Photo by Jeremy Brooks.

Board members talk Catoe, budget

Jim Graham, Chris Zimmerman, and Peter Benjamin discussed John Catoe and the budget crisis on WTOP. Dr. Gridlock transcribed a few key answers as well.  

Where to cut instead of Ride On

ACT outlines specific suggestions for finding the $2 million to stave off cuts to Ride On: move buses faster by adjusting bottleneck intersections, downsize the large new planned garage in Bethesda, and use some of the $4 million proposed for a Wheaton Costco.  

Stop in Burke, stop on the highway

The new Northeast Regional extension to Lynchburg will now stop at Burke Centre (DRPT) … Gov. Bob McDonnell is reopening the state’s rest areas with $3 million in emergency funds, but it’s unclear how to pay for them long term. Any progress on gas stations and fast food? (Virginian-Pilot via DCist)  

Smart rhetoric, dumb behavior

Bill Myers notices that many Montgomery County officials’ rhetoric around Smart Growth doesn’t match their actual conduct in creating obstacles to developments like White Flint. (Examiner)  

Barnesville no longer speedsville

Speed cameras in Barnesville, a town in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve, are already reducing speeding. Many drivers cut through the town to bypass I-270 and about 60% used to speed by over 11 mph. (Gazette)  

Sulu on the subway

Star Trek‘s George Takei is also a transit advocate, and served on the Board of the predecessor agency to LA’s LACMTA. He recently discussed his transit fandom and LA’s transit plans on Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!. (Track Twenty-Nine)  

Factors that drive not driving

What makes a city likely to have low rates of car ownership? (DC is fourth behind 3 cities of the NYC metro area.) Basically: be an old city, have poor residents, and/or have lots of students. (Human Transit, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)