Dear Jim Graham,

If you are going to take an active interest in transportation projects in the District that is wonderful. Your comments, and comments from your constituents, can be very helpful. Really.

But for the love of God, please stop butting in at the 11th hour.

Everyone appreciates your involvement in the streetcar planning now, but your insistence on becoming involved only after years of planning had already happened delayed construction. You had three years to voice your concerns about the Anacostia streetcar, and didn’t do so until it was well past the appropriate time.

Now you’re pulling the same act again, with the 15th street bike lane. DDOT proposed the project a year ago and sent residents a letter informing them of the impending construction last month. The proposal has been widely known-about and anticipated by the transportation activist community. Yet today you’re claiming the project is a surprise.

Here’s the deal, Jim. If you expect to be taken seriously as a voice of authority in these matters, you’ve got to do a better job of knowing about them. You can help, but you’ve got to start getting in early. Throwing a fit after all the decisions have already been made and after anyone paying attention has already had plenty of opportunity to be involved just isn’t good government.