Part of the Anacostia segment. Click for the full map (pdf).

Thanks to Greater Greater Washington, we know that no decision to build or pull the Anacostia streetcar was made at yesterday’s public hearing, and that unless somebody introduces an actual piece of legislation the plan to construct the Anacostia line is still in place. We further know that the route settled upon for the Anacostia line is less than ideal, but that it’s easy to build and ready to go right now. If built, the Anacostia line would be essentially a commuter shuttle to Bolling Air Force Base, and not very useful otherwise, at least until more of a system can be built around it.

A lot of transit advocates are asking why the District is building an imperfect segment first. They ask why not build H Street, or Georgia Avenue first, visible locations where high ridership is guaranteed.

BeyondDC doesn’t think that’s the right question. Not right now, anyway. The planning for the Anacostia line is complete, something that cannot be said for any of the other segments. It may be a shame that two years ago officials decided to plan Anacostia first, but shikata ga nai, it’s done. With that planning having been completed and construction in Anacostia ready to begin, the real pertinent question instead becomes do we want this line at all? If we don’t care whether the Anacostia segment is ever completed, then fine, let’s drop it now and never look back. If, on the other hand, we intend the Anacostia segment to be part of the final city-wide system that we hope to build and operate decades from now, then the time to build the Anacostia line is now, since any delay will only increase the cost.

If we choose the “wait and get something perfect” option, then in 10 or 15 years when it finally becomes time to build the Anacostia segment, we will do so, it will cost more, and we will end up with the same system but at greater expense.

That’s silly.

Assuming we want the Anacostia segment as part of our final system, then there is no good reason to delay. Build the thing now, and move on to H Street ASAP.

In the mean time, count on Arlington to get the Columbia Pike streetcar up and running quickly so we have a more successful demonstration project. We need that NVTA money, Richmond.