King Street Station in Alexandria at the “blue hour”, just after sunset by Bradley Joines used with permission.

State and local leaders have limited time to address WMATA’s operating budget shortfall

WMATA faces a $750 million budget shortfall next year, and there’s no easy path to a resolution. Leaders across the region are weighing different options, with some arguing that the region must face a hard truth: cost-cutting is not enough, and revenue-generating measures such as taxes will be required. (This article may be behind a paywall).  (Justin George / Post)  

Eviction filings in Northern Virginia reach pre-pandemic levels

Eviction filings in several Northern Virginia jurisdictions have reached or surpassed pre-2020 levels, according to data from tenant advocacy groups. Nearly half of renters in three Northern Virginia counties are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent.  (Morgan Baskin / DCist)  

Op-ed: DC must be more aggressive on traffic enforcement, roadway design

According to the Washington Post Editorial Board, a 48% increase in traffic fatalities in DC is a sign that the city’s traffic enforcement bureaucracy isn’t working. The op-ed recommends significant traffic safety reforms and roadway design changes to send drivers a new message. (This article may be behind a paywall).  (Post)  

New grant would boost transporation options from DC to Largo Town Center

A new $25 million grant from the Biden administration will help improve transportation options between Capitol Heights and Largo Town Center in Maryland by linking together several trails and adding connections to transit stations, including future Purple Line stations.  (Kate Ryan / WTOP)  

MoCo’s new “ghost” cop cars are aimed at ending dangerous driving

Montgomery County has purchased over a dozen new police cars with no lights on top of the car and “ghost” graphic, which they believe will make it easier for the cars to blend into traffic and stop dangerous driving. The new police cars are a part of the county’s Vision Zero safety plans, which hopes to eventually eliminate all traffic-related fatalities.  (Courtney Cohn / MoCo360)  

Four Mile Run dumpster incident a danger to Arlington, but not Alexandria, portion of the stream

A dumpster full of a substance suspected to be white paint rolled off a construction site and into Four Mile Run near I-66 in Arlington on Thursday, prompting the county to issue a warning for people to avoid the stream and nearby parks for at least 24-72 hours. Alexandria officials issued an advisory that the water should be safe inside the portion of the stream within its city limits. So far, the substance in the water is under investigation to determine if it is in fact, paint.  (ARLNow, James Cullum / ALX Now)  

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