Breakfast links: Tunnel trouble

No Red Line water repairs

Metro has cancelled plans to repair a leaking tunnel on the Red Line because they can’t find a contractor to do the work at the right price. Metro originally planned to close the Red Line between Friendship Heights and Grosvenor for 14 weekends this summer to complete the work. (Bethesda Magazine)

FTA in the tunnels

FTA safety inspectors began a “safety blitz” this week. They are scouring all six Metro lines to check for track integrity issues, red-light running, and to ensure rail cars stay attached to one another. (Post)

Circulator short on maintenance

A recent audit found 95% of DC Circulator’s oldest buses have safety-critical problems due to neglected maintenance. DDOT and WMATA vow to do a better job overseeing the contractor who runs and maintains the service. (WTOP)

Bye bye bus shelter

The Logan Circle ANC voted to remove a bus shelter on 14th St NW because it attracts homeless residents and litter. The ANC tried to remove the bus stop entirely in 2010. (Borderstan)

Leggett lets up on taxes

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett reduced planned property taxes increases by half, thanks to an extension on how long the county has to pay back income taxes that the state took unconstitutionally. (Bethesda Magazine)

Rally on dirt bikes

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier is cracking down on illegal dirt bikes and ATVs. The city seized 400 bikes and ATVs and released pictures of nearly 250 riders the police are trying to identify. (City Paper)

Metro on customer accountability

Metro has released its latest Customer Accountability Report with improvements to make it more dynamic and timely so that riders can easily see how the rail system is doing with repairs, delivery of new rail cars, and other service goals. (Post)

Pothole hunters

VDOT is encouraging residents to “hunt for potholes” and report them with a silly ad campaign. (Post)