Breakfast links: Shorter streetcar (for now)
A shorter shortlist
DC has picked a three-team shortlist for its contract to build and manage the DC streetcar. But the contract for now only covers 8.2 miles instead of the full 22 that the administration had hoped for earlier this year. (City Paper)
New roads, more cars
Economists have definitively concluded that new roads induce demand for driving. In the short term, congestion pricing can help unclog roads, while investing in public transit is a clear long-term solution. (Vox)
MoCo’s first cycle track
Montgomery County began installing its first cycle track yesterday in White Flint. The street used to have curb parking but with the cycle track, the street can still accommodate street parking. (BethesdaNow)
Americans support transit
When it comes to transportation spending, Americans support expanding transit over new roads. A poll finds 54% of Americans want to build more transit, while 41% prefer building new roads. (Streetsblog)
Easy names
As Loudoun searches for a name its coming Silver Line Metro stations, how about just using the most obvious and simple names possible: Sterling and Ashburn? They should be easy for riders to remember and give a sense of place. (BeyondDC)
Real estate concerns
Metro ridership is falling, and commercial real estate companies are taking notice. A stagnant local economy, a declining federal workforce, and telecommuting are driving real estate concerns. (Post)
Jobs drive more mobility
Do people move for jobs or for housing? A new study claims the two are related, but in general, finding a job drives more people to find new housing, while the reverse happens less frequently. (CityLab)
Commercial zoning crash
Companies today require less office space, which hurts suburban counties that rely on commercial real estate for tax revenue. In Loudoun County, the commercial market is shrinking, and the county doesn’t want to rezone the land as residential. (Bacon’s Rebellion, Loudoun Times)
And…
Maryland’s next governor may adjust toll rates on the Intercounty Connector. (Post) … Building the Potomac Yard Metro stop is the top priority for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. (Alexandria Times) … NYC’s new tourism posters encourage residents to visit other parts of the city. (CityLab)