Breakfast links: Virginia transportation sticking points

Escape from Van Dorn

Eight people got locked inside the Van Dorn Metro station Friday. The station manager locked up at the usual time, but there was still another train and he didn’t know about it. The passengers had to wait 30 minutes for Metro police to come let them out. That shouldn’t happen, but many bloggers have noted that calling the experience “a nightmare” that will leave you “scarred for a while” might be overstating the issue. (Post, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)

Widener Deeds vs. more widener McDonnell

Virginia gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R) had dueled in op-eds Sunday. Since transportation is a top issue in Virginia, both addressed it. Deeds wants to get 95/395 HOT lanes going again, but put “improving Metro and mass transit” at the top of his list, and vaguely called for “improving mobility in the I-66 corridor”; McDonnell, meanwhile, called to explicitly widen I-66, also wants the HOT lanes, and made the Silver Line his only mention of transit.

Bad polling news for Fenty

A WJLA poll found that 51% of DC voters disapprove of Adrian Fenty’s performance. There’s a huge racial divide, with 69% of blacks disapproving but only 24% of whites. A majority think he’s more focused on his career than the city. (WJLA)

Non-suck column

Robert McCartney’s column this weekend profiles Unsuck DC Metro, the “gadfly” blog that keeps a close eye on Metro service and customer service issues. (Post)  (Tip: Michael P.)

A more pleasant library

The Mount Pleasant library’s new addition will be a more modern structure behind the existing one. The addition, which will only be minimally visible from the street, seems to mimic the colors and angles of the original. (DC Metrocentric)

No parking at MLK

DC is closing the parking garage (scroll to 3rd page) at the MLK Library starting November 15th. This was part of the budget cuts approved earlier this year. It’s not clear why the garage can’t simply go to market rate pricing.

Parking better in Arlington

Arlington is considering a raft of more progressive parking policies, including charging for parking on evenings and weekends and unbundling parking in zoning. (Examiner, Michael P.)  (Tip: Michael P.)

Ask Congress for $4 billion

A Congressional conference committee will soon reconcile two transportation appropriations, one with $4 billion for high-speed rail in the House, and the other for $1.2 billion in the Senate. T4America and other groups are asking people to push for the higher number.