Breakfast links: Maryland transportation officials say if I-270 toll lane project is cancelled, these five projects are going down with it
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American Legion Bridge by VDOT licensed under Creative Commons.
Maryland says it will cut road, transit projects unless toll lane plan is restored
MDOT officials claim the state will need to cut five road and transit projects worth $1.23 billion if regional officials do not approve the state’s plan to privately finance toll lane expansion on the Beltway and I-270. (Katherine Shaver / Post)
DC lawmakers propose ranked-choice voting for elections
At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson and six of her colleagues introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow DC voters to rank candidates in order of preference as soon as 2024. (Martin Austermuhle / DCist)
Arlington releases new timeline chronicling county’s racial history
Arlington County released new timelines that recount how government policies segregated Arlington, as well as Black residents’ subsequent activisim in response. (Jo DeVoe / ARLnow)
Metro committee approves temporary ban after weapons and sex crimes
A Metro committee gave initial approval to a proposal for riders accused of weapons or sex crimes to be temporarily suspended from the system, despite criticism from groups including the ACLU. The full board will vote on the proposal at its next meeting. (Jordan Pascale / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)
COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the region
Coronavirus cases are slowly increasing in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Experts attribute the uptick to relaxed restrictions, persistent segments of unvaccinated people, and the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant. (Post)
Vaccinations in Montgomery County’s Latinx communities top rate for white residents
The vaccination rate for Latinx residents in Montgomery County is 5% higher than that of white county residents, a big change from April and May when it was 20% lower. (Post. Tip: Chester B.)
Study shows urban heat disparities
Research published this week shows that communities of color disproportionately live in urban “heat islands,” even when controlling for income. (Axios)
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