Breakfast links: Momentum in Maryland transit
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Photo by Dan Reed on Flickr.
In case you missed it
Governor Larry Hogan finally picked a company to build and operate the Purple Line. Construction could start later this year for an opening date in 2022. (WAMU)
BRT in Montgomery
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett wants to spend $11.5 million to plan and design three bus rapid transit routes on Rockville Pike, Colesville Road, and Veirs Mill Road. (Post)
DC on bikes, 10 years out
In 2005, DDOT created a list of bicycling goals to be completed by 2015. How’d they do? DDOT exceeded their goals around building bike lanes and bicycle parking, but other goals, like completing the Metropolitan Branch Trail and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, are still in the works. (TheWashCycle)
Safety in numbers
Mayor Bowser, Governor Hogan, and Governor McAuliffe formally pledged to work together to create a safety oversight agency for Metro after the Federal Transit Administration threatened to withhold funding. (CityPaper)
It’s elementary
In DC, public school enrollment drops off sharply after 4th grade, when many parents opt to send their kids to charters for middle school. Why do parents make the jump and what does it mean for the community? Here’s the story in one Capitol Hill school. (WAMU)
Late on the rent control
DC Councilmember Anita Bonds will propose a bill to limit how much landlords can charge tenants in late fees for rental payments. The bill would limit late fees to 5% of rent, and place restrictions on how and when fees could be applied. (UrbanTurf)
Off target
For the first time in 5 years, DC police department efforts to reduce homicides in targeted trouble areas did not result in lower homicide rates. The targeted areas did see a reduction in overall violent crime, however. (City Paper)
At least there are still stairs
Here are all Metro stations ranked from worst to best for escalator outages. Only one station
the station with no escalators, Forest Glen, made it through the year without an escalator issue. (Washingtonian)