Morning links: Big questions
What to build in Fairfax?
Fairfax businesses say the County has cut down the Tysons plan too much (Examiner) … One Planning Commissioner suggests limiting Tysons Corner plans to only 20 years instead of 40, then deciding the next 20 later (Post) … The Reston Association has a few quibbles with development plans for Wiehle Avenue. (Connection)
Metro morsels
WMATA has fired the bus driver captured last month using a cell phone while driving (Examiner) …Dr. Gridlock answers questions on the proposed paper farecard differential, why Metro doesn’t charge for parking on weekends, and more … And five months after National Harbor agreed to return the NH1 bus to its original route, Prince George’s County still hasn’t done anything about it and says they are waiting for a formal request. (Post)
Not elevating the debate
Elevator and escalator outages on Metro are worsening. That’s not much of a surprise given capital underfunding and aging infrastructure. But instead of emphasizing that and possibly getting Ann Scott Tyson to write about the bigger issues, WMATA compounds the problem by letting its former escalator/elevator chief refuse any press interviews.
Women: take this cycling survey
Are you a woman? Do you ride a bicycle? Do you NOT ride a bicycle? Do you sometimes ride a bicycle? The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals is doing a Web survey to try to collect data on how to make cycling more accessible to women and girls. (Tip: no credit)
Run WABA
With the departure of Eric Gilliland, WABA is hiring a new Executive Director. Could it be you? WashCycle suggests a few candidates as well.
Lettuce from the library
A new Baltimore initiative lets residents in its “food deserts” order groceries from computers at the library, then pick up the food next day, also at the library. (Baltimore Sun, Gavin) (Tip: Gavin)
Youth using less transportation, seniors more
The MWCOG transportation study finds that young people are making fewer trips, possibly replacing some in-person interaction with online communication, and also taking mass transit more. Meanwhile, older residents are traveling more, especially by car, rather than cutting back as they age, but mostly during off-peak times. (WTOP, Gavin) (Tip: Gavin)