Breakfast links: Hogan’s plans
New deadlines
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the state will approve a winning bid for the Purple Line by January 15th of next year and that construction on the Purple Line could begin as early as May 16th. (Post)
Highway veteran
To oversee his $2 billion Maryland highway investment, Governor Hogan brought on Gregory Johnson to run the State Highway Administration. Johnson has 32 years of highway experience and comes from the Michigan DOT. (Post)
On the waterfront
The Southwest Waterfront will have office workers during the day. The American Psychiatric Association announced it will move its 300 employees to new office space there from its current offices in Virginia. (Post)
Vision zero kick-off
DC is asking people about their experiences on the streets. As part of the Vision Zero initiative to end traffic deaths, the District also has a crowd-sourcing tool to find dangerous pedestrian, driver, and cyclist conflict locations. (City Paper)
Green schools are too much
DC’s plans to create more green, energy efficient, and LEED certified schools may hit a roadblock. The DC auditor, looking into school renovation costs, questioned the price tag for meeting these green goals. (Post)
Transportation bill moves
The Senate will soon debate a six-year highway funding bill including TIGER grants. The Senate almost removed the popular program from the bill. The House already passed a five-month highway funding extension. (Streetsblog)
The other side of the tracks
Railroad tracks and highways have long divided cities. They have often intensified racial segregation by providing a physical barrier to separate neighborhoods. (Post)
Shifting right
The Supreme Court’s fair housing ruling from last month may have an unexpected side effect: turning liberal, urban, white areas into conservative enclaves that try to keep others out of their neighborhoods. (CityLab)
Frequent driver miles
Oregon will implement a pilot program that charges vehicles by miles traveled instead of paying a gas tax. With a growing number of electric and hybrid vehicles, the state wants all vehicles pay for road usage. (Business Insider)