[RP TownTalk] TownTalk Digest, Vol 9, Issue 26

Mon Apr 24 13:49:16 UTC 2006

As a frequent user of the Queensbury bus route (mostly in the winter as 
I bike to work in Silver Spring in the spring, summer, and fall), I have 
to say, fewer buses would not work, from a utilitarian perspective. By 
the time the bus (the F4, which leaves from New Carrollton) gets to the 
Riverdale mansion, where I pick it up, it is often already standing room 
only. By the time it gets to PG Plaza people are sometimes left on the 
roadside because the bus is overfull. It's no better in the evening 
coming home. It is a major method of cross-county transportation for a 
largely poor minority ridership. As such, fewer busses would make an 
already unpleasant situation worse for probably hundreds of riders a day.

I do agree, however, that Queensbury Road is an absolute wreck, and I 
don't envy my neighbors who have to hear and smell those busses from 
their own homes. I think there is one major solution to the noise and 
pollution: advocate heavily for the busses on this route to be finally 
upgraded to natural gas and hybrid busses. These are MUCH cleaner, MUCH 
quieter busses.

The condition of Queensbury is much trickier. Rerouting to 410 isn't a 
great solution as the opportunities for stops are far fewer and far more 
dangerous, and the traffic on that road along the stretch that parallels 
Queensbury is already subject to 3-light-cycle backups every morning. If 
you put the busses on that route it would back things up more, in 
addition to backloging the busses running the route, which already 
struggle to stay on schedule.

Just my $.02.

TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. another bookstore to close... (Alan Thompson & Sarah Wayland)
>    2. condos (Holly Moreland)
>    3. Queensbury Buses (Rob Oppenheim)
>    4. SPCA Franklins Secretary Week (Rob Oppenheim)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 13:42:46 -0400
> From: Alan Thompson & Sarah Wayland <twacks at his.com>
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] another bookstore to close...
> To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> Message-ID: <0937fd21788e054f70934662ba50f1ea at his.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Not in Riverdale Park, but following in the footsteps of our own dearly 
> beloved bookstore, I saw the following post on another listserve to 
> which I subscribe.
>
> :-(
>
> Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:52:05 -0400
> From: Ann S
> Subject: Book Nook Closing
>
> I'm slogging through a bit of an email backlog, and it looks like the
> Book Nook in College Park (9933 Rhode Island Ave store only) is closing
> at the end of May. Everything is now 50% off and will go to 75% off on
> May 1st, then to $2/bag on May 22nd, all sales final.
>
> ---A
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 13:28:34 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Holly Moreland <hpmoreland at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] condos
> To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
> Message-ID: <20060422202834.58994.qmail at web52809.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> my family is very concerned with the talk of building
> condos down the street from us.  We have enough
> problems with traffic already.  It will be a breeding
> ground for rodents and crime.  Why not knock the
> buildings down and put up three or four homes with
> nice size yards.  If we wanted to live next to
> apartment / condos we would have chose to move in at
> the other end of town.  The RR crossing is crumbling
> with the traffic load already.  We have way to many
> buses coming through Queensbury.  Our home costantly
> is covered in filth from their exhaust.
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:59:32 -0400
> From: Rob Oppenheim <rob.oppenheim at comcast.net>
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] Queensbury Buses
> To: <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
> Message-ID: <200642305932.533183 at Rob2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 13:28:34 -0700 (PDT), Holly Moreland wrote:
>   
>> We have way too many buses coming through Queensbury.  Our home
>> constantly is covered in filth from their exhaust.
>>     
>
> Interesting you should mention that. Several people complained to me 
> about these buses when I was campaigning. Below is part of my Ward 1 
> Report for the next Town Crier asking for public comment concerning 
> this very issue.
>
> Queensbury Buses
> On April 17, I attended the community transit workshop, which 
> gathered citizens' comments for the new Transit Service and 
> Operations Plan (the county public bus plan). Several participants 
> expressed a need for later and more frequent service. One Hyattsville 
> resident mentioned her frustration at how buses running on Queensbury 
> Road add noise and pollution and tear up the street. She wanted fewer 
> buses and asked about the possibility of routing them along East-West 
> Highway instead of Queensbury Road. What are your thoughts? 
>
>
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> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 01:23:49 -0400
> From: Rob Oppenheim <rob.oppenheim at comcast.net>
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] SPCA Franklins Secretary Week
> To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> Message-ID: <200642312349.308624 at Rob2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> ?
> Have fun at Franklins for Fluffy and Fido!
> ?
> Stop by Franklins, the popular restaurant/brewery/general store in Hyattsville, MD, anytime on Monday, April 24, and dine, drink, or shop. Present your receipt to the hostess, let them know you are there to support the SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George?s County, and Franklins will donate 20 percent of your total to the SPCA/HS.
> ?
> Franklins: 5121 Baltimore Ave
> ?
> By the way, today (Sunday April 23) thru Saturday April 29 is Secretary / Administrative Professionals Week. The SPCA suggests that you take secretaries to lunch at Franklins this Monday and thus help out the SPCA/HS too! Remember to mention it to the hostess.
> ?
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> End of TownTalk Digest, Vol 9, Issue 26
> ***************************************
>   