Breakfast links: Don’t pay more
Photo by jcolman on Flickr.
No Metro fare hike
WMATA will not propose a fare increase in the 2014 fiscal year, as its policy is to change fares every other year. Last year, fares rose 5%, and ridership declined. (Post)
Trump doesn’t want to pay
After winning a bid to redevelop the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Donald Trump doesn’t want to have to pay taxes on the commercial space in the property. (WBJ) … Union Station just agreed to pay the same tax, but still may challenge in court DC’s right to levy it. (Post)
Nathan would block referendum
DC’s attorney general Irvin Nathan called for the elections board to cancel the April referendum on budget autonomy, saying the referendum exceeds DC’s legal powers. The Council unanimously supported the move, and Mayor Gray reluctantly signed the bill to authorize the vote. (Post)
Bike to walkable suburban districts?
As suburbs are retrofitted with new denser, walkable developments, will residents be able to access those neighborhoods with methods other than cars? Can bicycles solve the “last mile” problem? (WABA)
Short blocks cut small city traffic
Small block size may reduce traffic more than mixed-use development in smaller cities. These smaller mixed-use areas are unlikely to be self-sufficient and so attract traffic from other areas. (Streetsblog)
Inauguration closes bridges, stations
During this month’s presidential inauguration, the 14th Street, Memorial, and Roosevelt bridges will all be closed to automobile traffic, although the Memorial bridge will be open to pedestrians. The Smithsonian, Archives, and Mount Vernon Metro stations will also be closed. (Post)
O’Malley wants more and cooler schools
Maryland’s governor proposed spending $336 million to build and improve schools in the state, and to add air conditioning to the 180 of 1,400 schools without it. (Post)
One way to higher VA gas tax?
Dave Albo (R-Springfield) might suggest raising the gas tax but giving Virginia residents an income tax break to compensate, ultimately just charging visitors more. (Post)
And…
Amtrak adds nighttime Acela service between DC and New York. (Post) A developer launched another app to help locate DC’s food trucks. (DCist) … CityCenterDC will have some swanky condos, but “Central Park living,” not quite. (Post, City Paper)