Archive for January, 2008

Dulles Rail Undergoes Serious Setbacks

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

The Washington Post, Washington Times, DC Examiner and other sources have reported on the controversy surrounding the funding and approval of the Dulles Metrorail extension. The solution for the heavily congested Tysons area is being put on hold due to questions of federal funding, doubts of operational costs and ability to build and maintain, and the overall proposed success rate of the project.

The plan, which contributed to countless political debates, public discussions and federal oversight, is as “good as dead” according to the Washington Post. The Federal Transit Administration has decided not to fund its share of the project (about a fifth of the funding), which leaves the state with no choice but to abandon the work.

A barrage of over thirty articles, blogs and videos from the Washington Post surfaced this past week to give us a better view of what is being said now, and what is going to be done. It’s interesting to see how the news has progressed, although I wish the outcome was more positive.

Car Sharing Lanes Get New Surveillance

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

A recent article in the UK’s Times presents an upcoming technology that will have drivers overseas taking transportation laws just a little more seriously. A new smart-camera called dtect (codename: Cyclops due to its “one-eyed” Caappearance) is set to be put into place next month, with plans to expand over the coming year.

According to the article, the system can detect how many people are in a vehicle, allowing the authorities to fine anyone using a car-sharing lane without a passenger. It works in the dark and can even spot the difference between a real person and a dummy.

An average of about 60% of cars carry only the driver, according to the Department for Transport (DfT), and this rises to as much as 84% on some popular commuter routes. Traffic planners are convinced that car sharing could quickly free road space by cutting the number of vehicles.

If this works in cutting down violators to car-sharing lanes in the UK, it could be a good tool for the US to invest in. It could contribute to car-sharing and more people taking advantage of HOV-restricted lanes. According to the CommuterPageBlog, commuters in the Fredericksburg area are planning to continue to use a HOV lane which means that monitoring will become even more important. A camera such as this would be a cost-effective way for authorities to monitor lane use and abuse.