One of the test faregates for this spring’s faregate pilot by WMATA.

WMATA retrofitting rail faregates to prevent people from evading fares

Faregates installed throughout the Metrorail system last year can indicate when they are jumped over, but they will now have four-foot glass doors installed to prevent people from jumping over the gates, and therefore riding without paying the fare. They have been piloted at Fort Totten, where they were found effective.  (DCist)  

MoCo considers increasing real estate transfer tax

Montgomery County Councilmembers Kristin Mink and Will Jawando are proposing a change to the county’s current real estate transfer tax. The “recordation” tax would increase to apply a tax of about ten percent any time a house in Montgomery County is transferred between owners or refinanced. The additional funds would go towards funding school projects the county is struggling to afford.  (Steve Bohnel / MoCo360)  

Shephard Parkway advocates point out lack of support from National Park Service

Ward 8 Woods, a trail stewardship group of nearby residents is calling for the National Park Service (NPS) to clean up the forest and add proper trails inside and into Shephard Parkway.  The NPS-managed park was intended to be part of a never-built trail ring around the District connecting its Civil War forts. However, nearby residents fear that it continues to be underutilized because of the perception that the neighborhood doesn’t want to use it as a hiking facility.  (Jacob Fenston / DCist)  

Driver strikes teenager using e-vehicle in Arlington crosswalk

A 16-year-old Washington-Liberty High School student using what may have been a Veo e-bike, but was noted in police records as a scooter,  was seriously injured after being struck by a driver at Washington Blvd and N. Quincy Street not far from the Arlington campus. She was treated on the scene and at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.  (Jo DeVoe / ARLNow)  

Median home price is over $1 million in 14 DC neighborhoods

Most of the neighborhoods are in NW DC. The neighborhoods of Bloomingdale and Shepherd Park are just over $1 million, while the median home price is worth over $2 million in Spring Valley and Berkley neighborhoods. Last year, 18 neighborhoods were on the list.  (Urban Turf)  

Plans developed for redevelopment of DC’s St. Elizabeths campus

The development, in a uniquely curvy shape, will include at least 150 affordable housing units for people earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income, as well an 80,000-square-foot park, local retail, and restaurants.  (Matt Blitz / DCist)  

Application filed to convert early Fair Lakes office building into housing

A developer has submitted a rezoning request to convert Parkway Woods, one of the first office buildings built in the Fair Oaks area, and its 4.4-acre parking lot into up to 371 housing units, including up to 25 workforce dwelling units. The request has not yet been accepted by the county planning commission.  (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)  

Where the new Fairfax County Capital Bikeshare e-bikes are going first

Of the 850 e-bikes being added across the DC region, 45 will be in Fairfax County, and will be introduced in Tysons, Reston, and Dunn Loring. They will be rolled about between now and April. There are plans to add 200 more e-bikes in the next few years.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)  

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