Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Overhead Wires to Supply Streetcar Power Would Cause Serious Problems on the Pike

Hi Yupette,

Thanks for providing information about the problems with streetcars. One hazard that needs to be mentioned are the overhead wires that would provide power to the streetcars on the Pike. In fact, the overhead wires are subject to damage from several sources, high winds, ice, and being struck by vehicles. In high wind and ice conditions power could be disrupted for days. When vehicles hit and bring down overhead power lines street-level vehicles and pedestrians are liable to be struck by live wires. Even a slightly damaged overhead streetcar power line would cause a system disruption for hours. Why would anyone contemplate installing such an antiquated transit system in the 21st Century?

Peter 22204

33 comments:

Philly Native for BRT on the Pike said...

The overhead wires that would provide power to streetcars on the Pike are a maintenance headache. The tension constantly needs adjustment and the insulators and hardware that support the wires constantly need to be inspected for loose connections.

Anonymous said...

Overhead wires and a power system? More expensive public infrastructure we don't need and don't want.

Anonymous said...

How much $$$$$ is Jay Fi$ette's domestic partner making by providing "consulting services" to the $treetcar $ystem's planning and engineering services contractors?

Anonymous said...

How many street crossings would be configured so vehicles over, say, 10 feet in height could cross under the wires? Anyone seen how big the newest UPS delivery trucks are?

Anonymous said...

Depending upon who you talk with at Virginia Power, between 98% and 99% of all the power used by everybody for everything in Arlington comes from nuclear reactors and from burning fossil fuel.

Jeff said...

What the HELL is going on with Zimmerman's G-D streetcar system? Are we going to have to have a Fire-EMS unit permanently deployed to respond to streetcar emergencies?

Anonymous said...

Make that a heavy rescue unit, with EMS backup.

Anonymous said...

"Dedicated Response" to streetcar emergencies? How about a couple of dedicated personal injury law firms that will sue Arlington County's a$$ over streetcar-related injuries?

Anonymous said...

Zimmie and cronies say: "Damn the maintenance headaches, full speed ahead! What's that, the "peasants" don't like it?!?! Eff them, they exist to shut up and pay more taxes. I want my choo-choo and I want it NOW, or I'll hold my breath until I turn blue! My way, my way, my way NOW!"

Anonymous said...

This entire streetcar charade sucks. The Pike is a major arterial not a residential street in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Anonymous said...

If the urban village idiots get to build their stupid streetcar system on the Pike I will seriously consider attending law school so I can set up a personal injury practice in Arlington litigating streetcar accidents and have lifetime job security and a big income..

Anonymous said...

There will be a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting about the Street Car Project on March 27, 6:46-9 p.m.
The County Board will hold a series of eight Neighborhood Town Halls County residents are welcome to attend any session to speak directly with County Board Members on any topic. You do not need an appointment. Each session will be held from 6:46-9 p.m.

March 27, 6:46-9 p.m.

Streetcar Town Hall
Kenmore Middle School - Auditorium
200 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA 22204

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CountyBoard/page88148.aspx

Anonymous said...

Meetings...schmeetings. The County Board no longer listens and hasn't listened in years.

Zimmy won't allow a photo of the Las Vegas BRT or any other new BRT to appear anywhere.

Zimmy even changed the County Board meeting rules so citizens can no longer display photos, graphs, etc., during public comments at County Board meetings. What a corrupt piece of $#!+.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Oh...watch out Cindy, here come the 2100 Trolls. Wazza matter, doodog, drax, yuppieweenie, boring day on ArlNow?

Anonymous said...

I guess there wasn't a County Board Meeting today.

2100 said...

County Board meeting was yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said: "Oh, Oh...watch out Cindy, here come the 2100 Trolls. Wazza matter, doodog, drax, yuppieweenie, boring day on ArlNow?"

Drax is the worst. Total shill for the Board, 2100 always right, etc. He/She is an arrogant smart alec that "knows everything", is "always right", everyone else is stupid/dumb and should just sit at his/her feet and "humbly drink in the wisdom".

Anonymous said...

Hey everybody, keep checking the news to see how long the Boston streetcar system will be inoperative because of the blizzard.

Anonymous said...

Drax? Non-resident on-the-job retiree who 'works' at 2100 (when not 'working' from a Delaware or North Carolina vacation home) facilitating the deals the other non-resident on-the-job retirees make with out-of-state REITS to urbanize all of Alrlington's suburban neighborhoods.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said: "Drax? Non-resident on-the-job retiree who 'works' at 2100 (when not 'working' from a Delaware or North Carolina vacation home) facilitating the deals the other non-resident on-the-job retirees make with out-of-state REITS to urbanize all of Alrlington's suburban neighborhoods."

Back when, Drax also went by Meeho, Dynaroo, and Doodley. Biggest smart-alek, arrogant, uppity prick on ARLNow. Totally snarky to everyone on ARLNow. Back when, I used to post comments, but after a while, I got sick of Drax/Meeho/Dynaroo/Doodly and some of the other ill-mannered boors.

Anonymous said...

Cindy, I will send you some info about the major league 'pay to play' operation in progress aka U.S.S. Arlington commissioning aka major league corruption of every publicly funded organization in Arlington County.

Joan 22207 said...

Drax et. al. - non-residents who consider Arlington residents, taxpayers, voters to be "the enemy" because we don't want to be urbanized by their corporate REIT cronies.

Anonymous said...

Non-residents? Like the 60% to 70% of the future users of the Jay Fisette Aquatic Center?

Anonymous said...

Non-residents? Like 50% of the present users of Barcroft sports center and Fairlington community center?

Anonymous said...

Publisher of ArlNow has total control over what appears on the blog. Moreover, he knows the IP addresses of everyone who posts. Tells me ArlNow is another pro-status quo smart growth urbanization booster charade like the three other major news blogs.

Anonymous said...

Then there are the are Arlington Government's non-resident "decision makers" who get to make spare change providing "consulting services" for the County Board's pet corporate cronies as a fringe benefit in return for going along with the program.

Anonymous said...

Anon., you forgot to mention all the Arlington County employees who live outside the County and who get to enroll their kids in Arlington schools as a fringe benefit.

fairgirl said...

Non-residents? Parking lot is often full at the Fairlington Community Center and streets around the community center are parked out too. Why doesn't Alexandria construct tot lots in its parks? Also, Alexandria is approving massive in-fill near Del Ray with no additional public infrastructure. So, guess where Alexandria residents drive for outdoor recreation?

Anonymous said...

Arlington Board is a completely corrupt regime. Will allow thousands to be hurt and killed by streetcar tracks and overhead wires as its 'legacy'.

Anonymous said...

Fairlington is a community that was planned for the well being of its residents. In-fill redevelopment over the past 30 years has been planned to profit out-of-state REITs and developers.

Anonymous said...

Check out how full the parking lots and garage at Barcroft Sports Center are on weekends - mostly being used by non-residents.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, and the sheep...I mean 22202 residents... think their neighborhood won't be standing room only when Vornado gets to do its infill thing?

Anonymous said...

I don't suppose anyone who is pushing for this street car mess plans to make their way down Columbia Pike in the Four Mile Run area during rush hour. Cars turning into all the businesses, cars turning left onto Four Mile Run Dr, the narrow road bed, and the amount of congestion isn't going to be helped a bit when you have a street car (or several of them) sitting stuck when there is an accident in the right lane. At least with buses, they can drive around the accident and keep going, or take side roads (depending on where the incident occurs). I'd like to see them divert a railed, overhead wired street car around an accident. Good luck with that!