Union Station with a wired streetcar. Photo from The Overhead Wire.

Whoosh

President Obama announced a $13 billion plan for high speed rail.  (Tip: Steve S.)  

Nothing to fear from overhead wires

The Overhead Wire, which writes about streetcars and light rail nationwide, argues that overhead wires are not as intrusive as people assume, and that Congress should remove the restriction on wires in DC that is blocking a streetcar network.  

Why people like streetcars

And speaking of streetcars, the economics bloggers get into the game as Tyler Cowan examines the enthusiasm for streetcars over buses and Ryan Avent, having freshly moved to Conde Nast’s Portfolio, responds. (JTS)  

Are signboards so bad?

Richard Layman asks if it’s really such a problem that shops and restaurants have been putting standing signboards on the sidewalks in front. DC plans to start enforcing rules against such signs.  

Counties eye ending parking subsidies

Fairfax County is considering charging for parking at four busy county parks, while a Montgomery County Council committee recommended ending the subsidy for free parking at libraries connected to pay garages, like at Rockville Town Center. (Connection, Gazette) Montgomery’s Council considered ending the subsidy last year but defeated the measure in a close vote.  

GOOD and bad on transit

GOOD creates a cute diagram of transit cuts evocative of the NYC subway map. On the blog, they wonder if transit fare cards could ever work like E-ZPass, where you could use the same device on systems from Boston to Washington and beyond? (Rob P.)  

Dc changes mind on CFSA move, imperils Ward 7 project

Many Ward 7 residents were enthusiastic about the planned move of DC’s Child and Family Service Agency to the Benning Road area, and its potential to catalyze development there. Now, the agency may move elsewhere instead, jeopardizing at least the project it would have anchored and potentially more. (Capital Community News, Sylvia Brown) Neighbors and the developers argue that DC is putting the short-term costs of leases over the long-term benefits to the city, while others, like Richard Layman, doubt the wisdom of moving city agencies as an economic development strategy.  (Tip: Sylvia Brown)  

Are Virginia counties hoarding education stimulus money?

The stimulus allocated lots of money for education, but Robley Jones argues that some Virginia counties are spending it on general budget needs instead of actually giving the money to their school districts.  

Still not inclusionary, again

Another DC Register is out, and Mayor Fenty still hasn’t published inclusionary zoning regulations, 70 days after the Council absolutely, finally, positively required it and two weeks after his administration promised the regs.