Breakfast links: More transit next week, less overall

Holiday transit

Metro will close at midnight tonight and run on a Sunday schedule for Christmas; they’ll stay open until 2 am on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The DC Circulator will also stay open late, Georgetown-Union Station until 2 and Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square until 3:30.

Rail ridership declined everywhere

Ridership hasn’t just declined on Metro: it’s down across the country, mainly because of the economy. According to APTA’s figures, Metro ridership is actually up slightly from last year in the time period they are measuring. (Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)

Peter Craig, freeway fighter

Peter Craig, a leader of the anti-freeway movement in DC, died recently. He got a ban on freeways in white Northwest neighborhoods, but continued to fight plans in minority neighborhoods as well. He also successfully kept McLean Gardens from becoming denser. (Post) … The Post editorial board feels the city is better off without the freeways; that’s welcome but a bit odd given that they currently cheerlead for every highway expansion project in the region.  (Tip: Erik W)

Kaine’s biggest regret

Outgoing Virginia Governor Tim Kaine most regrets that he couldn’t get transportation funded by the state legislature vociferously opposed to any taxes of any kind. I’m a little torn on whether this was good or bad, because Kaine and Homer mostly wanted to crisscross the state with freeways while maybe putting in a little bus rapid transit here and there. (Examiner)

Highways are socialism

Conservatives suddenly realize highways are big government, start opposing them and building their own. If only this weren’t satire. (The Beast)

Contributions drove Accokeek?

Activists are still fighting the strip malls planned in Accokeek, an area previously designated by Prince George’s plans as “rural”; they claim developers made big contributions to County Councilmembers which the officials never disclosed. (Post)

What killed the Vegas Monorail

Why is the Las Vegas monorail run circuitously behind various hotels instead of directly along the Strip? Pressure from casinos and a terrible planning process. (MetropolisMag via Planetizen, Jess H)  (Tip: Jess H)

Why not advertise to parking commuters?

Many of the people taking advantage of free holiday parking at Rockville Town Square aren’t shoppers, but commuters. Cindy Cote Griffiths asks, why doesn’t Rockville put flyers on their cars promoting year-round paid monthly parking, which is still cheaper than Metro lots? (Rockville Central)