Metro Speedrun: Racing Against Time and Budget Cuts
Manage episode 425274943 series 3507744
The DC Metro faces budget problems. But what can a high schooler contribute to the conversation around public transportation funding models? Turns out, by using the system just like we would anyway, and talking to other riders to get some more perspectives, we can learn more about what makes the Metro so special and what can be done to support it.
In this episode, my friends and I attempt a “transit speedrun”: trying to travel the whole system in less than 8 hours, 4 minutes, and 12 seconds.
Speedruns have become a popular way for transit enthusiasts (especially young people) to explore, celebrate, and bring attention to their city’s transit system. So in keeping with this tradition, I wanted to use the opportunity to explore a deeply important topic from the perspectives of three teenagers and a bunch of everyday riders.
Accompanying article on Greater Greater Washington: TBD
Our route: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18hRoHU_RxdomC1IKdpAiRpfdR0hkyCbVKb1fib8kMm4/edit?usp=sharing
Alex’s live tweets: https://twitter.com/dctranspotwt/status/1778020078895648928
Music was provided by Blue Dot Sessions:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
Thoughtless by Blue Dot Sessions
Other sources:
https://novatransit.org/valueoftransit/
https://dmvmoves.org/dmvmoves-events/taskforce-june10/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/12/29/metro-race-speed-run-guinness/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SziHV_jUodg
https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/09/08/wow-a-new-record-for-visiting-every-metro-station-80412/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/29/metro-public-transit-deficit-washington/
https://ggwash.org/collections/wmatas-fiscal-cliff
https://transitcenter.org/how-will-wmata-avoid-crisis-and-cover-costs-for-the-next-couple-years/
https://enotrans.org/article/wmata-reveals-plans-for-fiscal-cliff-doomsday-budget-one-year-from-now/
https://wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3A-Future-Financial-Planning-0621.pdf
https://dcist.com/story/24/02/02/dc-metro-deficit-proposed-funding-prevent-cuts/
https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/FY2025-Proposed-Budget-FINAL.pdf
https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/
(Among others)
8 episodes