Photo by Andrionni Ribo on Flickr.

Blowing smoke

Two Metro ventilation fans were blowing in the wrong direction, drawing smoke toward the stopped L’Enfant train. Another two of the six fans weren’t working at all. (Post)  

Blame the brakes

Door and brake problems caused 56% of train delays last year. The older 4000 series cars were least reliable. New 7000 series cars will eventually replace them, but not for some time. (City Paper)  

It’s Groundhog Day

WMATA can’t keep asking people to pay more and get less with its proposed budget that cuts service and raises fares. The agency has done this before, and Dr. Gridlock explains that riders have had enough.  (Post)  

Gas prices vs. Metro

Do lower gas prices draw people away from riding Metro? A statistical analysis says: a tiny amount, but not much. The economy, the size of transit benefits, and other factors affect ridership much more. (PlanItMetro)  

Loopholes big as a building

DC law gives tenants the first chance to buy a building if a landlord wants to sell, but one big loophole lets the owner sell 95% of it and not have it count as a sale. Now, another loophole has come to light. (City Paper)  

Raining cats and concrete

Pieces from a concrete overpass fell on a car in Prince George’s County. Maryland has 300 “structurally deficient” state and county bridges. The incident came up in a congressional hearing about transportation. (Post)  

DeBonis goes to “Washington”

Mike DeBonis won’t be reporting on DC any longer. Instead, he’ll report on “DC,” i.e. Congress, for the Washington Post. He looks back on the best and worst moments of being a local reporter. (City Paper)  

The guerrilla sign maker

When one man realized an I-5 symbol ought to be on a sign in Los Angeles but wasn’t, he made the sign himself and hung it in the dead of night. When Caltrans discovered it, they decided he was right and left it up. (99% Invisible)