I didn’t check the CaBi website earlier, but right now, some of the downtown stations do seem to have more open docks than usual. Some of the downtown stations are full like they always are on weekday mornings. But I’m surprised to see at least a few stations with multiple open docks in the McPherson Square, Metro Center and Gallery Place areas.
DDOT has said that they plan to add more docks to existing downtown stations. That will help, but they really need to add a super-sized station, perhaps in Franklin Square. There is plenty of space for an extra-large station, maybe with 40-50 docks, and there is certainly demand for a large station at that location. It would also ease up demands on the nearby stations at Farragut, McPherson, NY Ave., Metro Center and Gallery Place. The National Park Service is probably resistant to the idea. (What else is new?) I’ve posted about it on the crowdsourcing map and I’ve sent in a few emails about that location. NPS is probably saying that a CaBi station would detract from the aesthetics and tranquility of the park, while ignoring the buses on I and K Streets, the food trucks on 13th St. and the broken fountains in the middle of the park. (I’m not complaining about the buses or the food trucks. Just pointing out that it doesn’t make sense for NPS to make these types of objections when the buses and food trucks are right there too.)
I’ve also sent in suggestions about a downtown CaBi corral, but that might be too expensive because of the personnel required. They have the corrals on special occasions only. Perhaps they could set one up on emergency days like today. Can’t they work out an arrangement where DDOT/Alta opens up a corral at Freedom Plaza on short notice, with preparations made in advance?
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