Photo by Kenton on Flickr.

WMATA safety

It’s been one year since a smoke incident claimed the life of Carol Glover on the Yellow Line near L’Enfant Plaza. New WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld wrote a letter outlining steps Metro is taking to improve safety. (WTOP)  

Anxious riders

After several assaults and an uptick in robberies, Metro riders are increasingly on the edge and question their safety in the system.The mayor created a robbery task force and the Guardian Angels are now patroling Metro stations. (Post)  

Smoke scare

A mechanical problem caused a minor smoke incident on a Yellow

Blue Line train early Sunday near Federal Center SW. Luckily, riders were able to get off the train and no one was hurt. (WTOP)  

High fines, nope

DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo admitted he will likely scale back a Vision Zero proposal for higher traffic fines. At a Council hearing on Friday, many witnesses spoke against raising fines as a deterrent. Some advocates still say higher fines can help drivers be more mindful of their driving. (Post)  

Bad landlords face the music

The District is suing a local property management firm for neglecting conditions in four rent-controlled apartments, which are at the center of proposed mixed-use development near the Congress Heights Metro station. (Post)  

Morbid start to new year

The Disrict recorded its first homicide of 2016 last Friday in addition to five shooting incidents.  There were a total of 162 homicides last year, which is a 54% increase from the previous year. (WTOP)  

Higher gas taxes for NoVA?

Northern Virginia agencies and officials want the state General Assembly to raise local gas taxes to fund transit projects. (WTOP)  

Stadium deal scrutiny

Some are calling Pepco’s $25 million deal for naming rights to the future DC United Stadium at Buzzard Point a “pay-to-play” situation given the promixity to the city’s approval of the $7 billion Pepco-Exelon merger. (WAMU)  

Navy Yard grows

DC’s Navy Yard is on track to become one of the city’s most dense neighborhoods.  Access to transit, job centers, green space, and relatively lower housing prices are helping to attract new residents. (Post)  

Taxis claim harassment

Police are ticketing taxi drivers at far higher rates on New York Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, and Bladensburg Road than elsewhere in DC. Drivers say it’s a revenue-driven harassment campaign; MPD disputes the charge. (WAMU)