Breakfast links: Budget and bus lanes
Budget autonomy to the brig
Congress had a hearing yesterday to decide if DC’s 2013 vote to let the District decide on its own budget, rather than Congress, is legal. House Republicans plan on introducing a bill to nullify the 2013 vote. (WAMU)
Parking rate parity
Parking meter rates are going up to $2.30/hour for all of DC starting on June 1st, ending different hourly rates for different zones. The simplified pricing structure will provide funding for Metro. AAA says motorists are getting “nickel and dimed.” (Post)
14th St streetscape
DDOT wants to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on 14th St next year with better bus stops, cut-through bike lanes near bus stops, and new crosswalks, bike racks, and benches. (Borderstan)
16th St bus lane lag
16th St won’t get its dedicated bus lanes for at least 2 more years, and DDOT won’t remove excess bus stops for another 4 years. (Borderstan)
IZ in DC
Inclusionary zoning has the power to integrate affordable housing into the fabric of a city. But in DC, only 170 new units are expected in 2016 while over 4000 people have signed up for the lottery. (UrbanTurf)
Plaza over Connecticut
Construction on a public plaza to cover the space above Connecticut Ave near Dupont Circle could start within the next three years, if DDOT studies of the plan continue to go well. (Borderstan)
Fort Reno done for?
It looks like the Fort Reno concert series may not happen this year. The organizer hasn’t applied for a National Park permit yet, and Park Police security rules have made it tough to fund the event over the past few years. (Washingtonian)
Dollars for demand
An economist at the Federal Reserve shows how using transportation pricing to manage demand, with tools like congestion pricing, parking pricing, and transit incentives, could save a lot of time for DC area commuters. (Richmond Fed)
A new VPP
This survey suggests that DC is thinking about changing the way visitor parking passes work, by issuing them online or charging a fee for passes.