Breakfast links: Still safer than driving, but how safe?

Another Metro fatality

A track worker was struck and killed by track maintenance equipment at Vienna last night. A near crash, a fatal crash, and now this give greater credence to arguments that Metro lacks the necessary safety culture. It’s also reminiscent of the 2005-6 period where four Metro workers died in three separate incidents. (Post)

Near-crash kept secret

A Metro train almost hit another near Potomac Avenue three months before the June crash. The automated system failed to stop a train in time, and the operator hit the manual brakes. Metro didn’t reveal the incident publicly or tell the NTSB. Unlike the June crash, this incident involved a failure of equipment on the train instead of on the tracks. (Post)

Sidewalks: Prudent or fascist?

Roger Lewis endorses universal sidewalks, examining and rebutting the arguments against installing them. Of course, he concludes, DDOT also has to sensitively design the sidewalks to best address residents’ concerns. To their credit, they have generally done just that in the recent additions. (Post) … One Palisades resident called sidewalk installation “the sort of thing fascist governments do.” (Current)

Feet in the Street really in the Park

DDOT announced more details of its inaugural Ciclovia/Summer Streets, called “Feet in the Street,” at Fort Dupont Park on Saturday, August 29th. As Richard Layman points out, though, it’s more in the park than the street, and there’s a good chance many people will drive to this “car-free celebration.” In fact, the press release explains how to drive and park there. It’s great that DC is trying this and officials will gain experience to make future events better. But next year, it should run along a boulevard connecting multiple neighborhoods, like the events in other cities that inspired it, bringing it within easy walking or biking distance of as many residents as possible. (RPUS)

Most prefer MARC to Hagerstown

In an unscientific Web poll by NBC25 (Hagerstown), 73% prefer MARC extension to widening I-270. The poll ties into a story on ACT’s transit alternative to the widening. (Your4State)

Highways displace streetcars, again

In the mid-20th Century, growing automobile dominance pushed streetcars out of most American cities. Now, ironically, ICC construction is displacing the National Capital Trolley Museum from its current location north of Glenmont. The museum will reopen at a nearby site later this year. (MPW)

Take me out on the water to the ballgame

A water taxi will soon start giving rides to and from Nats games. It’ll connect the ballpark to Alexandria and National Harbor. The adjacent park is also under construction; fans will be able to picnic before games once it opens. (WTOP)