Bikeometer Unveiling: You’re invited!

[rcannon100]

@consularrider 80813 wrote:

’cause I’m sure our friends at Arlnow really want to know so they can trash talk it some more.

The sign will be unveiled days before an election where arlco cost overruns and excesses are key issues: the million dollar dog park, the million dollar bus stop, the $300 million 5-mile trolley, and the aquacenter. Unfortunately Arlco spending has become a raw never. In my neighborhood, I am seeing people who I know always vote democrat, putting up signs for the independent. I am seeing other yellow-dog democrats noticeably not putting up yard signs at all. People are getting sore about spending ~ and I think people have a right to know how their money is being spent.

The sign is pretty. How much did it cost – and what is the benefit (would that money have been better spent actually fixing the intersection of doom).

Edit: And I think Guy is right. If it was a reasonable expense, say so in order to deflate speculation. If it was not a reasonable expense, or if Arlco does not admit to what it costs – this could be well, unfortunate timing, as it does look like another $million bus stop expenditure.

[consularrider]

One of the other questions is the funding source, Arlington County taxes or a grant (which was probably someone else’s taxes). Sigh.

[rcannon100]

My understanding is that most of the BikeArlington money is federal money (right, Tim). And while you are 100% right, and we could actually celebrate Arlco effectively bringing money into the county (they have been very good about it), this nonetheless is in the context of larger budget issues. And I AM NOT trying to advocate for the independent, but the argument goes like this “We have massive crowding in schools, and classrooms in trailers. We have bridges that are falling down and potholes galore ~ but we have a $$$$ bikemeter.” There is a point where this is a problem.

[chris_s]

@consularrider 80817 wrote:

One of the other questions is the funding source, Arlington County taxes or a grant (which was probably someone else’s taxes). Sigh.

I don’t know for 100% sure, but all of the other counters in the ArlCo have been out of Decal Fee money (what you pay for that sticker you put on your car that proves you’ve paid for personal property tax).

[lordofthemark]

@rcannon100 80819 wrote:

My understanding is that most of the BikeArlington money is federal money (right, Tim). And while you are 100% right, and we could actually celebrate Arlco effectively bringing money into the county (they have been very good about it), this nonetheless is in the context of larger budget issues. And I AM NOT trying to advocate for the independent, but the argument goes like this “We have massive crowding in schools, and classrooms in trailers. We have bridges that are falling down and potholes galore ~ but we have a $$$$ bikemeter.” There is a point where this is a problem.

Given that local funding for the streetcar would be, IIUC, from a tax that is legally dedicated to transportation, and cannot be used to fund education, and that that fact seems to be virtually ignored by the many fiscally unhappy people in ArlCo, I really doubt that the source of funding for the bikemeter will sway anyone.

[rcannon100]

Money is money. It comes from tax revenue. The body with the legislative authority allocates it to different pots and then the executive body can only do that function with the money. But there is no reason at all that the legislative authority cannot allocate the money in a different way. Can transportation money be spent on education – no. Can more revenue be taken out of the transportation pot and put in the education pot by the legislative authority – yes.

It is also indicative of whether the governing authority has fiscal discipline. A lack of discipline in one area suggests a lack of discipline in other areas.

[runbike]

I find it funny that folks on ArlNow are complaining about the cost for this sign when in the past year two large overhead signs appeared on Lee Highway (one in Rosslyn, the other near EFC) to tell drivers the estimated travel time to the county line. I know nothing about the costs for either those signs, but I would imagine given their size that just one of those is more expensive than the bike counter.

[lordofthemark]

@rcannon100 80823 wrote:

Money is money. It comes from tax revenue. The body with the legislative authority allocates it to different pots and then the executive body can only do that function with the money. But there is no reason at all that the legislative authority cannot allocate the money in a different way. Can transportation money be spent on education – no. Can more revenue be taken out of the transportation pot and put in the education pot by the legislative authority – yes.

It is also indicative of whether the governing authority has fiscal discipline. A lack of discipline in one area suggests a lack of discipline in other areas.

1. IIUC the commercial tax is over and above the standard property tax which is paid on both residential and commercial property. It was passed with the commitment it would be dedicated to transport. Were the BoS to redirect it, commercial property owners might object to paying a higher general property tax than residential property owners. That would certainly be a major political fight. I have also not heard that Mr Vilstadt (sp?) has called for the redirection of that tax. AFAICT he would leave it a transport dedicated tax

2. The causes of the cost of the superstop are under investigation now. What is missing from those discussions is that A. A different kind of stop from a standard plastic sheter is warranted on Col Pike, which even if the street car is never built is supposed to be a high priority enhanced bus corridor – and similar stops in other cities are still in the hunders of thousands range B. It was more expensive because it was a prototype C. some higher costs may have been due to WMATA

3. IIUC Mr Howze opposes the dog park (though as a cyclist, I think dog parks that get more dog walkers off the trails may have benefits some folks do not think of)

[consularrider]

@run/bike 80824 wrote:

I find it funny that folks on ArlNow are complaining about the cost for this sign when in the past year two large overhead signs appeared on Lee Highway (one in Rosslyn, the other near EFC) to tell drivers the estimated travel time to the county line. I know nothing about the costs for either those signs, but I would imagine given their size that just one of those is more expensive than the bike counter.

That was one of my thoughts when the commentators started their expected whining. We can spend pots of money for information for drivers, but heaven forbid we provide data for other transportation users (of course some of that on the bike pylon is more feel good information).

[rcannon100]

Okay, so here is the answer: The unit appears to cost ~$30,000

http://www.eco-compteur.com/Read-our-brochures.html?wpid=46981

http://www.sacog.org/regionalfunding/fundingprograms/pdf/2013/BikePed/applications/19-SACOG_bike%20ped%20data.pdf

The cost is about $30,000 for the purchase, installation and first-year maintenance. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Bike-counter-installed-at-Fremont-Bridge-3937146.php

http://www.broadviewseattle.org/2012/10/17/community-members-talk-to-seattle-dept-of-transportation-about-taffic-safety-issues/

[Dickie]

Love it Tim, I’m gonna try and be there for the party. Being that this is some sort of awesome robot costing millions, can we teach it to plow the trail in winter and retro-fit it with a keg for Happy Hours on the go?

[jnva]

I would like an electric bike charging port added to the obelisk.

[dasgeh]

@rcannon100 80816 wrote:

In my neighborhood, I am seeing people who I know always vote democrat, putting up signs for the independent.

Vihlstadt is not an independent. He’s a Republican endorsed funder of Tea Party candidates.

[rcannon100]

Vihlstadt has wide endorsements from democrats (including Libby Garvey), the Green Party, and yes, republicans. He has old Arlington roots and has worked his way through the civic associations.

The issue we are discussing here is the sentiment among many in Arlington that spending has become excessive. That’s probably fundamentally what this election is about, with the poster child being the street car project. I think its been about 20 years since a republican even viably challenged for a seat on the board, and that was an election where the dems had fallen asleep.

It is unfortunate that the only good sound bite the dems seem to have in this race is “he’s a republican.” Partisan name calling isnt all that persuasive.

Me, I am a yellow dog dem. In this election, I am undecided (truly changing my mind daily). But one thing that I cant say helps is superficial partisanship.

[mstone]

The thing is, politicians don’t actually spend less money, even if they claim that’s what they are going to do–they just spend it on stuff they think is more important than what that other guy was spending it on. So smart money will assume a pretty constant level of expenditures and pay more attention to the likely priorities. So if someone is bashing streetcars what are they going to spend the money on instead? Streets?

[Author]

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