Afternoon links: Ending the year, beginning construction
MARC explains why not
Michael Dresser gets an explanation from MARC on why they don’t allow bikes, which he considers persuasive: they looked at vertical racks near the ends of cars, but that would have required removing some seats. (Baltimore Sun, David A) (Tip: David A)
Top ten for transit
Dr. Gridlock runs through his picks for the top transit stories of 2009, from the June Red Line crash to NextBus to ICC tolls. (Post)
Killed in Columbia Heights, injured in Rockville
Last night shortly before 1:30 AM, a female pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run at the intersection of Park Road and 16th Street NW. Less than eight hours later, just before 9:00 AM, two female pedestrians were seriously injured on Champman Avenue in Rockville. The women, ages 20 and 63, were in a crosswalk near the Twinbrook Metro station. Police blamed driver distraction, but it remains unclear what exactly that distraction might have been. (Examiner.com, WJLA)
Great Streets construction
Construction on Pennsylvania Avenue was scheduled to begin this morning, covering two miles from 27th Street to Southern Avenue in Southeast. Among other improvements, one of the avenue’s lanes will be turned into a median. View DDOT’s Pennsylvania Avenue Great Streets project page for more information. (DDOT)
Free speech on the Metrobus
Stand for Marriage DC, the group headed by Bishop Harry Jackson, has placed ads on Metrobuses that call for a referendum on same-sex marriage in the District. This has led to a split within the city’s GLBT community, with some calling on WMATA to remove the ads and others arguing for protection of this speech. (DC Agenda, Post)
Metro and the federal government, together forever
In a Post op-ed, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton notes that last week’s snowstorm demonstrated the close relationship between the federal government and Metro, and the importance of ensuring that the federal government lives up to its obligation to fund $1.5 billion of capital costs for Metro.
Tax abatements for Donatelli
As turmoil continues in the real estate market, Ruth Samuelson notes that the DC City Council is set to give final approval on January 5 to tax abatements for apartment and condo developments by Donatelli Development in Petworth and Columbia Heights. (Housing Complex)