Breakfast links: Jack and the giants
Congress vs. WMATA
Congress grilled WMATA on safety and finances at a hearing yesterday. WMATA Board Chairman Jack Evans urged the federal government to pay their “fair share” for operating expenses. In response, a Florida Congressman accused WMATA of sitting on unspent capital funds and said he won’t bail out DC. (Post, WAMU)
Watch the region grow
These satellite-based maps show how rapidly the DC area has grown since 1984. By tracking paved surfaces, researchers from the University of Maryland found the area built 9 to 11 new square kilometers of development per year. (Post)
Stadium parking
More details on Dan Snyder’s concept for a new football stadium reveal plans for a 25,000 space parking garage covered in green space for tailgating. (WBJ)
No Metro, slower travel
The Metro shutdown didn’t result in a traffic meltdown but travel times were 12% worse inside the Beltway, and some roads, like northbound I-395 and I-295, saw travel times double or triple. (TPB)
In the crosshairs of the crosswalk
A driver hit and killed a 10-year-old on a bike in Waldorf, Maryland as he rode in a well-marked crosswalk with his mother and two friends. Police are checking cell phone records to determine if the driver was distracted. (NBC4)
Chevy Chase, aka Snobsville?
Chevy Chase is the number one snobbiest small town in the US according to a website that factored in income, home prices, and private schools, theaters, and art galleries per capita. (Post) (Tip: Tracy Loh)
Go green to fight crime
Adding green space in urban areas could reduce crime by encouraging more community activities outdoors, according to a new study. (CityLab)
And…
The Transportation Planning Board has a new website for news, data, and analysis. … Vote on changes to improve the area around the Tenleytown Metro. … Check out (and vote for) this video on safe driving from two local teens. (TeenDrive365)