Breakfast links: No funding
Trail defunded
Montgomery County has deleted funding for the Metropolitan Branch Trail until after 2018. It also would eliminate 2 grade-separated crossings. (Cycle MoCo, Rebecca Mills)
No bill this year
Secretary LaHood doubts a transportation funding bill will pass this year. He blames partisan politics and an election-shortened legislative session. (Post)
Less of a deduction
Governor O’Malley wants to reduce the mortgage interest deductions claimed by those making over $100,000. The cap will help Maryland balance its budget. Could this be a first step in eliminating the deduction completely? (Post)
Smart growth advocate to HPRB
Andrew Aurbach has been nominated for the Historic Preservation Review Board. He is a strong supporter of urbanism and smart growth, and served on the board previously. (City Paper)
Transit tweets are negative
“Sentiment analysis” of tweets about transit show that most tweets about transit involve complaints; when people are happy with their transit, they generally don’t tweet it. (Atlantic Cities)
New MD website lacks open data
A draft redesign of the Maryland legislature’s website failed to include open data or social media integration, says Heather Mizeur and other delegates who saw a mockup. (Maryland Reporter)
Frederick fights sprawl
Frederick’s planning commission rezoned some areas to farmland to stop sprawl and growing traffic. But some groups, including the country commissioners, are trying to get it changed back. (WAMU)
And…
Live, work, shop or play near M Street SE or SW? Fill out a DDOT survey on how to make it safer and better. … 18 people have picked up petitions to run for Ward 5 councilmember. (Frozen Tropics) … Arlington is aiming to become a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community, the first on the east coast. (Patch)