Comments on: Schipol Versus Dulles: Intermodal Connectivity in Today’s Cities

By: Richard Layman

Richard Layman — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:31:25 +0000

umm, this isn’t that momentous a piece… fly out of National Airport, connected by subway, or BWI, connected by train. Or you can get to Dulles by taking a Metrobus that costs $3, the 5A. Or you can get to BWI by taking the subway + the B30 bus. Tranferring to the B30 or 5A from a subway only costs $1.75 with transfer, although it is a pain to transfer. Both the B30 and 5A have luggage racks and more comfortable seating than a typical bus.

Vote with your $. And one could argue that the connection you clamor for is but a form of “induced flying” comparable to inducing driving by building more roads and parking structures/lots.

Anyway, I should feel more guilty about flying.

Re the bus station comment by Mr. Arpi… the bus station was extant before the subway system. Union Station wanted much higher rents than Greyhound was willing to pay, based on their profits. Eventually, the two modes will be linked, but that is because Greyhound’s site is desirable, now–it wasn’t 10 years ago or earlier–to developers, who can pay for the cost of relocation.

And note that by taking the subway + B30 + Baltimore light rail you can get to Baltimore 7 days/week by public transit in a manner that allows you to take a bike back and forth.

By: Ethan Arpi

Ethan Arpi — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:17:58 +0000

Washington has other problems with “intermodality” too. The smart card has been a great way of integrating the bus and the metro system, but it still isn’t enough. You can only transfer from metro to bus but not bus metro without paying. Also, the bus station in North East should have been placed closer to either New York Avenue metro stop or Union Station. Instead you get dropped of in a No Man’s Land from which you have to lug your bags blocks to get to public transportation.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:48:35 +0000

I can’t agree more with regard to Dulles Airport. Simply, I don’t fly from there unless absolutely necessary – I am willing to pay a premium to fly from Baltimore or National airport rather than face the daunting task of (a) getting to Dulles via I-66 (always clogged) either via Super Shuttle, metro + bus or the 5A bus; (b) getting through security; and (c) catching a ‘mobile lounge’ to the terminal.

Between those 3, it adds probably 2 hours on top of the typical airport time-sink and unmeasured stress. I’ll take train-accessible BWI or metro-accessible National any day…