Afternoon links: Bridge over political waters
Ervin flip-flops on bridge
Montgomery Councilmember Valerie Ervin has reversed her position and now supports a million-dollar bridge to connect a parking garage to the new, over-budget Silver Spring library. Residents rightly worry the bridge will decrease street activity. (TBD) (Tip: Eric Fidler)
Feel the power of local cyclists
Months after getting into trouble with local cyclists for statements against bike infrastructure, Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) has become the first Republican cosponsor of a complete streets bill. (Bike League)
Crowdsourcing Metro station names
Playing on Metro’s notorious station name logorrhoea, TBD asked readers to submit their own station name alternatives. Take the Green Line to “Waterfront/DDOT/1950s Urban Renewal/M St/Ft McNair/Arena Stage/Marinas/Titanic Memorial/kthxbai”. (Tip: Eric Fidler)
TBD editor has frustrating pedestrian experience
A driver nearly hit a jogger while the jogger had the right of way. The jogger yelled at the driver. Metro-Venture saw the incident. It turns out the jogger was TBD editor Erik Wemple. (TBD)
Artists too rich or too poor
One developer is having trouble selling live-work units dedicated to artists because HUD’s income limits are too narrow. (Housing Complex) (Tip: Eric Fidler)
Affordable on Columbia Pike
A citizen group along Columbia Pike in Arlington wants to preserve 4,900 affordable rental apartments through 2040. Arlington currently lacks to tools to meet this goal and development along Columbia Pike is picking up. (TBD) (Tip: Eric Fidler)
Parking 18% more people in the same space
NYC changed two streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn from fixed-rate to variable-rate parking with a $1.50/hour price ceiling (still a bargain). Parking times decreased 17% and 23%, the total number of unique vehicles parked increased 17% and 18%, and the overall space occupancy stayed the same. With less hunting for parking, traffic volumes decreased 5% and 9% percent. (Streetsblog) (Tip: Eric Fidler)