K Street in 2019 Image by Bekah Richards used with permission.

DC Council, Mayor spar over K St Transitway, suggesting different visions for transit and downtown’s recovery

DC’s Mayor held a press conference Monday to tout the importance of the long-planned K St Transitway, amid scrutiny from transportation advocates concerning recent changes to the design. The Mayor, who cited the opportunity presented by the K St Transitway to improve transit and create “better motorist experiences”, was responding to a proposal from the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment to reallocate the funds to Metro for DC, which calls for establishing 24-hour bus routes, dedicated funding for bus service improvements, and fare-free buses. The debate is playing out in competing budgets on which the Council and Mayor will need to reach an agreement in the coming weeks. (GGWash’s Alex Baca provided comment for the Washington City Paper story).  (Washington Post, Martin Austermuhle / DCist, Alex Koma / City Paper)  

Thousands of drivers are ignoring their DC speeding tickets

An examination of DC DMV data shows that many failed to pay fines assessed for speeding, red light, and other violations, with limited or no consequences. Approximately 1,200 vehicles have been assessed over $20,000 in fines each since 2019, and 2,100 vehicles have more than 40 outstanding tickets each. DC’s existing system for ticketing, booting, and towing vehicles off public streets has proven ineffective in preventing unsafe driving, particularly for drivers who routinely break traffic laws.  (Washington Post)  

Baltimore makes curbside dining permanent, extends options for curbside retail

Baltimore’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has created a permanent set of rules to aid in allowing restaurants and other businesses to create outdoor dining and retail experiences in front of their storefronts.  The regulations also include equity provisions, namely a sliding scale of fees for the parking spaces and use of sidewalks based on the median income of the neighborhood, and fewer restrictions on the aesthetics of the spaces.  (Amanda Yeager / Baltimore Sun)  

Elrich adds voice to Little Falls Open Parkway opposition

Montgomery County voted last week to make a half-mile stretch of Little Falls Parkway an open parkway open for bikes, pedestrians, and other non-motorized uses. Now Montgomery County executive Mark Elrich is asking them to reconsider. The plan, which has been piloted and adjusted several times since the early days of the pandemic, has generated strong feelings both for and against among people who live near the parkway.   (Jacob Fenston / DCist)  

Fairfax County to cost-share stormwater control

Fairfax County is encouraging private property owners to invest in needed stormwater control by setting up a cost-sharing program, where the share of public vs. private funds is related to the share of private vs. public drainage. The county has now set aside funding for the program of up to $7,000 for each of 30 projects in the first year.  (Vernon Miles / FFXNow)  

Driver pleads guilty to being under the influence of PCP in major 2022 Alexandria vehicle crash

In 2022, a driver sped down Duke Street at 110 miles per hour, crashing into five cars and killing the driver of one of them. Several other occupants of the other cars were injured. The driver plead guilty in Alexandria yesterday, also admitting they high on PCP, which can cause hallucinations and distort perceptions, and received a sentence of 20 years, 10 years of which is suspended for good behavior.   (James Cullum / ALXNow)  

ART bus driver injured by rider

An Arlington Transit (ART) bus driver was assaulted on Columbia Pike by a rider who then left the bus. The driver was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.   (ARLNow)  

Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.