Breakfast links: More Virginia Metro, less DC development
Potomac Yard station has options
Alexandria and WMATA released their scoping study of 8 Metro station alternatives for Potomac Yard. The study also includes bus and VRE alternatives. (Post)
New ideas “surface” to cut Silver Line costs
Beyond building an aerial station at Dulles, officials are considering transferring responsibility for the Route 28 station and several parking lots to Fairfax and Loudoun counties. (Post)
Projects shrink, opponents still oppose
The Colonel Brooks’ Tavern project will be smaller and shorter to appease neighbors, but some still want nothing built at all. (City Paper) … Despite changes to improve the architecture, a group of Capitol Hill neighbors still opposes the Hine project as long as it’s 6 stories rather than 5. (Examiner)
No Megabus, no videotaping
Megabus didn’t have enough buses to serve its routes this
yesterday morning. Some riders were waiting for hours in the heat and a few passed out. They responded by trying to ban the reporters from the lot. (WUSA via TBD)
MPD stops photography, gets sued
An Alexandria man is suing MPD for stopping him from taking photographs of a traffic stop. Officers said it was illegal to photograph MPD activity without permission, which is false. (The BLT)
Greening or green-washing?
Environmental impacts are front and center in most transportation studies, even when they’re not required under federal environmental law. But is this “greening” real or just inconsequential “green-washing”? (TBD)
Johnson stays on council… for now
Prince George’s councilmember Leslie Johnson pleaded guilty to destroying evidence in her husband’s corruption investigation. State law permits her to remain on the council until she is sentenced in 3 months. (Post)
Interesting transit ideas
Should Metro institute “quiet cars” like Metra is doing in Chicago? (TBD) … Should transit systems have loyalty programs like airlines’ frequent flyer programs? Singapore may try it. (The Atlantic, ChrisB)
And…
DC United midfielder Clyde Simms commutes to work at RFK by bike in 2 minutes (Post, Andrew) … 5 women in Saudi Arabia were arrested for the crime of… driving. (NYT) … Many Cleveland Park business owners want the service lane to stay, but none are restaurateurs. (City Paper)