Photo from Robert Adam Architects.

Britons like classical architecture

About 75% of Britons preferred a classical building over a modern one in a recent study, despite most architects and commentators there being even more in the tank for modernism than they are here. Those architects just can’t wrap their heads around this survey result, calling respondents “dumb” and “superficial.” (Beatus Est)  (Tip: Test)  

Voters like transit

Three ballot initiatives for transit passed on Tuesday, and one anti-transit measure in Ohio failed. The Dallas Morning News transportation columnist thinks Texas gubernatorial candidates should come out for transit instead of hiding their views. (The Dallas Morning News via Streetsblog Capitol Hill)  (Tip: Test)  

Longer corridor, more cities transitway

Maryland has released results of their study on the Corridor Cities Transitway. The model shows that rerouting the line on a more circuitous route through the centers of planned development would bring in more riders than added cost, making the reroute likely (assuming the model is accurate). Katherine Shaver does a good job of representing the debate over light rail vs. bus and I-270 widening vs. transit in her piece. (Post) … The Transport Politic argues that putting transit right to the center of development instead of along a cheaper, nearby highway is the right move for places like Minneapolis.  (Tip: Test)  

“Home plate” building illustrated

ЦarЬchitect got copies of the plans for the small, low-rise that will replace the surface parking lot behind Mazza Gallerie in Friendship Heights. It’ll contain five stores and activate Western Avenue, and hopefully be replaced with something larger in the future.  (Tip: Test)  

New UMD housing, parking, biking

The real estate boom netted College Park few development projects. One, the Mazza Granmarc graduate student housing,  is about to start leasing. It’ll have a bike trail and a shuttle to UMD, but also probably too much parking. This could be College Park’s chance to recognize that massive parking isn’t necessary, if they haven’t already with their empty municipal garage. (Rethink College Park)  (Tip: Test)  

Blame the road designer, not the pedestrian

A driver seriously injured a Montgomery County high school student Thursday, which the police say was “outside a crosswalk” implying that the pedestrian shouldn’t have been in the driver’s way. But there’s no crosswalk anywhere there, and a sidewalk on only one side of the road, forcing anyone on foot to cross “outside of a crosswalk.” (Post, Ben Ross)  (Tip: Ben Ross)  

Get that dead body out of my way!

A Dallas police officer notices that people become much nastier when behind the wheel. After shutting down a freeway because someone had been killed, drivers yelled at the police officer “standing next to a blood-soaked white sheet.”(Freakonomics, Rob P)  (Tip: Rob P)