Protestors waiting for government service at Vienna. Photo by skellam.

Big government didn’t do enough for me when I was protesting big government

You can’t really make this up. Some of the “tea party” protestors, who rallied against government spending and government programs, are upset that Metro didn’t do more to prepare for their needs. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) is calling for an inquiry into the performance of the taxpayer-funded system. (WSJ, JTS)  (Tip: JTS)  

Life imitates Colbert

There’s a new Twitter feed from USDOT on the upcoming distracted driving summit. @naparstek joked, “I just crashed my car while checking the US DOT’s new distracted driving Twitter feed.” Stephen Colbert had a similar idea.  

Who needs a Webb of sidewalks and bike paths?

Virginia Senator Jim Webb voted to allow state DOTs to cut bike and ped funding, supporting an amendment from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). The amendment still failed. Webb says the vote was to “give states more flexibility” in transportation budgets, which has some merit, but most DOTs would just dump it all into freeways and neglect bikes and peds. That was certainly Coburn’s hope. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)  

Private Park(ing) Day at Garden District

After imposing some crazy conditions on Park(ing) Day, DDOT told organizers they couldn’t get permits in time at all. Instead, organizers will turn a big parking lot into a park at Garden District’s new location at 14th and S (across from their old location). It’ll be a park from 11 am to 9 pm tomorrow (Friday).  

Too many bus crashes or not?

The press is picking on Metro for letting bus drivers stay on the job even if they have a few “minor” collisions. But why.i.hate.dc points out that bus drivers do a lot of driving, and it’s hard to tool around all day in a huge bus without occasionally hitting something. On the other hand, Carla Proctor’s crashes before the one that injured Amanda Mahnke might be “indicators of poor judgment.” … Speaking of why.i.hate.dc, they apparently dont.hate.ggw.  

DC ending inspections

As part of its budget cuts, DC is ending auto safety inspections for private vehicles. They will still have to pass regular emissions tests, and taxis and other commercial vehicles will still need inspections. In a comment that doesn’t just try to let drivers do whatever they want, AAA’s Lon Anderson says the move is a bad idea. (Post) … Ironically, just this morning I got an automated email from the DMV reminding me that my car’s safety inspection expires in one month.  

Gateway okay, but more passenger trains please

TPB supported CSX’s National Gateway initiative at yesterday’s meeting. However, they amended the letter to push CSX harder for more passenger rail “slots” along area lines. (Post) … For more on National Gateway, see Matt Johnson’s thorough discussion.