Breakfast links: Backtrack
Setback for TOD in New Carollton
A planned development at New Carrollton, with 442 residential units and Maryland’s housing agency, is indefinitely on hold because it could not get financing. (Gazette, JimT) (Tip: JimT)
Parkmobile sorry for politicizing fee hike
Parkmobile apologized for their email suggesting they hiked fees because of the Durbin Amendment to financial reform. Senator Durbin criticized Parkmobile and also DDOT for letting Parkmobile make the statement. (DCist)
Spend it all
DC suddenly discovered a surplus at the end of its fiscal year. The money, which had to be spent right away, will go to schools, Metro, and parks. (DCFPI)
Parking in the wrong places
Drivers are already parking illegally in the new L Street bike lanes. Some drivers also appear to be parking in the designated left turn lanes. However, DDOT has not yet put up all of the signs to direct drivers. (DCist)
Bikes should continue to LEED
LEED certification isn’t perfect developers sometimes game the system, but counting bike racks and showers isn’t the problem. (WashCycle)
OP has OPinions
The DC Office of Planning has launched a blog to talk about planning concepts. There’s also a new blog for the zoning update.
Trolley museum wants you
Like trolley history? If so, the National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring is looking for volunteers. They’ve struggled to get volunteers and patrons recently after the ICC construction forced them to move. (Gazette)
Free transit hits Europe
Tallin, Estonia, is making transit free. With a population of 416,000, it will be the largest city in the world with free transit. Châteauroux, France, a city of about 46,000 residents, found some success in offering free transit. (Atlantic Cities)
Sandy aftermath in NY
New York’s subway is in pretty bad shape and while biking and walking are still viable options for getting around, the increased reliance on cars and a closed port now means gas is running low. Could inflatable plugs have stopped some of the flooding? (Atlantic Cities, FABB, Daily Mail, charlie)