Photo by HAMED MASOUMI on Flickr.

Downs, Porter to WMATA Board

Though it’s still not yet official, TBD is now confirming that Vince Gray will pick his transportation transition co-chair Tom Downs as the administration’s voting representative on the WMATA Board. (TBD) … Kathy Porter, former Mayor of Takoma Park, will be the Montgomery County alternate, and Elizabeth Hewlett of Prince George’s County is also planning to step down. (Examiner)  

GM search down to 3

WMATA is down to three finalists for the General Manager/CEO position, at least some of whom aren’t from the transit industry (DCist/WTOP) … We’d link to the original WTOP story, except it cites the Board of Trade/COG task force governance report while ignoring the RAC report, while DCist notices both.  

Terry Bellamy becomes interim head of DDOT

Mayor Gray tapped Terry Bellamy, DDOT’s deputy director under Gabe Klein, to head the agency until a permanent director is appointed. Bellamy told DDOT staff to keep “doing what you’re doing.” (DCist, Bossi)  (Tip: Bossi)  

Biddle gaining steam

Sekou Biddle is emerging as a leading candidate in the at-large race for those not enthusiastic about Vincent Orange, picking up support from Kwame Brown and Gray advisor Lorraine Green, among others. (NBC Washington)  

Metro operators urinating on tracks

A report by Metro’s IG discovered many Metro train operators were urinating on pocket tracks between stations. The report determined that operators’ schedules do not allow enough time at end stations for operators to use the restrooms there. (WUSA)  

Gray urges fight for DC congressional vote

Mayor Gray urged DC voting rights activists to fight Republicans’ plan to strip Delegate Norton of her Committee of the Whole vote. Gray declined to join the activists as they visited John Boehner’s office, saying he and Norton would meet privately with the new Speaker. (WAMU)  

Georgetown ANC endorses more CaBi stations

Despite opposing a CaBi station next to the Car Barn last year, the Georgetown ANC unanimously recommended 3 locations in the neighborhood for additional CaBi stations. (Georgetown Metropolitan, Ken Archer)  (Tip: Ken Archer)  

And…

Another study shows that roads don’t pay for themselves (Streetsblog) … Food deserts are especially common in the South (Streetsblog) … There’s really not a “war on drivers” in Seattle or the UK. (Sightline Daily, Guardian, Stephen Miller)