Thursday 21 June 2012

[WardFive] Re: [ward5] Marion Barry tries to halt D.C. streetcar work By Tim Craig (D.C. Wire)

Good Morning,

Kathy H - here is the email contact of Shirley Washington (wbwfebigar@aol.com - CC'd Above).  She is in Ward 7 and is part of a neighborhood team that has been dealing with this issue.  I am sure that she would welcome our combined effort to stave off the "dog and pony" approach to community input by DDot and the Council as they are pushing for this nonsense. 

I am sure that this Trolley "hub" was not an oversight but planned to be rolled out not to have a fight from the start.  As everyone can see, H Street has been revitalized and a Trolley isn't even running.  So if Barry hasn't seen the Cost Benefit Analysis on this for the 2000 people that all this 200 million is supposed to have accomplished.  As a matter of fact, is this 50 million in addition to the 200 million?  Also, if it costs $200 million+ dollars for the 1.5 mile of Trolley work, how much would it really costs for the additional 36 miles of this "streetcar" system???

@ $200 million per 2 miles, it would be 1.8 billion more to be spent.  Now, I know that if we infuse 1.8 billion back into Schools, Rec. Centers, and other infrastructure that the city needs, this would be a much better learning environment and place for everyone to live. So before we start believing Eric, we should be provided the #'s of the actual "loss".     

We have 5 schools in the direct area - all that needs the renovation, shopping a few blocks down right now and a revitalizing corridor approaching the RFK Parking Lot, and an entire community on both sides of Benning road that is without an actual METRO.  Why not put a Metro there at the rear of the Parking lot and place the Hub where no one can see it!!!  Hell, we can put a Bunch of Bike Stations so that folks can ride to the spots on H Street.

So, this is the type of investment that we need to use our Capital Dollars for that would be a "sacrifice" for the mostly Whites who want a Street Car system - kind of like putting others who need first before Wants and like that sacrificing Wants by reinvesting into Youth - that whole path to "80 Acres and a 10 Mules" approach!! You know, the repayment for all the benefits that has been reaped by so many dating back to Slavery and all the "slavery by another name" that has been reaped!  It is owed to the parents and youth of the city - the same ones that have been "drugged" and "economically and educationally raped" for so long!! 

Then they could put the trolley station adjacent to the metro stop as a hub and transfer station - but do so in about 5 - 10years - like really plan this properly unlike the "Stick anything anywhere" approach that they are taking.  Like Mr. Barry said - he has 5 recreational centers which needs the Capital Money. I am sure some of the schools, fields could make use of our Capital Money as well in Ward 8 as well as 7 and 5!!

Our Council Member should be on this and CM Alexander!!  This is not a go along to get along moment or be silent on a matter like this!! 

Rob

On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 8:32 AM, Debbie Smith-Steiner <DLSmith112@msn.com> wrote:
 

Looks like KH is.


"a man is only as good as his word.  For nothing else has He that will determine his fate in life's living".
Reverend Dr. James Coleman

On Jun 21, 2012, at 8:12 AM, ajw1@starpower.net wrote:

 

Is anyone taking the lead on this? Alice

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:25:50 +0000
Subject: Re: [ward5] Marion Barry tries to halt D.C. streetcar work By Tim Craig (D.C. Wire)

 

Engaging Congresswoman Norton to seek a variance in use for RFK for the street car barn is viable. Using the Benning Road facility for the street car barn is also viable. Tearing up the front lawn of Spingarn to build a car barn is just ridiculous.

Finally, the assertion that withholding funding will drive up costs is an unsubstantiated generalization. Where is the cost analysis to support this claim?

Kathy Henderson

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: "Eric J. Jones" <ejjones.threed@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:51:27 -0400
Subject: Re: [ward5] Marion Barry tries to halt D.C. streetcar work By Tim Craig (D.C. Wire)

 

Ms. Henderson

Two quick points. First the land at RFK must be used for sports or sports related activities as part of the agreement with the federal government land over there.

As far as withholding the funds this will continue to drive up the cost which may cause other issues.

Eric J. Jones
- ejjones.threed@gmail.com

On Jun 20, 2012 7:30 AM, <khenderson029@aol.com> wrote:
 

Terry Bellamy the Director of DDOT and Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning are planning to tear up the front lawn of Spingarn SHS to place the car barn there. Our community opposes this plan and we are circulating a petition. Additionally, our Kingman Park neighbors oppose this plan as well as some neighbors from Ward 6. We believe the Benning Road facility or RFK are more suitable locations for the street car barn. Despite our very loud and clear objections to this very flawed plan Director Bellamy refused to wait to implement the plan until we elected a Ward 5 Councilmember.

Overall, I support the plan to return street cars to the District but oppose the ridiculous plan to tear up the front lawn of Spingarn SHS for the car barn. We are entitled to enjoy our historic vistas without the interruption of an unsightly industrial eyesore jutting from Spingarn's front lawn. Our students should not have to navigate around an unsightly industrial mess as they attend school. The street car plan has taken an odd turn. Perhaps, we should withhold further funding until we address existing and emerging problems.

Kathy Henderson

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
From: KPW - KAPoW <WKPW3@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:08:09 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [ward5] Marion Barry tries to halt D.C. streetcar work By Tim Craig (D.C. Wire)

 


Excerpt from article
The final phase of the H Street line is the construction of the turnarounds near the H Street Bridge and Benning Road and 26th Streets in NE. Eventually, officials hope the 37-mile network will touch nearly every quadrant of the city

Transportation officials said they selected Dean-Facchina for the H Street work because it has experience in the District and can both design and build the project. Dean Facchina is a joint venture between M.C. Dean, Inc. and the Facchina Construction Company, Inc.

D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At large), one of Barry's chief rivals on the council, is a vice president at M.C. Dean.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-wire/post/marion-barry-tries-to-halt-dc-streetcar-work/2012/06/19/gJQAvfbDoV_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_buzz
Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Marion Barry tries to halt D.C. streetcar work


D.C. Council member Marion Barry has launched a last ditch effort to slow or derail the city's planned street car line on H Street, arguing it's not been well-thought out and is too expensive for the number of riders it will serve.

Last week, in an effort to push the H Street line toward its planned opening next year, Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) announced a $50 million contract to design and construct the turnarounds, overhead power system and car barn for the $200 million project. The council was expected to quickly move ahead with the contract with Dean-Facchina LLC, but Barry has filed a disapproval resolution.

Streetcars owned by the District of Columbia (Courtesy of District Department of Transportation) Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), chairwoman of the Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation, said Barry's resolution could delay council approval by at least 45 days. Cheh warns that could increase the price of the contract.

"I want to find out what his objections are because it's important and a delay might have a cost effect," Cheh said. "He can put a hold on it for a certain period of time."

In an interview, Barry said he wants to slow up the project because he's not convinced the streetcar line is needed because the District has an "excellent METRO system" and reliable bus service along the H Street corridor.

"It's about priorities in spending and how much capital money we are spending on streetcars that benefit a small number of people," Barry said. "We are already subsidizing Metro and also subsidizing the Circulator…People already have good bus service."

Crowds cheer Marion Barry as he arrives for the viewing of Chuck Brown at the Howard Theater on May 29 in Washington, DC . (Bonnie Jo Mount - WASHINGTON POST) Barry said he's been told the initial phase of the street car line will serve about 2,000 riders a day, which he said is not enough to justify the pricetag.

"I need five recreation centers in Ward 8," said Barry, who is scheduling a meeting with Transportation Director Terry Bellamy. "I have not seen a cost-benefit analysis."

But Cheh notes the H Street line, which officials hope is the start of a 37-mile network, has been debated for years.

"This is the first time I have heard anything about him focusing on things not being well thought in terms of this contract," Cheh said. "I'm really at a loss. He never spoke to Bellamy. He never spoke to me."

D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (Linda Davidson - THE WASHINGTON POST) Administration officials note it's not unusual for Barry to try to slow contracts. Often, they say, he uses disapproval resolutions as a bargaining chip. But Barry said he's just doing his job to safeguard District tax dollars.

"It doesn't seem like a well-though-out plan," Barry said of the city's overall $1.5 billion streetcar plan. "They haven't even figured out how to get over the H Street bridge."

The District has already laid down tracks and erected platforms for the street car along H Street NE and Benning Road and owns three street cars. Another two cars are on order, officials said.

The final phase of the H Street line is the construction of the turnarounds near the H Street Bridge and Benning Road and 26th Streets in NE. Eventually, officials hope the 37-mile network will touch nearly every quadrant of the city

Transportation officials said they selected Dean-Facchina for the H Street work because it has experience in the District and can both design and build the project. Dean Facchina is a joint venture between M.C. Dean, Inc. and the Facchina Construction Company, Inc.

D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At large), one of Barry's chief rivals on the council, is a vice president at M.C. Dean.
By  |  01:25 PM ET, 06/19/2012

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