Breakfast links: Virginia says Metro service increases cost too much
Virginia may block Metro service increases
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission told the WMATA Board that proposed service increases in General Manager Paul Wiedefeld's budget will drive Metro operating costs to grow beyond the 3% cap set by the Virginia legislature. NVTC encouraged Metro to find other savings to still afford some boost to service while staying under 3%. (Max Smith / WTOP)
Congress is holding up a protected bike lane near the Capitol
DDOT has a plan to connect Union Station to the Capitol with a half mile protected bikeway on Louisiana Avenue, but the street is under federal control and Congress needs to approve the changes. Senate administrative officials oppose the plan because it would remove parking spaces. (Luz Lazo / Post)
Maryland delegates want to stop box blocking, golf course tax breaks
Maryland's state legislature convenes next week. Delegates from Montgomery County are proposing a bill to raise the fine for vehicles blocking intersections at red lights to $100 (but notrestrict right turns at red lights). Another proposal, which failed last year, would end a tax exemption for large golf courses which costs the state $10 million a year. (Charlie Wright / Bethesda Beat, Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat)
A Reston teenager died in a hit and run over the weekend
A 16 year old boy was hit and killed by a driver who fled the scene at South Lakes Drive in Reston Saturday night. This would be the 44th road death in Fairfax County in 2018, higher than any other Virginia county. (Reston Now)
Maryland won a federal grant for development near the Purple Line
The Maryland Department of Transportation will get $2 million from the Federal Transit Administration for transit-oriented development around the Purple Line corridor to improve accessibility, ridership, and business development. (Kathleen Stubbs / Prince George Sentinel)
Court orders repairs for neglected Brightwood Park apartments
A judge appointed a receiver to oversee repairs in a 39 unit building on 8th Street NW after the DC Attorney General sued the property owners. The suit proved a pattern of neglect that led to an electrical fire, and now a third party will be in charge of bringing the building up to code. (Morgan Baskin / City Paper)
The federal shutdown has furloughed some kids out of day care, too
Day care centers in federal agencies that primarily watch the children of government employees are closed during the shutdown. Some parents who are still expected at work have to scramble to cover childcare for an indefinite period of time (Mike Murillo / WTOP)
What are the new local laws for 2019?
Some new laws taking effect with the new year include Virginia renaming Jefferson Davis Highway in Alexandria, Maryland routing illegal campaign contributions to the state's fund for public campaign financing, and DC making driving 30 miles over the speed limit a criminal offense (Fenit Nirappil and Arelis Hernández / Post)
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