Recent Posts
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Gray budget proposal eliminates DDOT “Unified Fund”
One provision slipped into the Budget Support Act in the middle of the night eliminates DDOT’s “unified fund,” which dedicates transportation revenues for transportation improvements. Why should you care about this esoteric budget management tool? The Unified Fund gives DDOT the flexibility to move projects much more quickly than in the typical government… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Raising eyebrows, expectations and rates
New PG officials take office; Loudoun getting a bit more bikeable, walkable; Pepco will raise rates; Tax the food trucks; DCPS creates dashboard; Give DC control over its budget; Listen to the track signals; DC development developments; And…. Keep reading…
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Breaking: Gray DOES NOT cut streetcars
DC Council Chairman and Mayor-elect Vincent Gray and his staff have released their proposal for the FY2011 budget gap, and are not reprising the adventure of May 26: the H Street-Benning Road and Anacostia streetcars are still in the capital budget. This was the last financial hurdle to start the project, and the Council is expected to approve the streetcar plan as well today which… Keep reading…
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Why Prince George’s struggles with corruption
Two government employees in Prince George’s County sent along some observations they’d like to share with incoming County Executive Rushern Baker. We’ve agreed to publish their thoughts and keep their identities anonymous. Dear Mr. Baker, Congratulations on your recent election as County Executive. Having worked in the Prince George’s… Keep reading…
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Do elevators or underpass come first for Medical Center?
Montgomery County has wrapped up their study of multimodal access to Navy Med and ended up recommending a combination of new elevators to the Metro and a pedestrian and bicycle underpass. But there’s only enough funding for one. Which will it be? The Montgomery County Planning Board will discuss this issue at a public meeting tonight. They should listen to their staff… Keep reading…
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Metro proposes quintupling bicycle access mode share
Metro has completed its study of pedestrian and bicycle access to Metrorail stations. The recommendations include an aggressive yet important goal of tripling the percentage of riders who arrive by bicycle by 2020 and quintupling it by 2030. In 2007, 0.7% of Metrorail riders arrived by bicycle. Metro’s ridership is growing, but adding parking capacity is extremely… Keep reading…
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A fair budget includes a smarter tax increase
On Tuesday, the DC Council will vote on how we’ll close the District’s gaping budget gap. Grappling with a budget deficit of $188 million, that could balloon up to $500 million in 2011, the Mayor and DC Council have put virtually all city services on the chopping block. Human services, public safety, public education, health care, public works and the government… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Power struggles
Pepco has reliability problems; Orange Crush will continue; Fairfax Fire and Rescue wants design by fire truck; Education advice for Gray; Traffic deaths down in DC; More pay-by-cell parking in MoCo; Ghost bike in Fairfax; A responsive transit agency in Rhode Island; And…. Keep reading…
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Struck in DC this week: 9 pedestrians, 1 cyclist
Each week, we map cyclist and pedestrian crashes in the District. Keep reading…
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What’s That? #39
Each week I show small close-up photographs of three different well-known places and things related to the Washington, DC area. Keep reading…