Breakfast links: Changes at WMATA

Silver Line extension explained

The pocket track near Stadium-Armory can’t fit NTSB-recommended switches to prevent derailments and is too short for 8-car trains to turn around quickly. Therefore, Metro will send Silver Line trains to Largo. (Post)

More Silver, less Blue

To make room for Silver Line trains, Metro will likely further reduce Blue Line trains to a headway of 12 minutes. To compensate, there will be more of the Yellow Line service first introduced in Rush Plus. (Post)

Ridership down

Metro ridership is failing to meet projections leading to $5 million in lost revenue so far. Metro is blaming the lower ridership on higher fares and the decreased federal transit benefit. (Examiner)

WMATA Board gets new rules

Local legislatures are changing the rules for WMATA’s board of directors including term limits and requirements that board members ride the rail or bus. (Examiner)

Not so free air

DC has sold the air rights for the Center Leg Freeway for $120 million, clearing the way for a large office and residential development and reconnecting F and G Streets across the highway. (WBJ)

Taxis discriminate

Undercover reporters found taxis discriminating against black passengers. They had a black man try to go to a destination east of the river, the driver refused, but then picked up a white man going to the same place. (WUSA9)

It wasn’t prices

The recently closed Anacostia Warehouse Supermarket wasn’t any cheaper than the soon-to-close Yes! Organic Market. Can future East of the River grocery stores learn from this? (THE ART of WARd 8)

A Post columnist making sense on bicycles?

John Kelly tackles the contentious issue of drivers vs bicycles vs pedestrians. His conclusion? Everyone’s a jerk on the road, and everyone needs to work on getting along. Also, who put a utility pole in the MacArthur Boulevard path? Nobody would put one in the road. (Post)

Big boxes not created equal

The District’s new Costco shouldn’t be confused with Walmart, particularly when it comes to labor relations. But unlike some of the DC’s planned Walmarts, you need a car to get to it.  (City Paper)

And…

The Post might erect a pay wall for its online content. (DCist) … LEED certification will reward walkability and transit access next year. (DCmud) … DC won’t get a velodrome at Buzzard Point. (DCist) … Montgomery Councilmember Phil Andrews wants to lower ICC tolls even though the road is meeting projections. (Post)