Breafast links: Mostly Metro

$150 million one step closer

A House appropriations subcommittee approved the $150 million for Metro that Congress had previously authorized. Regional leaders were disappointed when President Obama’s budget left out this important support, and the crash renewed calls for Congress to add it back in. (Examiner)

Backups: Good for your photos, good for Metro

The NTSB called Metro’s train control safety system “inadequate,” and recommended Metro install a backup system to prevent further crashes. The circuit that was supposed to detect other trains in close proximity kept flickering on and off just before the crash. (Post)

Stand clear

With longer Metrorail headways, platforms are more crowded, making delays more likely for each train. To keep trains on time, operators have been closing the doors before everyone has boarded, which is annoying riders and discouraging polite waiting, one letter writer tells Dr. Gridlock. Also, Jim Graham has started riding the Circulator, or at least has done so once or twice. (Post)

It’s not the texting, it’s that he got caught?

A Red Line train’s cab now has newspapers covering the windows. A response to riders catching that other driver texting? (@perkinsms) … Montgomery County has suspended the driver recently photographed reading a book while driving.

Tarnished silver

The pavement on the Boston’s BRT Silver Line is rapidly deteriorating. This is one way that BRT can appear cheaper but cost more in the long run than a train: Its right-of-way needs more maintenance to keep up. Boston’s 100-year-old Green Line doesn’t have these problems. (Switchback via The Overhead Wire, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)

Virginia, others underfund bikes and peds again

WABA is really disappointed that the region’s transportation priorities allocate less than 1% of funds to bicycle and pedestrian improvements. DC submitted most of the bike and ped projects, while Northern Virginia and Prince George’s County have none at all. WABA points out that biking and walking constitute 4% of regional commute trips, meaning those modes deserve at least 4% of the total pie, and probably much more. (TheWashCycle)