Breakfast links: Biking with headphones could land you a $50 fine
Biking with headphones is now illegal in DC
A new law makes it illegal to wear headphones, earphones, or earplugs in both ears while biking in DC. The city hasn't fined or ticketed anyone for violating this new policy yet, but some cyclists doubt this law will help make biking in DC safer. (Helen Wieffering / DCist)
Metro inspections still show outstanding track and power issues
New federal safety inspection reports reveal just over 1,000 maintenance items still to be addressed in the subway system. The majority of the issues are with the power system like missing covers for third rails, or tunnel problems like leaks and poor lighting. (Max Smith / WTOP)
Should Montgomery County’s country clubs get a tax break?
Protestors from the Democratic Socialists of America showed up at Woodmont Country Club to call for an end to tax exemptions for private country clubs. A state legislator from Takoma Park has a bill in the Maryland House to increase their taxes in the hopes of generating more revenue for the county. (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat)
A new Virginia law could ease permitting fees for affordable housing
The new law would allow local jurisdictions to waive permitting fees for affordable housing. In Arlington, affordable housing advocates estimated that doing away with those fees would allow developers to pay for 16 new affordable units a year. (Alex Koma / ARLnow)
DC’s Judiciary Square will be considered for historic preservation
The DC Historic Preservation Office will review an application to name Judiciary Square and five surrounding blocks, including courthouses and the National Building Museum, a new historic district. (Andrew Giambrone / Curbed)
A single-family home in Bethesda could become eight townhomes
Broad Branch Developers will go before the Montgomery County Planning Board seeking permission to turn one detached single-family home into eight smaller townhomes, a classic example of “missing middle” housing. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
The fed wants to get its money out of the California high speed rail
After California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state would shrink the scope of a high speed rail project, the US DOT said that it would cancel over $900 million in grant funding and try to take back $2.5 billion already given to the state for the rail project. (Michael Brice-Saddler / Post)
Opinion: To encourage people to ride the bus, we need to make it faster
Right now the biggest obstacle to a fast bus commute are the many cars, trucks, and vans that block bus lanes, ignore parking restrictions, and back up passengers behind them. If DC wants to speed up the bus, it needs to charge more for on-street parking and ticket violators, this writer argues. (Ike Brannon / Washington Times)
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