Breakfast links: There’s been a breakthrough as Virginia passes Metro funding
Virginia approves dedicated Metro funding for the first time ever
Virginia legislators agreed to provide Metro $154 million in new annual funding, thanks to organizing by transit advocates and business groups and the prospect of securing Amazon's HQ2. However, the agreement also means cuts to funding for other Northern Virginia transportation projects. (Robert McCartney / Post)
Businesses love Arlington’s workforce but hate the permitting process
A big takeaway from a recent forum on Arlington's future found that businesses value the county for its talented workforce, but are dismayed by its complicated permitting system. They point to the two years needed to approve a new beer garden as an example. (ARLnow)
Is too much focus on data at the heart of recent DCPS scandals?
Michelle Rhee and her successors at the helm of DCPS championed data as a new way to measure accountability. Some say this resulted in a culture that focused on often-inflated numbers, and subsequently eroded confidence in the system. (Emma Brown, Valerie Strauss, and Perry Stein / Post)
A planned Fort Totten development includes bike parking
A mixed-use development planned for the area around the Fort Totten Metro station will feature 185 townhomes and space for retail. In addition to private parking, there will be a number of short- and long-term spaces for bicycles. (Nena Perry-Brown / UrbanTurf)
Poor conditions and a computer glitch leave Howard students fuming over housing
A lack of heat and hot water, mice and roach infestations, and a glitch in the housing selection system that left many uncertain of their assignment drove Howard University students to protest poor on-campus housing conditions last week. (Kate McGee / WAMU)
Should Amazon choose DC for HQ2 for its proximity to the government?
The Economist argues it would be wise for Amazon to pick a location in the Washington region because it can deepen the company's relationship with the federal government, which is not only a regulator of the tech giant but also a client for data services. (The Economist)
Sluggers in Springfield need new plans during the transit center’s constuction
Once completed, a new transit center in Springfield will make slugging easier by providing more parking and actual boarding areas for the activity. Until then, commuters will have to find a new slugging spot until construction is complete. (Luz Lazo / Post)
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