Lunch links: Events and freeways
Mr. Metro Map
The designer of the Metrorail map, Massimo Vignelli, is giving a talk Saturday at 3:30 about the map and his work with Harry Weese, who designed the iconic station vaults. (Examiner)
Soccer will be in the circle
Organizers hoping to show the first day of World Cup soccer, including USA vs. England, on big screens in Dupont Circle June 12th have succeded in raising the $20,000 they needed and getting permission from ESPN and the National Park Service. (Post, Cavan) (Tip: Cavan)
Freeway pushers pressuring Arlington
Some business leaders asked Arlington to drop its lawsuit against I-395/95 HOT lanes. Not surprisingly, the force behind the letter was perennial freeway booster Bob Chase. Also, apparently Chase put out the press release before the Arlington County Board even received the letter. (ARLnow, Inside NoVA, Gavin) (Tip: Gavin)
Costs, questions for Beltway HOT lanes
The Connection notices the hidden costs in the HOT Lane project. Also, officials still don’t seem quite sure how to track carpoolers. Will they need a special E-ZPass transponder with a switch to identify carpool vs. not?
Americans support restrictions for safer driving
Despite what AAA might say, Americans strongly support traffic cameras, ignition interlocks for DUI offenders, and allowing police to ticket seat belt violators without also requiring another traffic offense, a University of Minnesota study found. (USA Today, Ken Archer) (Tip: Ken Archer)
Freeway danger I
After a minor crash on the Beltway Sunday, one driver pulled to the right side of the road and the other pulled to the left. The first tried to cross on foot to see if the other driver was okay, but was “struck by a Chevrolet Express van” and killed. Police called it “likely pedestrian error.” (Gazette)
Freeway danger II
A “vehicle… clipped” a highway worker on Route 50, knocking him down and speeding away, leaving him lying in the lane where a “tractor-trailer apparently hit” and killed him. He hadn’t been following SHA protocol to get a police cruiser to warn drivers. (Post) AAA put out a press release calling hit-and-run drivers “cold-hearted cowards and cold-blooded killers.”
Route 1’s bike lake
The Route 1 “Active Transportation Lane” for walkers and bikers are more a lake than a lane, plus dirt and silt piles block other parts and finally-installed pedestrian signals require pressing a small button to use. (Froggie’s Blog) (Tip: Froggie)