son off @ d/c; am not spending another 25-40min to go to Hechinger lot - when I then have to cross a LOT of Woodbridge to pick him up - by 6:30 or $1/min Yes, I appreciate your comments about the shuttle service. From my understanding, the shuttle was to be free. The limited and late schedule is a problem and is more of an emergency get-home option to me. It is nice that PRTC was willing to try and help since they said they could not provide more bus service directly to FBC. My prediction is that very few will use the shuttle because, just as you stated, it runs late and is infrequent. Low ridership will then question why have it at all, and then it may be discontinued. For FBC, there seems to be interest in a Pentagon line but little interest in a Rosslyn line. So, I think is is feasible to start of L'Enfant line. The major obstacle is the return. FBC is a out of the way for both Horner and Potomac. However, I would recommend that we use FBC destinations co-located with the Horner line. Drivers may be willing to continue on the FBC. Dale City lot is slooooowly catching on @ Pentagon returns, from what I can tell. Frankly, for the unreliability of Metro, the time it takes me to get to the Pentagon from WNY in hopes of a ride to Dale City lot - I'd rather just slug from WNY -> Horner, then pay for the bus (or shuttle, if it would run there). Part of the problem, from what I've seen at the 2 Town Halls, is that the county & PRTC want commuters to use the lots (Dale City, Lindendale) that have space - but don't want to listen to how to make it attractive. To get to Dale CL from Horner via the bus is 20-40min depending on Telegraph & Gideon traffic - you get TWO choke-points. I'd much rather park @ FBC, and take my chances back - the one-destination-shuttle is going to be a lot faster than the typical (non-Rosslyn) bus trip, if I miss the Rosslyn bus.

Slugger05 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Slugger05 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2011 at 2:48pm
	Yes, for the PM return let's use the same PM Horner line to get a slug ride back to FBC. I think if FBC is on the way for people in the AM then it will also be on their way back to home as well. In other words, if its not out of their way for people to pick up from here in the AM then it also shouldn't be out of their way to drop off in the PM. THANK YOU!

VAwitch Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote VAwitch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2011 at 2:45pm
	quote: Originally posted by Admin I am paying attention and am more than happy to add L'Enfant to the map and website. I assume this includes 14th and 18th street too. Please advise. I intend to send out a broadcast email tomorrow and another next week to help spread the word. So please post comments! The planned start date is May 2nd. While I feel for those going to 14 & 18 - L'Enfant is a major hub point. As noted elsewhere, I ultimately go to WNY - which is near-impossible To or From other than Horner Road - aka EARLY. Even a direct-ride to L'Enfant for DC folks is a big time-saver vs going to the Pentagon. IN the 2+ months since the PM reduction - I've had 1 14th st person riding & 2 driving, picking up @ Dale CL Pentagon line. I've had 50/50 luck being a rider to L'Enfant, many time w/ the 2nd slug also being L'Enfant-bound, even if the driver wasn't.

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 Posted: 22 Apr 2011 at 2:42pm
	To be honest, I kind of grouped L'Enfant with the 14th and 18th street slugs (downtown destinations). However, I think I now understand that L'Enfant is unique. Correct? What L'Enfant slugs need are more options. If you are not able to slug out of Horner Road to L'Enfant, what other options do you have? Yes, I appreciate your comments about the shuttle service. From my understanding, the shuttle was to be free. The limited and late schedule is a problem and is more of an emergency get-home option to me. It is nice that PRTC was willing to try and help since they said they could not provide more bus service directly to FBC. My prediction is that very few will use the shuttle because, just as you stated, it runs late and is infrequent. Low ridership will then question why have it at all, and then it may be discontinued. For FBC, there seems to be interest in a Pentagon line but little interest in a Rosslyn line. So, I think is is feasible to start of L'Enfant line. The major obstacle is the return. FBC is a out of the way for both Horner and Potomac. However, I would recommend that we use FBC destinations co-located with the Horner line. Drivers may be willing to continue on the FBC.

Slugger05 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Slugger05 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Apr 2011 at 2:07pm
	I think I should clarify my point about having a PM returning slug line to this lot. Pre-Potomac Mills reduction, I used to be able to get a spot at Horner and slug to L'enfant- it was GREAT to also go back to that same spot in the afternoon and get a slug ride back to Horner. it was a straight shot to work and straight shot back to my car. Ideally, I'd like to be able to do the same thing from this new FBC lot as oppose to slugging from here in the morning, then having to either Metro to Pentagon and pay $2.15 to catch a slug ride back to FBC (and tack on an additional 20 minutes) to my commute home or catch a bus ride home (still tack on additional commuting time and still pay the bus fare). So basically what I'm trying to say is that it would be most convenient for me and I'm sure many other sluggers to be able to slug from here to L'enfant in the AM and slug back from L'enfant to this FBC lot. Thanks again!

Slugger05 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 21 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Slugger05 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Apr 2011 at 1:40pm
	This is very exciting news!! I am SO happy that we are starting another L'enfant Plaza slug line FINALLY! My only request is this: please make sure there is a returning PM slug line back to THIS FBC lot! It is very inconvenient to have to metro to another location or catch a bus ride back to my car. If I'm going to park my car here in the morning and slug to work, it would be great if I can also find a slug ride back to my car. Thank you!!

zansmom Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote zansmom Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Apr 2011 at 10:50am
	quote: Originally posted by Admin I am paying attention and am more than happy to add L'Enfant to the map and website. I assume this includes 14th and 18th street too. Please advise. I intend to send out a broadcast email tomorrow and another next week to help spread the word. So please post comments! The planned start date is May 2nd. Admin -- Thank you so much for not only paying attention but for addressing this issue. I am not actually in a position to respond as to whether the 14/18th St. lines should be added in. Those slugs would need to speak in regards to their plight. From what I have observed, 14/18 St. slugs have the Old Hechinger Rd. lot as a pretty large alternative to Horner Rd. However, L'Enfant Plaza slugs have only been able to slug directly out of Horner (and PM, if they get there at 6am). But just as Shorty 5646, stated the gap in time between shuttles is too large. If someone gets to the lot just after 6pm, they will have to wait until 7pm to shuttle over to FBC. We appreciate all the help, but she's right, by 7pm the lots are practically empty. Look at it this way, a slugger that can't get to Horner until 6:30am or 7am, goes to FBC. That same slugger gets to work at 8am. Nine hours later they're leaving work: that's between 5 and 5:30 pm. Add to that a 35 minute slug ride. At 6:05 or so they arrive at Horner. Then they must wait until 7pm to get to their car. AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US GET THE WORD OUT TO THE DRIVERS. (If it were an election year, we could get the candidates to pass out flyers in the lots to drivers and slugs. They were definitely out there in passing out their literature last year.) [B)]

shorty5646 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote shorty5646 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Apr 2011 at 9:44am
	Thanks, Admin! :) I don't know if there is interest in creating a line for 14th/18th - maybe it would be good to include those at least in the beginning? Although I don't know how those slugs would plan to return to FBC. My plan from L'Enfant is to wait in the PM Horner line and then catch the Rosslyn bus from Horner to FBC in the evening. PRTC's plan to provide a shuttle is a joke if you ask me, considering how late it will start - the parking lot is almost completely cleared out by 7pm when the first shuttle is scheduled to arrive! In any case - YES! Please at least include L'Enfant in the map/website. If others have interest in added 14th/18th, I guess now is the time to speak up!

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 Posted: 21 Apr 2011 at 5:27pm
	I am paying attention and am more than happy to add L'Enfant to the map and website. I assume this includes 14th and 18th street too. Please advise. I intend to send out a broadcast email tomorrow and another next week to help spread the word. So please post comments! The planned start date is May 2nd.

zansmom Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote zansmom Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Apr 2011 at 11:53am
	Shorty, I'm starting to think the Admin isn't paying attention to our request for secondary L'Enfant Plaza line. I think we may be on our own as far as getting the word out that SLUGS WHO CAN'T GET TO HORNER ROAD BEFORE 6:20 AM CAN BE PICKED UP AT OTHER LOTS. It would be very helpful if the Admin would help us post signs for DRIVERS to see that if THEY will go to the other lots in the morning and the evening, we will be there for the rides. The problem is NOT relaying the message to SLUGS, we obviously come on this site for direction. But it's a matter of someone either passing out flyers after 7am at Horner directing drivers over to 123/95, Tackett's or FBC, with a message saying we need rides BACK to those lots OR signs on posts giving them the information (just like when they directed people to split up the lines that time). BOTTOM LINE: Parking spaces + Rides = Happy Slugs. One without the other = stranded slugs, going and coming.