Image from the Republican Study Committee.

Conservatives want cuts to transit, DC

A group of ultra-conservative House Republicans has proposed deep budget cuts including the entire $150 million in capital funding for WMATA as well as the entire Amtrak budget, New Starts, and high-speed rail programs. (Huffington Post) … The cuts also include $210 million in “general assistance” to DC, but it’s not clear what they’re talking about. (City Paper)  

Top transportation Democrat a roads guy

The top democrat on the House’s transportation committee likes building roads as a rural economic development tool.  Fortunately, transit advocate Peter DeFazio, NYC’s Jerry Nadler, and our own Eleanor Holmes Norton are 3 of 4 next-most-senior Democrats. (Transportation Nation)  

Armed robbery on Metro last month

A witness has emerged to an armed robbery that took place on a train at Stadium-Armory station on December 23rd.  Metro Transit Police has acknowledged the incident and said “the MTPD recently reassigned sworn officers out of administrative functions… into stations, trains and buses to better protect our customers.” (Unsuck DC Metro)  

Gray makes DMPED pick & others

Mayor Gray has picked a Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development: Victor Hoskins, former Maryland secretary of housing and community development. Jeff Richardson from the Gertrude Stein Club will head up the GLBT office. (Post)  

News from the Walmart front

Walmart got a big endorsement from Michelle Obama for their decision to reduce sodium and sugar levels in their store brand products. (Housing Complex) … DC residents protested the entry of Walmart into the District in front of developer Dick Knapp’s house last night. (Examiner) … The retail giant bucked it’s big-box image, opening a 3,500 square foot store on the University of Arkansas’ campus. (Fayetteville Flyer via RPUS)  

Hit and runs in the region

A bicyclist was struck by a driver on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. The driver left the scene, and the cyclist appears to be in relatively good condition. In Alexandria, a pedestrian was killed by a hit-and-run driver on King Street early this morning. (WUSA)  

Kenilworth Ave to get sidewalks, bike lanes

A one-mile section of Kenilworth Avenue in Edmonston will be modified to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, adding sidewalks and bike lanes to both sides of the street. Yet designers have only said they will “try to accommodate” the town’s request to include crosswalks at every intersection. How hard can it be? (Post)  

Arlington improves traffic signal network

Arlington County will spend $4 million to install new traffic signal control systems that will enable the signal network to adjust timing based on real-time changes is traffic patterns. (Dr. Gridlock)  

And…

Copenhagenize’s Mikael Colville-Andersen talks about the folly of mandatory helmet laws and the importance of promoting cycling. (TheCityFix) … Supreme Court Justice Elana Kagan is considering moving into the Logan Circle neighborhood. Does that make it officially gentrified? (14th & You) … Montgomery County chose to spend $24 million on a new Metro parking garage instead of other developments that would promote transit use. (Transportation Nation)