Comments on: Bob Marbourg: The man who tells all of Washington where to go.

By: dave statter

dave statter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:33:02 +0000

Well John, that last line sure is an interesting statement. I will pass it on to both the wife and my old traffic partner. Hillary is going to be very dissapointed in you.

Thanks for writing and hope you weathered the storm okay.

Statter

By: John Harney

John Harney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:59:34 +0000

Dave:

Just wanted to add my appreciation to ‘Beltway Bob’ and WTOP. I depended on Lisa Baden and Bob Marbourg each and every day for many years. Now that I am living in slower lower Delaware, I don’t have a need for daily traffic reports. Fortunately (I guess), I still have family and interests in the DC area, and make many trips inside the Beltway. As soon as I pass the Kent Narrows Bridge heading west, the radio is tuned to 103.5 for the remainder of my journey until the EZ Pass flashes ‘Paid’ on the return trip. As much as I enjoy listening to Hillary and the afternoon drive time crew, I really perk up at ‘traffic and weather on the eights’.

By: dave statter

dave statter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:29:18 +0000

Kate,

We all learned it from your dad.

Angie,

If you liked that, check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS0q-Gfo3sA

Statter

By: Oh My GOFF!

Oh My GOFF! — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:59:50 +0000

I love Bob! Never met him but enjoy listening to him on my LONG commutes from hometown Herndon. DAVE that pic is a riot!You still got it! ha!

By: Scotty

Scotty — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:48:09 +0000

I relied on WTOP news and traffic for 24 years while commuting from Maryland to Arlington, Virgnia. As a firefighter, being late to work was out of the question. Bob “saved” me numerous times. I also called WTOP (after 911 of course) several times to report traffic incidents, and it was a pleasant surprise to have Bob actually answer the phone. Speaking directly to him relieved the middle person, his questions about the incident were always pointed and knowledgeable. I am now retired and living in Florida. I miss WTOP’s news and traffic format as their are no true news stations here. They call themselves such, but are full of “talk shows” with nonsense programming, occasionally interrupted by a short news segment, and usually outdated traffic! Not having visited the DC area in some time, I was saddened to find what I thought was WTOP no longer on the radio during a recent trip north. However, an apparent frequency change put you all up the dial just a bit, and it made my day when discovered WTOP again, and I once again heard Bob’s familiar voice! Kudos to WTOP and Bob outstanding customer service! To Metro DC folks, you guys have a good thing going on there with WTOP!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:27:55 +0000

I just want to know where he gets his hair cut? Must be at the Salad Bowl…..LOL. Keep up the good work.

By: David J. Smolar

David J. Smolar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:49 +0000

I called Bob the other night while driving home on 495. Passed a disabled on an offramp, blocking one of 2 lanes, easy to pass. But I called anyway, telling him the car was black, with Georgia plates, smoke coming from under the hood, no hazards on, and only 1/4 mile from a gas station. And he got it: it wasn’t something that would shut down the highway but it was an accident waiting to happen. He didn’t report it but he called it into PD/FD/EMS, etc., someone who could help the driver.
And that’s why I called Bob.
In 1998, I was recently out of college and in broadcasting school when I worked with Bob. I worked at WTOP while doing traffic for Shadow Broadcasting, in front of and behind the mic. And I wouldn’t call what I’m about to say a ‘life lesson’, but I chatted with Bob one night after he got off the air, told him where I was in life and in my head, and heard what he had to say.
He was a Vassar grad who, from what I remember and gathered, never foresaw doing what he does now, certainly not for as long as he’s been doing it. And it made me realize that while most jobs are stepping stones to something more, some jobs stay with you as you grow. His childhood and education didn’t make him a traffic guy, but it made him the kind of guy you want doing traffic, someone who wants folks to be safe, happy, and get where they need to go while maintaining a sense of community and corporate responsibility.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:44:43 +0000

I had depended on Bob for years. I started listening to sirius radio for my traffic updates and got a garmin with a supposedly “live traffic” subscription. Both of them couldn’t hold a candle to Bob. I’m sorry I strayed and it won’t happen again. Thanks for your service Bob and give us another 30.

By: Kate Ryan

Kate Ryan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:24:19 +0000

Dave: Thanks for a great piece. Bob is –as you say–unique. Like you, and all the great pros out there, he cares passionately about getting it right, and serving the public. I know for some that’s a hard concept to grasp, but it’s true. Thanks for the work you do, and thanks for sharing this.

By: dave statter

dave statter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:09:49 +0000

Thanks Jeff. The sad part for me is Bob is now skinny and I am fat (and without all that hair). I too am one of his amateur traffic reporters. Or is it more like semi-pro for me?

Statter