Breakfast links: Ultra news

Ultra power for streetcars?

Today, an Arlington bus maker and its Chinese partner will demonstrate their system for using ultracapacitors to run electric transit vehicles without overhead wires. This is one technology that could let DC streetcars drop the catenary across key monumental viewsheds and run inside the L’Enfant City. (Technology Review, akg, Jaime)  (Tip: Jaime)

Gabe speaks

There wasn’t much in this interview that should be news to GGW readers, but DCmud interviewed Gabe Klein a few days ago. Klein talked generally about the city’s plans to expand bike sharing, push for more TDM programs in development, and progress on streetcars.

Historic easements preserved

The U.S. Tax Court upheld tax deductions for “conservation easements,” where property owners donate an easement to a preservation nonprofit in exchange for giving it veto power over external changes to the property. Those houses in historic areas with little round brass plaques use conservation easements, and at some time, an owner got a tax deduction for it. (DCmud)

I’m a minority

Fewer DC residents are married than any state. Other similar cities also have more married residents. Why? Education levels? Gay population? Race and class divide? Writers speculate. (Newsweek)

MPD agrees with Capital City complaint

Remember when the Capital City Diner guys were mugged, and said MPD didn’t want to take a police report? Looks like that’s absolutely true: MPD has “sustained” this complaint, “which means the complaint had merit and the officer has been dealt with as per department policies.” (District Daily)

Developers want out of ag reserve requirements

Some developers are trying to overturn requirements that, before building Montgomery County, they purchase “Building Lot Terminations” (BLTs) from farmers who gave up their development rights in the County’s Agricultural Reserve. (Examiner)

Would huge underground garages reduce traffic?

Cairo thinks so, and is planning to pedestrianize much of downtown by building large underground roadways and garages. This sounds like my grand concept for the city when I was about fifteen, i.e. neat-sounding but not actually a good idea in the real world. Matt Yglesias argues that congestion pricing is the real answer.