Photo by bumeister1 on Flickr.

Streetcar to National Harbor?

DC may study extending the streetcar to National Harbor in Prince George’s County. A line would help convention-goers get to DC and workers to jobs.  (WBJ)  

Tolls for interstates?

President Obama proposed a multi-year transportation bill, the GROW AMERICA Act. It would let states toll Interstates to raise revenue for transportation. (Post)  

Already raising fares?

Mayor Gray has appointed DDOT’s Matthew Brown as interim head. He immediately proposed raising the Circulator fare, a proposal the council had rejected last year. (Post)  

Train bridge banished

The “train bridge” that let people cross an unused track by walking through a train at the National Airport Metro station is now gone; instead, there is a temporary metal bridge. Metro is working to restore the switch so that trains can turn around at that station. (Post)  

Columbia yesterday and today

Columbia, MD was a radical vision to humanize the city. Now that it’s first generation of growth is over, can it adapt to new realities and tastes? (Smithsonian, Neil)  (Tip: Neil)  

Struggles for suburban office markets

The suburban office market in the DC region is underperforming compared to others in the US, while the urban office market is booming in comparison. (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)  

Google congestion pricing?

Mountain View, California is considering a sort of “congestion pricing” to deal with growing traffic from office complexes for Google and others, but it’s more of a cap on new construction that generates traffic. Google instead suggests more roads. Others suggest more housing. (Mountain View Online)  

And…

The DC Council will discuss CSX’s plans to rebuild the Virginia Avenue tunnel, which neighbors oppose. (Post) … A mathematical theorem could help people split rental costs. (UrbanTurf) … Data and maps show where people bike and run. (City Paper) … Pollutants in European urban rivers are harming species of wild birds. (Atlantic Cities)