Breakfast links: Highway robbery

MPD would rather white people didn’t file police reports in Trinidad?

The Capital City Diner guys just can’t get a break. Last night, they were robbed on Bladensburg Road. MPD officers seemed uninterested, and once a detective showed up, he tried to talk them out of reporting the crime, partly because they’re white, according to their post.

Stop the Sprawlway

Today’s Michael Dresser column in the Baltimore Sun lists the many reasons that the $4 billion I-270 widening, which he dubs the “Sprawlway,” is really bad. He also mentions ACT’s transit alternative.

Moran: Widen 14th Street

Congressman Jim Moran (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax) thinks DC ought to widen the 14th Street Bridge and 14th Street to add HOT lanes linking up to the potential Virginia ones. He told WTOP, “What D.C. should do is widen 14th Street Bridge, widen 14th Street and get some of the revenue that’s coming from these HOT lanes.” The “widen 14th Street” part must have been a verbal repetition or something, right? Surely Moran realizes that there are buildings on both sides of 14th Street in the way of widening it. (WTOP)

Developers not interested in Purple Line, except those that are

Sunday’s Post has a “news” story about how most developers aren’t interested in building around the Purple Line. But upon reading, it appears that developers mainly aren’t because the line is many years away and the economy is bad, not because the line lacks economic development opportunities. Plus, on the second page, they start quoting developers who actually are interested in building around the line.

DC can complete Georgia Avenue

DC will probably get to take over most of the Walter Reed campus when the hospital closes in 2011. The State Department initially said it wanted to use 79 acres, but then changed its mind and only needs 18. DC wanted to build a fire station on the eastern edge along Georgia Avenue. If the current plans go through, they can fill in the rest of the dead zone and connect communities along Georgia. (Current)

Not even safe on the sidewalk in Glen Burnie

A 59-year-old woman was on her way to church Saturday just before 7:00 pm, standing on a sidewalk preparing to cross Route 648 in Glen Burnie, when a driver struck and killed her before fleeing the scene. The driver was apprehended shortly thereafter. (Eye On Annapolis, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Be glad you don’t live in the OC

An Orange County (California) Transit Agency board member suggested ending bus service entirely, and one local paper thinks that’s a good idea. Governor Schwarzenegger ended all state operating assistance to transit agencies, and the sales taxes that fund OCTA, like other agencies, are way down. Tipster Stephen T. points out that the OC is evaluating options for the congested I-405, and widening the road without adding transit the only option on the table. (Orange County Register)  (Tip: Stephen T.)

Chicago parking deal illegal or just bad?

Some Chicagoans are suing to try to block the city’s deal to privatize its parking meters. The deal was indeed lousy for Chicago and poorly thought through, like the penalties Chicago has to pay if they remove parking spaces in the future. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s illegal. (Consumerist)