Map of service outage this weekend, from WMATA

The Grinch stole playtime

The Kensington town council unanimously passed a resolution this week banning schoolchildren from using a public park.  Previously used by the adjacent Brookewood private school for recess, now only “caretakers with children five years old and younger can be in Reinhardt Park from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.”  Mayor Peter Fosselman “said the park is for taxpaying citizens, not abuse by a private non-profit school.” (WJLA, JTS)  (Tip: JTS)  

Green line severed

This weekend, the Green Line will be closed from Waterfront to Archives.  Yellow Line service will also be rerouted through the Rosslyn tunnel. Shuttle buses will be provided. (WMATA, Tom Veil)  (Tip: Tom Veil)  

Declining ridership means cuts

WMATA is “projecting that declining ridership will create a $22.4 million budget shortfall this fiscal year, forcing managers to urgently search for cuts in coming weeks.” Reportedly, the “estimated gap is based on ridership in July and August. If ridership does not bounce back by December, she said, the cuts could grow.” (Post) … WUSA9 quotes Michael Perkins in their article.  

Tougher penalties for phones than booze?

Metro’s new, tough policy against distracted driving by bus drivers is actually stricter than rules about alcohol and drug use. Some anti-drunk driving advocates think the rules against drugs and alcohol need to get tougher too. (Examiner)  

Franklin School RFP

DC has issued an RFP for the redevelopment of the grand historic Franklin School on Franklin Square. “Currently zoned for high density business and retail, the RFP indicates the developer may vary from this use.”  The RFP comes complete with requirements for the use of small businesses in the redevelopment, to go along with the historic preservation regulations. (DCMud)  

Another driverless car

WTOP provides another example of a press report about a seemingly driverless car. “A car drove into an office building in Bethesda. … An 82-year-old woman was driving her car into a driveway leading to the building. The car sped up, hit a pylon, went along a retaining and then went into the building in the front of the Citrine Salon.” The woman is driving the car, right up until the moment when it started speeding up and hit the pylon. (AP/WTOP) By comparison, the Post admits that the woman “lost control of the car.” (David A)