Dinner links: Delays due to broken systems

Why no breakfast links today?

After posting about the SmarTrip changes, I headed over to the Metro Board meeting to try to give Board members some questions to ask and topics to ponder. However, after taking hours in the executive session, they ended up not discussing SmarTrip publicly after all. Grr. Anyway, as a result the breakfast links got bumped to this evening. Sorry.

Montgomery traffic signals go out

Montgomery County’s traffic light system failed yesterday because of a computer crash, creating major gridlock. Many Metrorail users actually didn’t notice a problem; BeyondDC notes that this is a huge advantage of having multiple independent transportation modes. (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)

Metro communication systems go out

The very same day, a power failure at Metro knocked out the internal communications systems, including radio communication with bus drivers, the wmata.com Web site, and more. Trains and buses kept running. Systems are back online, but Metro needs another $14 million to replace this and another aging power distribution unit or these problems will keep happening.

Pay for park parking if you don’t park in the park

Some parks advocates are pushing for a ballot initiative to make all park parking free, and charge drivers an added vehicle registration fee whether or not they use the parks. This will surely just make some popular park lots overfull at peak times. Next, will they suggest making all food free and charging people money on their rent for food? (San Diego News Room, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)

Transit Score

WalkScore has added nearby transit stops as one of the factors in a good Walk Score. Here’s a nearby example of an address that benefits from being near bus and rail.

And…

VRE has turned down Amtrak in its appeal to keep operating VRE trains, in favor of the US subsidiary of French railway company Keolis. (Post, Cavan) … The airports authority has approved the toll rate increase on the Dulles Toll Road required to pay for the Silver Line (Post, Cavan) … Takoma Park voters tried out a new voting system that lets them verify, cryptographically, that their vote was counted (Wired, akg)  (Tip: Cavan)

“Roads” now includes transit?

Robert McCartney’s column this morning says Governon-elect McDonnell “owes” the state “roads,” which bizarrely includes transit projects. He does acknowledge that at least on I-66, opinions are divided, despite what the editorial page thinks. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)