Breakfast links: Metro on the mend

LinksBy David Koch (Contributor) April 7, 2015

Photo by ep_jhu on Flickr.

Previews

Get a sneak peek of the new 7000-series Metro trains. The new cars, debuting next week, feature more interior space, safer design, and better customer information systems. (WAMU)

Smoke strikes twice

A smoke incident near Court House Metro may hold clues to what caused January’s smoke incident near L’Enfant Plaza. Federal investigators are looking at electrical cables affected by both incidents. (Post)

Forever in debt

Alexandria will take on more debt than ever before to build the new Potomac Yard Metro station. City leaders say the risk is worth it in order to bring more economic growth and tax revenue to the city and the region. (WAMU)

To regulate or not to regulate

Maryland is debating who should regulate ride-hailing services in the General Assembly’s final week. Some local jurisdictions like Montgomery County are working on their own ride-hailing legislation. (WAMU)

Let ‘em build

DC keeps growing and by 2040 there may not be enough space for all these new residents. To accomodate more people the District needs to ease the building process, reform the zoning code, and repeal the height act. (Washingtonian)

Know your rights

DC landlords will soon have to present a “Tenant Bill of Rights” to renters. The document spells out things like rent increases and eviction notices. Some landlords worry that the bill of rights could put new costs on them. (WAMU)

Taxes for transit

NoMa station could have had more private funding if Metro used value capture strategies like land-value taxes. Cities like Chicago are making better use of tools like tax increment financing zones to fund transit improvements. (Next City)

Walk to the train

Metro has a new tool to predict how much ridership and revenue will come from development around stations. Planners will use the new land-use ridership model to decide the best type of development for stations. (PlanItMetro)

And…

In the DC area 18% of households use a bike for transportation. (TheWashCycle) … Highway speeds in Maryland could go even higher. (WTOP) … Chris Christie’s record on urban New Jersey is mixed. (Next City)