Posts by David Alpert — Founder
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“Swarovski Crystal City”? If Metro sells station naming rights, might the map one day look like this?
WMATA is considering selling some station naming rights to corporate sponsors. Here’s one way the map might look, if this were to happen. Keep reading…
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Maryland and Virginia will widen the American Legion Bridge. Will this make transportation better or worse?
The states of Maryland and Virginia announced an agreement Tuesday to build and widen the American Legion Bridge, which carries the Beltway between Fairfax and Montgomery counties. Should urbanists be pleased about fixing a major traffic problem without building an Outer Beltway, or frustrated that states which don’t have money for transit suddenly seem to have billions of dollars for this mega-project? Keep reading…
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DC will now allow solar panels in historic districts! (Mostly.)
Homeowners may be able to put solar panels on the fronts of their roofs in historic districts, under new sustainability guidelines released by DC’s Historic Preservation Office Friday. HPO may still push homeowners to adjust colors, appearance, and so forth of their panels, but won’t outright prohibit them. Keep reading…
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A connected bikeway network wins out over parking protection on P Street SW
Despite opposition from the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission, DC will build a protected bikeway on P Street SW, completing a missing link in the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Keep reading…
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The Democrats will control Virginia. What does this mean for transportation?
Virginia is now a wholly-blue state, as Democrats won majorities in both the state House and Senate in Tuesday’s election. They will have the opportunity to pass many previously-stalled legislative proposals, including on transportation and housing as well as hot-button national issues. Keep reading…
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WMATA may raise fares, restore some late-night hours, and offer free transfers. How equitable is this plan?
Monday morning, WMATA posted on its website a first look at the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which General Manager Paul Wiedefeld will present to the board. It includes some major elements transit and equity advocates had been asking for, and some elements that cause concern. Keep reading…
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Inside the Beltway in Fairfax County, here’s what Mason District candidates said on our issues
Penelope “Penny” Gross has represented Fairfax County’s Mason District since 1995, fending off both a primary and general election challenger four years ago. This year, her Democratic renomination was not contested, but she faces Republican Gary Aiken in the general election. Keep reading…
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Grappling with the climate crisis, DC’s preservation board rejects front-facing solar panels
“I applaud your greenness and your desire to save the planet,” said architect and preservation board member Chris Landis, “and I realize that we are in crisis politically as well as sustainably. But I just have this vision of a row of houses with solar panels on the front of them and it just — it upsets me.” Keep reading…
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Phil Mendelson added important affordable housing language to the Comp Plan, but some are trying to undo it
Way back in 2016, when we thought updating DC’s Comprehensive Plan would take merely a year or two, GGWash, alongside affordable housing groups, tenants’ organizers, developers, and others, formed the Housing Priorities Coalition. We didn’t agree on everything, but coalition members were willing to put aside differences to craft amendments to the Comp Plan on which they could unite. Keep reading…
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We’re 78% of the way to our annual reader goal, and other budget info
We’re in the middle of our fall member drive for the GGWash Neighborhood. (Have you joined?) I wanted to take a moment to explain where we are with our budget so far. Keep reading…