Breakfast links: Taking charge
Sarles officially announced as GM, CEO
On Friday the WMATA Board announced that Richard Sarles would remain at the agency to become permanent General Manager and take on the title of Chief Executive Officer, which will come with more authority and autonomy. (Post)
Can PG focus on Metro stations?
Rushern Baker is trying to convince Prince George’s County councilmembers to focus development around Metro stations like New Carrollton and Branch Avenue instead of trying to get something for their districts. It’ll reduce corruption but will be a tough sell. (Post)
Watergate residents don’t want trees
Watergate residents are objecting to trees planted along Rock Creek Parkway because when they grow they could obstruct residents’ views of the river. The residents also say Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jack Evans agree with them. NCPC will discuss the issue Thursday. (DCist)
ANC opposes bike lane, says bikes complicate driving
ANC 3D voted to oppose a planned bike lane (PDF) on New Mexico Ave NW. Commissioners are already concerned about “pedestrian and car conflicts” and don’t want to complicate things more with bicycles. The lone dissenting commissioner said bicycling shouldn’t be discouraged. (Northwest Current, ah) (Tip: ah)
Missed opportunities in Fairfax City?
A reader wonders why Fairfax City didn’t follow DC’s lead and use construction of several new municipal buildings, including a library, to support creative and interesting architecture that could better spur revitalization of the historic downtown. (The Internationalist, Jeff)
More people shouldn’t mean more highways
Just because the US population has grown and is expected to continue growing, doesn’t mean the infrastructure we build to accommodate them should be the exact same kind we’ve built in the last half-century. (Cap’n Transit, Alex B)
Green house, not so green location
A developer created a net-zero energy house, that boasts all the amenities of a normal suburban home. While the house is “green,” its location in a circuitous subdivision in exurban Orlando is not. The Post reports without irony that its dominant feature is a big garage door. (Post)
Take transit or bikeshare to visit Miami Beach’s new parking garage
Miami Beach has a $65 million parking garage that’s so architecturally distinctive that people are visiting it just to see it and someone had a wedding there. The main complaints? Some people gripe about the price of parking. (NYT)
And…
A pedestrian was “struck by a vehicle” in Fairfax this morning. The “striking vehicle” stayed at the crash scene but it’s unclear whether the driver did. (TBD) … Ever wondered what the Union Station concourse looked like before Victoria’s Secret, Godiva and The Art of Shaving? (Shorpy) … The new Congress may consider reinstating a federally funded voucher program that would allow DC children to attend private schools in the District. (WAMU)