San Francisco’s past, Park Ridge’s future? Photo from the project site.

Neighbors appeal for LESS parking? Can you believe it could ever happen? It’s not in DC, but San Francisco, where the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association appealed a recent Planning Board decision allowing a project with 27 spaces for 36 units. Zoning only allows 18 units (one per two units), but the Planning Board can grant an exception. When they did, the neighborhood association (unsuccessfully) fought against the extra parking.

$100,000 per space? Meanwhile, in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, the local business association wants the city to buy an existing building and tear it down to build a surface parking lot of 8-10 spaces. Likely cost: $1 million, or $100,000 to $125,000 each.

Metro seats for federal dough: Councilmember Jim Graham introduced a bill to give the federal government two seats on the WMATA board, a condition of getting the $150 million a year recently authorized. DC, Maryland, and Virginia each have to dedicate $50 million a year of their own revenue to qualify for this federal match. According to the Post, Congress will have to include the allotment in each year’s budget, meaning there’s no guarantee they will keep their word. Sensibly, Graham’s bill would grant the feds their seats, but only so long as they hold up their end of the bargain and cough up the promised money. Tip: Ben T.

You’re wrong about how long it takes: Tom Vanderbilt relays a few facts showing that we’re bad at estimating time on trips. Most people in airport lines think they’re waiting longer than they are. And a UK study showed that when they added real-time bus tracking information, people thought the buses were more frequent and more often on time, even though that wasn’t true. Hey Metro: can we get that NextBus please?

Where’s the beef? Or the utility and transit projects? Maybe this list is inaccurate, but points out that the DC stimulus wish list on the Conference of Mayors site only lists road projects. Don’t we need billions in water upgrades and stuff?

Light Purple takes another step: The Montgomery County Planning Board endorsed light rail for the Purple Line. “The Board agreed with staff recommendations to go with a surface route along Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring and eliminate a proposed station at Wayne Avenue and Dale Drive.

Really nice Mall map: Save the Mall has a new mall map (PDF) showing major atractions, food and restrooms facilities, Circulator and Metro stops, and more. Give this to your out of town friends next time they visit, but not this weekend.