Metro

I am a big fan of public transportation. Unlike a lot of liberals, I am willing to make some time sacrifices to ride the buses and rail systems, and I am a conservative. What it really boils down to too, is I really don't like driving in the DC area. I would rather have it take a little longer to get there by public transportation.

I recently joined a Metro community group called Amplify By Metro. I received a survey from the new General Manager yesterday, and I took the time to fill it out. There are some definite improvements needed in the Metro Rail, and Metro Bus systems.

My biggest beefs are the price of parking at the Metro stations, and the fact that here in Prince George's County, there is very limited feeder bus service after 10 PM, and even less on weekends. Forcing people to drive to the Metro stations, and then pay $5.10 per day to park there, is no way to encourage people to use public transportation. Metro Rail is expensive enough during rush hour. When you add the price of parking, it is more cost effective for many people living in the suburbs to drive and pay to park in the city, rather than use public transportation.

I am hoping that as College Park, where I live, redevelops, with the addition of many high rise apartments and condos along the Route One corridor, that the bus service servicing the College Park Metro station will improve. If you live in the city, public transportation is effective. Montgomery County also has late night bus service feeding the Metro Rail System. Prince George's County does not. I would hope that this would change soon.