Breakfast links: The Senate’s second relief package proposal offers $0 for transit
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Fort Totten Metro Station by Kyle Anderson licensed under Creative Commons.
The Senate’s new relief plan ignores transit
The HEALS Act that the Republican-majority Senate released includes no funding at all for transit systems. Now the American Public Transit Association, Metro, MTA and other US transit agencies are calling on Congress to add money in, saying they need at least $32 billion to continue running after deep revenue losses. (Justin George / Post)
New scooters arriving in Arlington and Alexandria
E-bike and scooter company Helbiz will put 200 scooters on the streets in Alexandria and 100 in Arlington. The company had delayed expanding to Northern Virginia during the pandemic, but still plans on bringing it’s dockless e-bikes to Alexandria. (Vernon Miles / ARL Now)
The DC budget keeps a tax break for affordable development
The DC Council unanimously approved a 40-year tax savings for real estate developers who build affordable units in “high-need” neighborhoods, meaning more affluent areas with less new construction. The council also renewed the city’s rent control law and a ban on buying the RFK site to build a football stadium. (Alex Koma / Business Journal)
Montgomery County Council passes budget cuts and health funding
The County Council passed a suite of proposals including nearly $6 million for testing and outreach in the Latinx community, $20 million for rental assistance programs, and a resolution supporting a mail-in election. The Council also passed $72 million in budget cuts to try and avoid a major shortfall next year. (Kate Ryan / WTOP)
Self-quarantine exemptions in DC don’t extend to the beach
While the new mandatory self-quarantine policy for travel between DC and 27 states with high COVID-19 rates does not include Maryland and Virginia, city officials say that travelers to Ocean City and Virginia Beach should consider taking the same precautions. (Nathan Diller / DCist)
DC has “gold medal” pedestrian infrastructure
CityHealth and Smart Growth America ranked the 40 largest US cities on pedestrian safety and DC, along with 75% of the rated cities, got a gold medal. The report cited certain pandemic-specific safety measures that DC has used, like closing streets to cars so they can be used for restaurant space and recreation. (Melissa Howell / WTOP)
Virginia increases public health restrictions in Hampton Roads
Governor Ralph Northam announced new restrictions on alcohol sales, business occupancy, and hours of operations in Hampton Roads after COVID-19 cases increased in the area, noting that he could apply restrictions in other parts of the state if cases continue to rise. (Daniella Cheslow / DCist)
Metro could use eminent domain to get a new repair site
After failing to reach an agreement with the property owner on what it would cost to buy an industrial site in Landover, Metro filed court paperwork to seize the parcel and pay the owners $40 million. The Landover location would become a new Metro heavy rail repair facility. (Jonathan Capriel / Business Journal)
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