Breakfast links: Montgomery for transit
No service cuts
Montgomery councilmembers Roger Berliner, Nancy Floreen, and Tom Hucker urged WMATA not to raise fares or cut service, saying it could push people to drive and trigger a “death spiral.” They say WMATA should rely more on dedicated state funding and needs serious organizational reform. (WTOP)
Purple please
For Montgomery County, the Purple Line is a top priority that should bring 100,000 jobs. County Executive Ike Leggett explains why there’s no good alternatives to the transit line. (WBJ)
Legalization looms
On Thursday it will become legal to possess and grow marijuana in DC, but only small amounts, not outdoors, and not for sale. In a letter, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) threatened Mayor Bowser with jail time if her administration doesn’t block the voter-approved law. (WAMU, Post)
Aiports less uber
Uber drivers can’t idle at National or Dulles Airport anymore, but must instead must wait until passengers book a ride to enter airport property. Since it will take longer to get a ride, it’s likely more passengers will opt for taxis. (WAMU)
Ped death leads to charges
A speeding driver, allegedly under the influence of drugs, lost control of his SUV and killed a pedestrian near Judiciary Square on Monday night. Police charged the driver with involuntary manslaughter. (WTOP)
Build for safety
A bicyclist was killed by a snowplow driver near Richmond last week. The road’s designers clearly didn’t have any users other than drivers in mind. Why can any place get away with building roads like this? (Daily Kos)
Signs that work
Road signs with more action, like a pedestrian crossing sign showing people walking fast or running, make drivers more likely to look out. (BYU)
See sprawl run
Why do we keep building costly sprawl? Many developers think big, single-family homes are still what people want, but in fact homeownership rates are at a two-decade low. (The Atlantic)
Jobs back downtown
In the late 20th century, employment shifted dramatically from cities to the suburbs. But since 2007, job growth in city centers is actually outpacing the suburbs, suggesting a reversal of the trend. What’s changed? (NYT)
And…
DCPS will start offering principals multi-year contracts to give schools greater stability. (Post) … Since July, DC has issued nearly 800 tickets for blocking the streetcar’s path. (City Paper) … Eleanor Holmes Norton asked the Capitol Police to reconsider the ban on sledding on Capitol grounds. (THIH)