Breakfast links: Connect the dots
Virginia reconnects their grid
A new Virginia law will require new subdivisions to build connected street grids instead of cul-de-sacs (or forego public maintenance and plowing). Cul-de-sac streets are harder to reach for emergency vehicles and divert all traffic onto increasingly burdened collector roads.
Virginia’s new standards will also narrow the allowable width of subdivision streets. The excessively wide ones common today encourage speeding in residential neighborhoods. Good for Virginia, but I can’t help noticing Eric Weiss’s lede that says Virginia “is taking aim” at cul-de-sacs. The article also quotes irate homeowners before explaining the value of the move. (Max, Joey, Stephen, Cavan, Gavin, Ryan Avent and BeyondDC). (Tip: Max)
MoCo is caring about sharing
Montgomery County will solicit bids to place car sharing vehicles in county garages and parking lots. Bids will open this summer for implementation around the end of the year. A Silver Spring advisory board has been lobbying for the change for two years. (Gazette)
13% of SmarBike subscribers live in other states
That’s one of the statistics Bicycle Examiner found out about SmartBike’s 1,000 subscribers from Clear Channel, the operator of SmartBike. I wonder how many live in DC but “live” somewhere else? Via WashCycle.
No more passes with Metrocheks
You won’t be able to buy passes with Metrochecks anymore. Riders can only buy paper farecards and SmarTrips. Update: Michael adds that you might be able to get “SmartBenefits Vouchers” to get the passes; he’s investigating.
Metro plans to allow passes on SmarTrips, but implementation originally promised in 2008 slipped at least to September 2009. There are probably a lot of bus riders that get a transit subsidy that would prefer to get passes than to get an equivalent amount of money in regular fares. This is the second time delayed Smartrip upgrades have caused problems for fare policy changes; Metro eliminated paper transfers before launching the ability to add SmarTrip value at retail stores. (Michael Perkins) (Tip: Michael Perkins)
Chicago drivers annoyed by higher rates, snafus
Chicago’s experiment in privatizing its parking meters is experiencing a few bumps. Some stickers show the wrong zones, some meters charge the wrong amounts, and more meters are broken. The Tribune also lists “stepped-up writing of tickets” in its list of problems, but it’s not clear that’s a problem. (Chicago Tribune, Jasper)
Connolly looking to the next Metro extension
Northern Virginia Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran introduced a bill to authorize (but not appropriate any funds) for studies of Metro expansions of the Blue, Orange, and Yellow Lines as well as “capacity expansion” in Virginia, Maryland, and DC (like this?) (KFS) (Tip: KFS)
BART considers charging for parking on weekdays
BART is considering charging at its previously free parking lots. The San Francisco area transit agency currently subsidizes parking at a rate of about $1-2 per day. Elected BART board members are concerned about upsetting their constituents, most of whom live in car-dependent suburbs. (Streetsblog, Michael P) (Tip: Michael P)
Taller and greener in Arlington
Arlington will give bonus density for LEED Platinum buildings. LEED Gold buildings will keep the current rules, and lower ratings (Silver and Certified) will get less density than they would today. Meanwhile, some neighbors are upset about density in Clarendon. Zimmerman says the world’s not going to end. (Sun Gazette, Joey) (Tip: Joey)
Mini links
Fairfax is proposing to reduce service on the Fairfax Connector as part of $650 milllion in budget cuts (Chuck Coleman) … DDOT fills in the “button moat” to cross Rock Creek Parkway at Virginia Avenue (We Love DC, Stephen Miller) … Joey notices that the SmartBike site shows a photo of Arlington on its front page, even though the bikes can’t be used where the photo was taken. … Maryland is borrowing even more from the future to keep the ICC shovels going. (Examiner) (Tip: Chuck Coleman)