Breakfast links: Colors and signs
Stand over there
A Barcelona design firm dreamed up platform displays that say which train cars are most crowded as a train approaches, to encourage customers to spread out and reduce boarding times. (Yanko Design, akg) (Tip: akg)
Green means park
Despite San Francisco’s painting new bike lanes green and separating them with bollards, some drivers still think they’re street parking. (Mission Mission, Matt G) (Tip: Matt G)
New signs for New York
With service cuts killing the W and V trains and creating a new orange M, New York MTA has to replace 3,000 signs and 25,000 maps. (NYT, Matt’) (Tip: Matt')
Local AAA now says “share the road”
As AAA Mid-Atlantic’s “kati” promised, the group has replaced their inflammatory press release against the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes with a very nice one that really does encourage drivers to be courteous toward bikes, pass with a safe distance, be patient, and pay attention.
Yes! to Fairlawn
Yes! Organic Market will open several stores east of the Anacostia, starting with one in Fairlawn thanks to a DC grant. The landlord originally offered the space rent-free to Chipotle, which still turned it down, rousing CHOTR’s ire. (Post)
Since when is it about accountability?
Dr. Gridlock agrees with Maryland officials that WMATA can do more for safety and accountability with their capital budget, but withholding money wasn’t ever about that until they started getting pummeled on blogs and in the press. (Post)
Purple Line will run big in election
Martin O’Malley leads Bob Ehrlich by 8 points among registered voters, but is tied among those “definitely planning to vote” in November. (Post) … An Ehrlich win would likely kill the Purple Line, notes the MTA’s Purple Line project manager. In responding, Ehrlich’s press secretary wasn’t even familiar with the Purple Line (!) but touted the ICC instead. (The Capital) … A leading candidate for an open delegate seat in Bethesda is running largely on the Purple Line (he’s for it). (Gazette)
McDonnell backs tolls
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has asked USDOT for permission to toll I-95 near the North Carolina border. He wants to use the money to widen I-95. (Post, Streetsblog) … FHWA recently rejected a similar request from Pennsylvania, but that was because they wanted to use the money for transit operations while federal law requires interstate toll revenue to go to the road itself.