Photo by B. Baltimore Brown on Flickr.

Storm delays region

The winter storm that hit the DC area has closed or delayed openings at schools and governments across the region. While thousands lost power, WMATA says buses and trains are running as planned. (Post)  

Are Walmarts coming west of the Park?

Walmart’s entry into Chicago shows striking similarity to DC: the store promised to invest in poor areas but created no net new jobs or sales tax revenue and has now begun opening stores in richer neighborhoods. (Post)  

Jurisdictions must prioritize Metro projects

After supporting Metro plans to decrease crowding through 8-car trains and station expansion, local jurisdictions must now fund the projects, which may need to be staggered to accommodate budgets. (Post)  

Metro works on customer service

WMATA is working on improving customer service in both measurable on-time and maintenance metrics as well as specific initiatives that improved lighting, maintained cleaner rail cars, and upgraded NextBus.  (Post)  

Companies choose urban locations

Companies are increasingly putting offices downtown, especially in the most desirable metropolitan areas, to foster connectedness and draw young talent. The moves leave behind some established employees, as well as former suburban trophy campuses. (Yahoo Finance, The Urbanophile)  

From College Park to college town?

College Park plans to out-compete other neighborhoods and towns for the amenities that professors and students desire: good public schools, safer streets, and more housing options. (Post)  

Consultants favor National Harbor casino

Analyses of potential casinos in Prince George’s find that MGM’s proposed location at National Harbor would provide more tax revenue than competing proposals due to its proximity to DC and Virginia. (Post)  

How is bikeshare doing?

A new report finds that station density and rides-per-resident are the most important bikeshare metrics. Financial performance is also important, with CaBi receiving distinction as the least subsidized. (Streetsblog)  

And…

Tech companies may be starting in DC, but cannot resist moving to more established cities as they grow. (Post) … Could a crowded field and good economy keep Gray in office? (Post) … Did anyone take the weekend MARC to Baltimore to experience the German Christmas Market? (Post)