Breakfast links: Old school

Hine gets OK

The DC Zoning Commission has approved the Hine School PUD, officially closing the community feedback phase. Developers will now focus on securing financing and aim to start construction next summer. (DCmud)

Not down with escalators

Planned escalators in the Main Hall could hamper future expansion at Union Station. Amtrak officials want to know if the holes for the escalators could be easily removed to accommodate passenger flow. (Post)

A lot to do in 5 years

Mayor Gray’s 5-year economic development plan is certainly ambitious, but some goals might be difficult to achieve. The planned tech center at St. Elizabeths has a ways to go. (City Paper)

Academic village in NoMa

While some parts of Gray’s 5-year economic plan might be difficult, one developer is moving forward with a NoMa academic village, which aims to attract and keep talent in the District.  (WBJ)

Height limit estimate too high?

Ryan Avent and Matt Yglesias have been arguing DC’s height limit costs over a billion dollars a year in a “shadow tax,” but are they overstating their case by conflating too many factors into an inaccurate number? (Atlantic Cities)

Safer to be blue

Blue states tend to see fewer traffic fatalities than red states, with DC leading all states with the fewest fatalities per capita. Do travel patterns explain this difference or might there be something else? (Streetsblog)

And…

Thanksgiving weekend will have several transit closings and modified schedules. (Post) … RideOn buses now feature bold ads promoting pedestrian safety. (WAMU) … Sand Box John has another thorough update on Silver Line construction.