Photo by Sapphireblue on Flickr.

A crazy day in the Wilson Building

Sulaimon Brown was fired yesterday, then escorted outside by police. … Gabe Klein alleges that Gray’s transportation transition heads have been pressuring DDOT in improper ways … Not only is it questionable for every DC official to be provided an SUV, it’s also illegal. (Post, City Paper)  

ANC 7B opposed to visible buildings

ANC 7B, with strong Committee of 100 ties, spoke up against slightly-tall buildings at Union Station, far from their territory, just to make even more sure that they won’t get a development in Penn Branch tall enough for anyone to see. (Housing Complex)  

Students to get SmarTrip IDs

To improve safety, Metro will issue SmarTrip cards to students linked with their name and school. Tommy Wells asked Metro to explore placing an electronic curfew on student cards. (TBD) … Board members also asked whether MTP officers can be redeployed from bag searches to platform patrols. (WUSA)  

Alexandria ponders CaBi entry

Alexandria is considering a $400,000 pilot with Capital Bikeshare in Old Town, with the eventual intention of expanding to connect better with stations in Arlington. (Dr. Gridlock)  

Bus pickups move

Now that construction is about to start at the CityCenter site, Megabus and Bolt Bus have moved to new locations. Bolt Bus’s is right by Union Station, but Megabus’s is a few blocks north, a little far from Metro. (DCist, Jessica C.)  

How state DOTs are bad, like Virginia’s

The conservative Center for Public Transprotation explains what’s wrong with state DOTs that only want to build highways, and enter into bad public-private partnerships like Virginia’s HOT lane plans.  

Harriet on Kojo

Harriet Tregoning discussed the importance of retail, Walter Reed, Walmart, zoning and other planning issues on yesterday’s Kojo Nnamdi Show.  

And…

A pedestrian was struck and killed in Bailey’s Crossroads yesterday evening (TBD) … New WMATA Board chair Cathy Hudgins outlined her vision for WMATA this year, but said nothing new … The new Petworth library has a street map of the neighborhood embedded in its floor (PoP) … There are new bulb-outs at 18th & T Streets NW.