Washington, D.C., residents hoping for a speedy ride on the District’s $200 million streetcar had their trip halted Wednesday by a city snow plow parked on the tracks in the July sun.
What’s causing a @DCStreetcar backup? Oh just a poorly parked DC snow plow #ofcourse#snowplowinJulypic.twitter.com/6ADEucCXSA
— Shaun Courtney (@SCourtneyDC) July 6, 2016
Aside from the obvious question of why a city owned vehicle is preventing the city’s expensive streetcar from functioning, many are wondering what a snowplow is doing on the D.C. street on a 90 degree day in July.
The city government recently reduced parking options in the city and hiked fines for parking violations in an attempt to ease traffic congestion during Metro repairs, though it’s unlikely such fines apply to government vehicles. Vehicles caught parking in the streetcar lane are hit with $100 fines and are potentially impounded.
The District’s streetcar recently began operating in February after a 54-year hiatus, ten years of bureaucratic roadblocks and $200 million in taxpayer money. The streetcar system runs on a short stretch of track between Union Station and Benning Road.
D.C. officials issued more than $100,000 in fines for cars parked in the streetcar lane in
The city began issuing the $100 tickets for vehicles that are double parked, outside the white parking line or otherwise blocking the tracks during a time when it looked like the project might open within the foreseeable future.
It takes roughly 26 minutes to make it between the two destinations. Obstacles may add to that time, including street parking and illegally parked snowplows in the summer. A pedestrian walking the same path can complete the trip in just 27 minutes.
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