Breakfast Links: Metro and the terrible, no good, very bad rail car
What made the 4000-series rail cars so terrible?
Metro's 4000-series rail cars are the most unreliable in the system. That's because Metro didn't have the time or money to give the fleet a midlife upgrade that would have modernized its power system and brought on board new technologies. (Faiz Siddiqui / Post)
Metro looks to labor for spending cuts
Metro will try to eliminate 700 jobs deemed nonessential to help address its budget problems. It's also making changes to employees' benefits and pensions to save money, but probably won't be able to do anything about overtime costs. (Martin Di Caro / WAMU)
What’s with all the unused wheelchair accessible taxis in DC?
As many as 100 of the District's 243 wheelchair-accessible taxis remain unused. Some cite a lack of demand, while others say taxi drivers are reluctant to use them because of higher rental fees, lower fuel economy and less interest in disabled customers. (Martin Di Caro / WAMU)
DC could make its paid-leave law more business-friendly
The DC Council could makes some changes to the recently passed paid-leave law after some pushback from the business community. Changes would center around how the law is paid for and could entail lower tax rates or private insurance plans. (Peter Jamison / Post)
Dupont’s smart sidewalk is a dim idea so far
A sidewalk in Dupont Circle that's supposed to power interactive lights as pedestrians walk on it isn't generating as much energy as expected mainly due to colder weather and not enough foot traffic. The sidewalk was installed three months ago. (Michael Laris / Post)
The newest Westbard opponents are worried about a cemetery
Members of a Bethesda church are the latest group to voice opposition to the Westbard redevelopment plan. They say the plan could disturb an African-American cemetery and want the plan to be put on hold until an archeological survey is done. (Bethany Rodgers / Bethesda Beat)
Please don’t feed the ducks (they are plastic)
Over the weekend, a DC resident placed 100 plastic ducks stuffed with lights in the grass on Wisconsin Avenue NW. The ducks, made from packing tape and other found materials, such as paper, bottle caps, horse hair, and rocks, were part of a year-long art project. (Rachel Kurzius / DCIst)
Berkeley’s innovative housing solution for the homeless
Berkeley wants to provide housing options for its homeless residents with prefabricated micro-units that can be stacked together like shipping containers. The units would be priced at $1,000 a month, with the city picking up the tab. (John Metcalfe / CityLab)