Monte Edwards

Providing practicable alternatives to automobile commuting should be the overriding theme of the moveDC Plan. Commuter rail is the most efficient and cost-effective means of doing so. 75 percent of the cars on DC streets during the day are non-DC residents.  Metrorail stations in downtown DC are at or near capacity and even with planned improvements, their capacity will be exceeded by 2020 (Figure T-2, page T-4). The bridges that bring Metrobuses, commuter buses, intercity buses and private vehicles in from Virginia are badly congested during rush hour.  The Plan needs to address the ability of commuter rail to provide a practicable alternative to Metrobus, Metrorail and vehicular commuting.