Breakfast links: Forgiven

Metro news

A man jumped in front of an Orange Line train at West Falls Church in an apparent suicide yesterday (Post) … WTOP confirmed that the driver caught talking on a cell phone while driving wasn’t actually driving, and was reporting an injury after the bus’s built-in communication system failed.

Forgiving vs. self-explaining roads

US road design is based on the principle of “forgiving roads,” which clear out trees and straighten curves to minimize the chance motorists hit something when they veer off the road but also encourage faster driving. The Dutch used “forgiving roads” outside urban areas, but a different philosophy, “self-explaining roads,” to promote shared uses and safety, in cities. (PPS)

Manhattan’s “vertical cul-de-sac”

A new apartment building in Manhattan will have “sky garages,” where a car elevator brings residents’ vehicles up to their apartments. Beatus Est calls this a “vertical cul-de-sac.” Here was my take in October 2007, and a Streetsblog article at the time.  (Tip: BeatusEst)

Develop here, not there

The area around Laurel’s MARC station was designated a “smart site” to encourage development in that area. Meanwhile, Accokeek activists are asking Senate President Mike Miller, who represents parts of southern Prince George’s County, to intervene against the proposed upzoning in the county’s rural tier. (Gazette)

Leventhal and Knapp’s own windshield perspective

The Gazette discusses ACT’s suggested transit alternative to widening I-270. Councilmember George Leventhal pooh-poohs alternatives, saying that the Council’s job is to “make it easy for [people] … to drive.” They shouldn’t make it harder, but when you’re talking $4 billion, it’s reasonable to ask if it’s better to make other things easy instead. Mike Knapp, meanwhile, appears not to have read the plan, since he thinks it extends the Red Line underground through Gaithersburg instead of in a freeway median.

More progress at 15th and W

DDOT has continued its improvements at the intersection of 15th and W, NW. The west side of the intersection now has new, permanent curbs, says reader Steve. Update: Sorry for leaving out the quadrant originally.