Breakfast links: Get Smart
More ways to get a SmarTrip
All Metro stations now have at least one SmarTrip dispenser Roll-out of new machines were delayed while WMATA worked out the ADA compliance issues for those with visual impairments. (Post)
City Dems, rural GOP?
The presence of sidewalks strongly correlates with voting Democratic. But how much longer can Republicans continue to ignore cities? Paul Ryan actually wanted to campaign in cities. (Streetsblog, Atlantic Cities, Next American City)
Long poll lines need fixing
High turnout and too few voting machines and poll workers meant long lines on election day, particularly in swing state Virginia. Perhaps it’s time to reform voting and maybe look at online voting? (Post)
Transit agencies announce inauguration service
VRE will be closed, MARC will run limited service, and Metro will be open longer and run more trains for Obama’s second inauguration. (Examiner)
Get to Georgetown easier
Joe Sternleib, new Georgetown BID head, wants to make Georgetown easier to get to with performance parking, bike racks, cab stands, and more Circulators. Also, NPS control limits options for activity on the waterfront. (DCmud)
Outreach breeds support
Public and low-income housing agencies can do a better job of public outreach and thus build public support for their programs. This is particurally important as funding for such programs becomes harder to get. (RPUS)
A second term how to
To help cities, President Obama should cap the mortgage deduction, increase the gas tax, loosen arbitrary train safety standards, and give more credit to non-car dependent projects in funding decisions. (Atlantic Cities)
Where’d everyone go?
Director Ross Ching uses time-lapse photography to show what DC would look like without people. He has done similar works for New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. (DCist)