Neighborhood Notes - Foxhall: 17 October 2001
We have a good news update on shuttle flight noise. Since last
autumn, Delta have exclusively flown new Boeing 737/800, and
US Airways newer,
quieter, fuel efficient Airbus. These have video and computer outlets at every
seat, and with being smaller are inherently quieter than the larger B757’s.
But in just a few weeks when flights are expanded at National, let’s be
vigilant to ensure other airlines use their quietest planes.
Smart approaches to transportation were sorely missing last
weekend at the latest Georgetown Classic
10K. Although the organizers had moved
the race entirely away from residential streets, they appeared to be entirely
unaware of the new Georgetown shuttle bus. So instead of having this as an
opportunity to provide information at the runner's Saturday registration
pick-up, on Sunday morning the bus drivers reported almost no passenger
increase. Church-goers found parking in short supply and in addition
police blocked the blue buses from completing their routes until their commitment to
operate every 10 minutes was pointed out to the MPD Special Operations
Division.
The new race route ideally should start down at the
waterfront, then go up Rock Creek Parkway and back, ending up with a celebration
down at Water Street, the traditional place to party! (and wouldn't it be great
if the chosen charity was the new Georgetown
Waterfront Park, in honor of Bill Cochrane?) But the NPS
is blocking any use of Rock Creek Parkway, despite wide-spread support of using
this for recreational purposes in the weekend.
It would frankly simplify jurisdiction if all parklands
outside of the monumental federal core came back to D.C. under home rule, but even
if this race course stays as is, tying up M Street, let’s ensure all runners
next year know about Georgetown Metro Connection (see www.georgetowndc.com/shuttle.php)
© Bob Andrew, Foxhall
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