Breakfast links: Metro’s next railcar generation will be built in Maryland
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A 7000-series Metro train by Adam Fagen licensed under Creative Commons.
Metro’s 8000-series railcars to be built in Hagerstown
Hitachi Rail will build the next generation 8000-series railcars for Metro at a factory in Hagerstown, Md. that will employ up to 500 people. Construction of the new factory is expected to finish by early 2024, after which the company will supply at least 256 cars for Metro. (Justin George / Post)
Experts say return to office could lead to more traffic
Transportation experts say traffic in the region could rise as more and more people return to the office, potentially undoing years of progress to reduce congestion and promote public transportation in the area. However, it will be many months until workers’ new commute patterns are better understood. (Katherine Shaver / Post)
Fee-based parks in Fairfax County are inequitable, groups say
Fairfax County has increasingly been funding a greater share of its parks with fees and customer charges as opposed to tax supported general funds. Groups including the Fairfax County NAACP say that model disadvantages vulnerale communities. (David Taube / FFXnow)
Some Rock Creek Park trails to close for sewer repair
Trails in Rock Creek Park’s Soapstone Valley will be closed until October 2023 to allow DC Water to repair nearby sewer pipes, some of which are 100 years old. To make way for the project, over 240 trees will be cut down, with 270 replacement trees set to be planted afterwards. (Jacob Fenston / DCist)
Silver Spring residential association calls for restrictions on bars, hookah lounges
More than 600 Silver Spring residents signed a letter by a condo association calling for Montgomery County to impose more limits on bars and hookah lounges following a number of violent crime incidents near these businesses. (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat. Tip: Chester B.)
Maryland kicks off month-long gas tax break
Maryland’s new gas tax holiday means gas stations won’t have to pay a 36-cents a gallon tax until April 16. That doesn’t mean prices will immediately drop 36 cents for consumers, and even if it did, savings for consumers would be minimal. (Jordan Pascale / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)
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