Breakfast links: Fines and transit fights

Back on track, sort of

All Metrobus routes are running on a light snow plan today. All rail stations are open, but trains are only running every 8 minutes. Federal offices are open on a 3-hour delay and many school districts are still closed. (WTOP)

Railroad is public

The homeowner who claimed he owned part of an old railroad right-of-way along the Purple Line route lost his case in Maryland’s highest court, paving the way for Purple Line construction. (Bethesda Magazine)

Giant fines for snow fouls

DC has issued over one million dollars in fines for snow emergency parking violations since Friday. (Post)

Snowblind technology

DC’s plow-tracking website was supposed to show the city’s progress clearing streets. But it wasn’t very accurate, as it only reported on the location of DC-owned plows and overstated how much salt the plows spread. (Post)

The Snojo Nnamdi Show

Today (Thursday) at noon, the Kojo Nnamdi Show will discuss traffic fines with Gabe Klein and Jessica Cicchino; then at 12:40, David Alpert and Petula Dvorak will grade the region’s response to the storm. (WAMU)

Crime is crime

The DC Council debated and then shot down a proposal for higher penalties for crimes committed on public transportation. The debate centered around whether higher penalties deter crime and if transit crime is unique. (Post)

Maglev madness

The idea for a maglev train from DC to Baltimore, championed by Governor Larry Hogan, is a “white elephant,” says an op-ed. It would be massively expensive, and Maryland could improve MARC for more benefit at less cost. (Post)

DC’s streetcar past

A new book on DC’s streetcar history explores Congress’ endless meddling, how a streetcar company quickly restored service after a fire engulfed cable machinery, and the equivalent of “manspreading” in the early 1900s. (Post)

Bike to bicycle kicks

The renderings for the new DC United stadium show several bike lanes called for in the MoveDC plan. (TheWashCycle)

FHWA fickle on fonts

The Federal Highway Administration keeps changing its mind about the best font for roadway signs. Citing new legibility research following a major font change in 2004, new signs on US highways will revert to 1940s font. (CityLab)