Photo by Jurgen Appelo on Flickr.

Good to go

Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties are going to contribute more to build the Purple Line, which brings the line closer to being fully funded. With county and state contributions in place, the project can now work on securing federal and private funding. (Post)  

E-ticket, please!

When the streetcar opens, you might be able to pay your fare from your phone. DDOT is looking for a firm to build a system that would essentially make phones work like SmarTrip cards. (WBJ)  

Crime time

Murders are up in 5 of DC’s 7 police districts, and MPD Chief Cathy Lanier is being transparent about efforts to curb the spike. She publicized stats and reasons behind the rise, and openly talked details with a city resident. (City Paper, PoPVille)  

All accesss

35% of the region’s 19,000 bus stops aren’t accessible to people with disabilities. Metro is working to give stops clear, flat loading surfaces and an accessible pathways to the nearest street corner. (PlanItMetro)  

Power off

There’s a new trend among some kids, and it’s making you late to work: pulling emergency “kill switches” on Metrobuses. Metro worries locking the switches would make it harder for emergency crews to get to them, but the first responders union says that wouldn’t be a problem. (NBC4)  

Rolling in the dough

DCPS gets a lot of money from donors. In 2010, $31 million from various foundations came out to $702 per student, the highest rate in the country. Most of the money goes to the general fund, but some goes to charter schools. (Post)  

Supersized

Baltimore could become DC’s northern edge, says local sports owner Ted Leonsis. With a growing population and multiple airports, Leonsis predicts a “supercity” that will one day stretch 100 miles, from Loudoun to Baltimore. (WBJ)  

Pay a little, get a lot

Phoenix voters passed Proposition 104, supporting a 0.4% sales tax increase that will triple the size of the light rail system, expand the bus network, and leave money for other transportation improvements. (AZ Central)  

Asheville’s (un)affordability

Asheville, North Carolina is pretty great. So much that a lot of retirees want to move there, making housing scarce and expensive. So expensive the people who work in coffee shops can’t afford places to live.  (Amanda K Hurley)  

And…

The distracted driver from a hit-and-run that killed a cyclist in Hagerstown has been sentenced to five years in jail. (TheWashCycle) … APA used DC to show planners how to build inclusive neighborhoods with a mix of housing… Reading a book will get you a free bus ride in Romania. (Next City)