Photo by busy.pochi on Flickr.

The changing face of Montgomery suburbs

Montgomery County is coping with its shift to a minority majority county.  While some residents have left as minorities move in, many work to incorporate the newcomers into their communities. (Post)  

Can L’Enfant Plaza become an “ecodistrict”?

NCPC is looking into changing the bland L’Enfant Plaza area into a “Southwest Ecodistrict” with parks, housing and reconnected streets. Today, Housing Complex will host a live chat about the possibilities for the area.  

Cabbies like the thought of late-night cuts

Cab drivers are eager about the possibility of Metro cutting late night service, which would bring a spike in business. Late night fares tend to be longer, more profitable trips. (TBD)  

Attempt to restore Metro funding fails

Fairfax Rep. Gerry Connolly introduced an amendment to restore the $150 million federal safety matching funds for WMATA that was slashed from Republicans’ appropriations budget. Other area Democrats supported the measure, but Republicans opposed it and killed it. (WUSA)  

Montgomery council lists transportation priorities

Montgomery County council members have agreed that the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway should be the county’s top two projects for state funding, but have differing opinions about BRT, BRAC, and other priorities. (WAMU)  

Wolf, Latham want Silver Line audit

Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) and House Appropriations transportation chair Tom Latham (R-IA) officially requested an annual audit of the Silver Line project from the USDOT Inspector General. (Dr. Gridlock)  

Connaugton on Virginia transportation issues

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton defended the Governor’s plan to borrow heavily for his $4 billion roads plan. Virginia is also still seeking a seat on WMATA’s board and will also appeal to the Republican leadership in the house to restore Metro’s $150 safety subsidy. (TBD)  

CaBi coming to Rosslyn in March

Rosslyn and Courthouse are slated to get 4 Capital Bikeshare stations installed in March.  This would mark the first Arlington stations outside of the Crystal City BID. (TBD)  

And…

Not only is Metro a good way to get around, it’s also a great source of entertainment. (TBD) Could DC use its nascent streetcar system to foster industrial development in non-residential areas? (RPUS) … Since it’s already illegal to send them, Maryland now wants to outlaw reading text messages while driving. (TBD)