| That was the question posed by one Warren Quenstedt during the early planning of rapid transit in Washington. He meant, in the words of Zachary Schrag, that a “good transportation system doesn’t simply move people from one place to another – it also shapes the places it serves”. Schrag, author of The Great Society Subway, a very fine history of the Metrorail system, contends in his recent Post editorial that today’s Washingtonia, from Chinatown to Ballston, owes a large part of its success and urbanity to Metro’s existence, and that had highways been built instead of subways we would live in a very different metropolis indeed. Schrag notes “today’s Washingtonians are the beneficiaries of a vision that was fought for and put into motion a generation ago. If they are grateful, they will repay the favor by laying more groundwork for the next generation.”
The editorial is well worth a read, as is his book. Thanks to Richard Layman for the heads up on this one. |
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May 9th, 2006 | Permalink
Tags: transportation
