Breakfast links: Spiral up, not down

Death spiral alert

Kytja Weir discusses the danger of a “death spiral” in Metro service cuts and ridership decreases, and gets quotes from a few local folks (including me) about how to regain public confidence.  (Examiner)

Improve buses instead of creating new ones

It’s better to improve general transit instead of adding “premium” bus services like the H Street Shuttle, argues Richard Layman. (RPUS)

Be Montgomery Planning Board Chair

Royce Hanson, current Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board, will step down in June and the County is looking for his successor. It’s a lot of work, but Montgomery really needs a good Planning Board chair. If you’re not a Democrat, you can still apply for the other open non-Chair seat as well. Here are the details to apply for Chair and member. (Post)

Fairfax creates Dulles rail tax district

Property owners benefit from improved transit, and many areas have tried or debated taxing some of the increased value to pay for, or pay back, transit investments. Yesterday, Fairfax created a special tax district to pay for the second phase of the Silver Line. Business leaders and property owners were leading the charge; 61% have now supported the plan. (Post)

How to fight a project

A group of neighbors is fighting Suburban Hospital‘s proposed expansion and removal of any single-family houses. Miranda Spivack profiles the experience of being a resident organizing against a project. (Post)

Gun + snowballs = “inappropriate”

Police Chief Cathy Lanier criticized Detective Baylor for pulling his gun at Saturday’s snowball fight. (AP)

Let me off the plane

Airlines will have to let passengers off the plane if a flight is delayed on the ground for more than three hours, and will have to provide food, water, and working restrooms in the meantime. (USDOT)