Breakfast links: Eye of the beholder

Murals: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Congress Heights On the Rise really hates a new mural at MLK and Mellon Street, at least one part of which might also be an illegal advertising sign … New Columbia Heights has pictures of a proposed mural for the basketball court in the 14th and Girard park.

“Rethinking” SmarTrip (but not bus stop spacing)

In his Friday chat, John Catoe said that they’re rethinking the SmarTrip changes and will announce a plan in “the coming weeks.” Dr. Gridlock has invited SmarTrip head Cyndi Zieman to today’s chat at noon. Another questioner asks if there can be a new bus stop in front of their building, at a time when Metro instead is looking into getting rid of a few.

Streetcar wires AND trees?

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society

Capitol Hill activist Monte Edwards opposes overhead wires for streetcars, largely for their potential impact on trees. The Triangle shows more pictures of how streetcar overhead wires can coexist with lush tree canopies, this time from Portland. We’ve posted about this as well using pictures from Europe. Update: The original post said CHRS opposed the wires, based on the linked post. Mr. Edwards has clarified that these opinions are his own.

All together now: Highways are really expensive

Maryland State Senator Roy Dyson lays out the problems with the ICC: it cost $166 million per mile, the bonds to pay that will suck transportation dollars away from the rest of the state for years, will have high tolls, and won’t end traffic congestion anyway. (Southern Maryland Headline News)

And gas taxes don’t cover it

Texas’ state House transportation chair Mike Krusee tells CNU, “no road that we built in Texas paid for itself.” It costs 20-30 cents per vehicle mile traveled to build and maintain roads, but the gas tax, vehicle fees, and other revenue from drivers only covers 2-3 cents per mile. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)

Gateway may close Virginia Ave

CSX wants to close Virginia Avenue, SE for 2-3 years, to reconstruct the rail tunnel below and accommodate double-stacked trains for their National Gateway initiative. Too bad we can’t just take out the Southeast Freeway and reconstruct Virginia Avenue as a boulevard at the same time.

I just didn’t see the elephant

Copenhagenize has two amazing stories of things drivers just don’t see. One driver sideswiped an elephant crossing the road because it “blended in with the road.” Another driver smashed into a pedicab last Easter despite the driver “wearing a bright orange bunny suit” because he was “fumbling for a dropped cell phone.” Punishment: 25 hours of community service.