Breakfast links: Following the story
Photo by Orin Zebest on Flickr.
Reaction to McDonnell power grab
Current Northern Virginia members of Congress slammed McDonnell’s move to try to take WMATA Board seats from Northern Virginia, while various Republicans cheered. The Post editorial board fell for McDonnell’s fuzzy math but criticized the timing, which indeed threatens federal funding. (Kytja Weir/
Working hard
300 WMATA employees are working around the clock to implement the fare hike by the June 27 and August 1 deadlines. The Board delayed approving the fare hike until there wasn’t much time left. (Ann Scott Tyson/Post)
On a side note, the Post in particular been exhaustively covering what’s going on within WMATA HQ, especially anything negative, but Baltimore’s Michael Dresser is out-reporting much of the Washington press corps on many other transit stories. There’s transit news outside the Jackson Graham building!
Ehrlich vs. transit
Bob Ehrlich’s opposition to the Purple Line and Baltimore Red Line light rail could alienate the business community, who strongly support the plan, but win over the local antis in Chevy Chase and Canton. (Michael Dresser/Baltimore Sun)
O’Malley for TOD
Governor O’Malley will select 14 stations, 7 each around Baltimore and Washington, to be eligible for state funding supporting mixed-use development. Washington-area sites will be Branch Avenue, Naylor Road, New Carrollton, Wheaton, Shady Grove, Twinbrook, and Laurel MARC. (Michael Dresser/Baltimore Sun)
Dresser on a bike
After bicycling around town, Michael Dresser endorses the “Idaho stop”, recommends cyclists going fast ride in the general lane to avoid dooring, and argues for mandatory helmets for bicyclists. (Baltimore Sun via RPUS)
Bikes, eh
The Canadian Embassy is giving employees bicycles to commute to work. They sold one of their fleet vehicles to pay for the bikes. (Embassy of Canada, Gavin) (Tip: Gavin)
How it happened
Here’s how the owner of that tiny townhouse on Mass. Ave between 4th and 5th, NW missed out on millions as the block was being redeveloped (Paul Schwartzman/Post) … Here’s how LeDroit Park became part of the City of Washington. (Left for LeDroit)