Ride On bus at Silver Spring Transit Center by MW Transit Photos used with permission.

Maryland to make one-time transportation cash infusion

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld announced a one-time $150 million cash infusion for the fiscal 2025 budget. The move aims to temporarily and partially offset a projected $3.3 billion reduction over six years caused by increasing costs and declining revenues in the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.  (Bryan P. Sears / Maryland Matters)  

Fannie Mae will leave downtown DC in 2029, five years early

The landlord of Fannie Mae’s headquarters announced Tuesday that the tenant will leave the 720,000-square-foot space five years early in May 2029. Its lease on its downtown DC office cost a historic $770 million. A company spokesperson affirmed that they will keep a presence in the DC area, and are finding an office solution for a “flexible work environment.” (This article is behind a paywall).  (Michael Neibauer / Business Journal)  

Montgomery County Executive proposes bus rapid transit expansion

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed a substantial expansion of the county’s Flash Bus Rapid Transit system, involving a $580 million investment as part of a larger $5.84 billion capital improvement program. The proposal would add an additional 28 miles to a 14-mile system. The county council will review the proposal and finalize the budget in the next few months. (This article is behind a paywall)  (Danny Nguyen / Post)  

Judge allows Arlington Missing Middle lawsuit to proceed

Arlington County lost a pretrial appeal challenging the standing of the ten residents bringing the lawsuit against the county’s Missing Middle/Expanded Housing Options zoning reforms. The case will proceed with a trial this July.  (Jo DeVoe / ARLnow)  

Maryland receives grant for 58 EV charging stations

Maryland celebrated a $15 million federal grant to install 58 electric vehicle charging stations across the state. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be used primarily in underserved communities, including in rural areas. Construction is planned to begin in Summer 2024.  (Emily Hofstaedter / WYPR)  

Virginia Tech Potomac Yard campus opening delayed by a semester

Virginia Tech’s first academic building on its Alexandria innovation campus will open in spring 2025, delayed from August 2024 due to supply chain issues, according to a statement by the university. The campus, originally announced as part of the state’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters, is near the Potomac Yard Metro station. (This article is behind a paywall)  (Drew Hansen / Business Journal)  

Road salt pollutes region’s waterways and drinking water, but other options are available

Options to reduce the harms of salt runoff in the Washington region include mixing salt treatments with beet juice (which DC does), salting roads further away from waterway sources, and encouraging residents to use the minimum amount of salt needed to melt ice and snow (just one mug of salt for a 20’ driveway!).  (Jacob Fenston / DCist)  

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