Breakfast links: Taxes break

Taxes for truck tacos

Food trucks would have to start paying sales taxes like everyone else under a bill going to markup on Thursday in the DC Council. Food trucks earning less than a threshold could keep paying a flat annual fee as they do today. (DCist)

Give me a break

Konterra could qualify for tax breaks intended for transit-oriented projects inside the Beltway, despite county officials’ best efforts. (Examiner)

Are mobile cameras about revenue?

One Prince George’s delegate wants to prohibit mobile speed cameras being moved solely to generate revenue. County officials say they are writing fewer tickets, a sign the program is actually curbing speeding rather than being primarily about money. (Examiner)

Alerts for buses

Metro is now offering an alert system for Metrobus which will send riders information about service disruptions, similar to the ones sent for Metrorail. You can sign up here. (Post)

Good plan sails through

Redevelopment of Mid-Pike Plaza in White Flint received preliminary approval from the Montgomery County Planning Board. The pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use plan, which includes reducing Old Georgetown Road from 6 lanes to 4, has received no complaints. (DCMud)

More roads still needed?

After the BRAC merger with Walter Reed, use of transit has skyrocketed at the former Bethesda Naval Hospital from 11% in 2007 to 44% in 2011.  Yet officials are going ahead with expensive road widenings. (Gazette, Ben Ross)  (Tip: Ben Ross)

DC cleaner than burbs

DC residents produce less air pollution than their suburban neighbors. Virginia’s pollution will likely increase in the future while Maryland’s will decrease thanks to their adoption of California standards for cars. (City Paper)

Photography still legal

WMATA employees sometimes harass photographers for legally taking pictures.  There have been at least 3 incidents in the past 4 months despite Metro’s official statements that it’s legal.

And..

Arlington seeks a streetcar manager with urban planning experience. (ARLnow) … A DC musician pens a song about waiting for the 42 bus. (Post, Mike O) … Someone has created a set of images showing animals that appear in the lines of the London Underground map. (Animals on the Underground)