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benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Benjamin Ross
@benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
290 followers 22 following 560 posts
Transit advocate. Social Democrat. Author of Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism. Searchable.

🌉 bridged from https://mastodon.social/@BenRossTransit on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
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benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Just 41 years after the Bethesda Metro station opened, we are getting a WMATA-standard sign to show people approaching on foot from the west where the station is.
August 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Signs on Capital Crescent Trail next to Kenwood. (Neighborhood that led successful fight to partially reverse road diet on Little Falls Parkway, road where prior to road diet cyclists & pedestrians crossing on trail were repeatedly hit, one killed, by drivers.)
Left: Capital Crescent Trail 2.0. Multi-use. Multi-age. Be gentle. Right: We are all human powered on this trail. We are all equal & equally vulnerable. Take your sign to Little Falls Parkway next block where those are roaming in 4000-pound steel junk. Annually 40,000 killed by cars in crashes, 55,000 killed by car air pollution. You are blinded by the ideology of the car system!
August 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Is this the same New York Times that is covering Mamdani's college application as a scandal?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/science/ivar-giaever-dead.html
The young applicant had scored 4.0 marks in math and physics. The recruiter congratulated him. But what the recruiter didn’t know was that in Norway, the best grade was a 1.0, not a 4.0, the top grade in American schools. In fact, a 4.0 in Norway was barely passing — something like a D on American report cards. In reality, his academic record in Norway had been anything but impressive. He did not want to be dishonest, Dr. Giaever would say in recounting the episode with some amusement over the years, but he also did not correct the interviewer. He got the job.
July 8, 2025 at 8:11 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
New poll on "abundance agenda" shows majority still support local decision-making.
Do you support or oppose limiting local zoning rules to build more homes? Yes 28% No 43%
https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-approval-at-42-democrats-up
BUT: When you ask […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Strength In Numbers/Verasight Poll Pew Poll from 2023
June 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
There are any number of ways to keep Altadena affordable.
Ban single-family detached dwellings.
Ban off-street parking.
Build 6-story affordable housing on scattered sites.
The aim here is to maintain the area's high social status via exclusion. Based on […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
(5) Max Dubler [& + Follow @maxdubler.com Does it make sense to talk about “gentrifying” a neighborhood where all the houses burned to the ground in a massive wildfire? www.latimes.com/california/s... Los Angeles fires Mapping the damage Help fo Ahern said the shopping spree is causing deep concern among locals that the new builds won’t match the charm and quirks of Altadena, where century-old Craftsmans mingle with Colonial Revivals and English Tudors. New development can also , which is why some to buy up lots to resell them below market value to displaced locals. The collective fear? An Altadena ego death, where the community fades into suburban sprawl obscurity. The potential culprits? Developers.
June 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Are Trump voters honest when they say "I didn't vote for this"?
Many voters hold inconsistent opinions.
Here's a Pew poll in which 7% of self-identified atheists say they are absolutely certain that God exists […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
June 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Highway agencies to cyclists: Obey all road signs.
Also highway agencies to cyclists: Ignore this road sign.
Bike route sign on same pole with signs saying Do Not Enter 7-9:30 am
May 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
How preservation is sold to the public:
https://wapo.st/4dDr1Ut
How it works more often than not in practice:
https://www.arlnow.com/2025/05/27/review-panel-doesnt-like-aesthetics-of-planned-inn-of-rosslyn-redevelopment/
Home of President John Tyler purchased & restored by his grandson and opened to the public. Builder of 8-story apartment house told to redesign project to match style of nondescript 1950s motel it will replace.
May 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Arlington VA historic preservation board votes against proposed 8-story apartment house because "the design did not evoke the mid-century modern style" of the motel (pictured here) that it will replace […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
The 2-story motel in its heyday, with no obvious difference from other motels built in the 1950s.
May 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
@2avesag.as I don't see why this is pretextual. The rationale for canceling the agreement suggested by DOJ is that their new priorities are to fund highways instead of transit and remove obstacles to driving. This is true, unlike the absurd argument they make […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
awareness” that FHWA is “changing position,” and “consider the serious reliance interests,” attendant with the buildout of the tolling infrastructure of the CBDTP—building on these same elements that are already included in the Secretary's letter. In addition, if FHWA determines that non-compliance cannot be remedied by imposing specific conditions, see 2 CER. § 200.339 (referencing 2 C.F.R. § 200.208), it should follow all applicable notice and hearing provisions, see, e.g. 2 C.ER. §§ 200.341, 342, and also evaluate whether a new NEPA analysis is required to assess the environmental impacts of terminating the CBDTP.
April 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
@ryanlcooper.com Not so. Zoning doesn't curb supply of 1-family houses, only multi-family. (It even forces people who want apartments into group houses.) The decline in apartment-building after the nimby explosion in the 1970s dwarfs the 2008 crash.
I agree […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
FRED says what I say it says.
April 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
@ddayen.bsky.social I agree on power analysis. The big power in housing is upscale homeowners, Rs more than Ds. Left "anti-gentrification" nimbys just give them cover.
Not so at all that "No zoning law or agglomeration of zoning laws has had the impact on […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
FRED graph says what I say it says.
April 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Victoria, Australia creates state-wide setback & footprint standard for apartments, rowhouses, duplexes & ADUs up to 3 stories high. Approval is by-right with no "compatibility" requirements. Neighbors cannot appeal […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Key elements of the new townhouse and low-rise deemed-to-comply standards Area Change Appealrights Objector appeal rights removed when developers meet the deemed-to-comply standards Neighbourhood character Remove ability to consider local neighbourhood character policies if standards are met and no overlays apply (e.g. heritage). Street setback Reduced to six metres or the same distance asa neighbouring property’ street setback, ‘whichever is lesser Height Buildings up to 11 metres tall can be deemed compliant Site coverage Between 60 and 70 per cent, depending on the type of residential zone Side setback Allowance to build up to 11 metres high with a 3-metre setback from north boundaries and 6 metres from south boundaries Tree canopy Minimum 10 per tree canopy cover on sites up to 1000 square-metres and 20 per cent on larger lots Private openspace Reduced to 25 square-metres (from 40) Overshadowing ~~ Shadowing should not be higher than 50 per cent of a neighbour’ private open space Overlooking Direct views of a habitable room window, balcony or terrace to be considered within a 9- metre distance. Bedrooms do not count as a habitable room
March 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
@ryanlcooper.com Here's a WaPo headline that says it's "shocking" and then just five words later it's merely "problematic."
Trump's shocking military plan leak is problematic
March 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Amazing Trump administration non-denial denial. Treasury spokesperson says report that DOGE has cost govt $500 billion in tax revenues should be dismissed because it relies on anonymous sources, but demands anonymity for self.
I'm not sure how much of this is […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
After this report was published, a Treasury Department spokesperson called this story “sensational and baseless” and said claims from The Post’s anonymous sources “should be dismissed out of hand.” The Treasury spokesperson requested to remain anonymous, citing a department policy preventing them from speaking on the record.
March 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
You won't find a clearer case of someone literally Killed by a Traffic Engineer.
WaPo reports driver under police pursuit killed pedestrian when he "drove through the intersection, sped onto the highway shoulder and struck Montoya-Perez on the side of the […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
People waiting at a bus stop located on the wide paved shoulder of a 4-lane divided highway with no sidewalk. Traffic is backed up on both traffic lanes but the shoulder is clear except for the people standing at the bus stop.
March 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
@2avesag.as Here's another statement from FHWA that NY's lawyers might want to use in court. Cutting through the bureaucratic language, the highlighted text says that states have "undisputed autonomy" to choose the funding and financing approach in their […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
... making clear the undisputed autonomy of the public sponsor in determining the outcome of that assessment. The FHWA maintains it is the public sponsor's prerogative to explore and determine the funding and financing approaches it pursues in its capital program improvements.
February 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Capital Bikeshare, without advance notice to users, eliminates almost all undocked parking of e-bikes. You can only park at a dock or a "public bike rack" (whatever that means). If you interrupt your trip for more than 30 minutes, you will be fined $25.
I […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
How to park You can either dock or lock your ebike (not both at once). Dock at any Capital Bikeshare station for free or use the cable to lock to any public bike rack within the service area for an extra $2. Please don't lock the bike to itself or any other structures, including trees or signposts. And be sure not to block pathways, sidewalks, or ramps. Ebike rides that are not properly ended and remain inactive for over 30 minutes will incur a $25 fee, in addition to the per minute rate.
February 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Kudos to @MontgomeryCountyMDDOT snow removal.
Cycletrack outside my window plowed yesterday.
Plows dumping snow across cycletrack wake me up at 1:00 this morning.
Cycletrack clear by 11:00 this morning.
January 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
The Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906 authorized seizure of food with additives "injurious to health." In 1930s FDA started seizing apples with too much lead arsenate (big pesticide of time). FDA had to prove "injurious" in court in each case to a farm-country jury, and often lost. 3/5
1930s-attired federal agent next to sign: All trucks stop, apple inspection.
January 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
USDOT says it! Widening highways & building new ones does not reduce traffic congestion.
New USDOT report says that the "best practice" for traffic modeling is to assume that, in a city or suburb, the amount of traffic on an area's highways increases in […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
With freezing rain in forecast, contractors come to spread salt. Use bike lane as parking lot. Spread salt on sidewalk & side road, but not on bike lane.
December 24, 2024 at 2:13 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
From the southeast corner of the intersection, which is occupied by a large Best Western motel, there is no marked crosswalk. To reach the bus stops on the NW & NE corners, riders must use an unmarked crosswalk located inches from high-speed traffic to cross […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Hurley Avenue, with no sidewalks. Slope, lightpole, and retaining wall make it impossible to walk down Hurley on either side, so that anyone walking between the motel and the bus stop must cross at the dangerous intersection.
December 15, 2024 at 5:13 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
This is the ultimate in far-right - ultra-left convergence. Pairing a 7th-century slaughter of Jews with Communist & anarchist symbols.
Most likely Islamists to start with. (Leftist movements don't teach you about Khaybar. Also, Communists & anarchists […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Graffiti on Hillel House pairs Khaybar with Communist & anarchist symbols.
December 11, 2024 at 4:44 PM
benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Think about what this picture says about official toleration of drivers' lawbreaking. @MontgomeryCountyMDDOT saw fit to post a sign warning drivers to slow down to 15 mph right in front of a sign that requires them to come to a full stop.
h/t https://www.threads.net/@actfortransit/post/DCfn_vntoum
November 18, 2024 at 2:24 AM