Breakfast links: Metro delays

Silver Spring money hole

The Silver Spring Transit Center needs more money for ongoing repair work, though it’s not clear how much. Montgomery County plans to sue the contractors to recover the funds, and believes repair work will be complete by the end of 2014. (Post)

New Metro cars delayed

Metro’s new 7000-series cars won’t be ready until early 2015, because the test track is not yet complete. Metro had planned to deploy the cars in the system by the end of this year. (WNYC)

When the levee’s built

The flood levee on the National Mall is almost ready for testing. The project is meant to keep flood water out of the Mall and downtown, and has seen a delay of 3 years. (Post)

Steetcars soon

Simulated streetcar service, where streetcars will run routes without passengers, will begin September 29 on H Street. DDOT hopes to open the line to passengers in early November.  (WAMU)

Goodbye corner office

Workplaces in DC are focusing on wellness, allowing more natural light into buildings and encouraging employees to collaborate informally. Individual workspaces are also getting smaller. (WBJ)

DC residents come from, go to MD

Between 2010 and 2011, the largest number of new DC residents came from Maryland, with Virginia a distant second. But even more people left DC for Maryland. (WBJ)

Slow down

Most DC moving violations are issued for speeding 11-15 miles-per-hour over the limit, with red light running and speeding 16-20 mph over the limit a distant second and third. (Post)

Smart meter opt out

A Chevy Chase woman refused to let Pepco install a new smart meter in her home, and says she won’t pay the utility’s opt-out fees. Smart meters automatically track electricity usage and can save customers money. (Gazette)

And…

The House Amtrak bill isn’t all bad. (Streetsblog) … Mourners for the Corcoran Gallery of Art will hold a memorial service. (WBJ) … Robert Caro’s The Power Broker, the seminal work on Robert Moses, turns 40. (The Daily Beast)