Breakfast links: Metro memories

Goodbye, paper fare cards

If you still have a paper fare card lying around, be sure to transfer any credit to a SmarTrip card before it officially becomes obsolete on July 1. (WAMU)

Comstock on Metro

To improve Metro’s work and safety culture, and to defray costs, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock said WMATA should reform its pension system and contract out some services, like paratransit. (WTOP)

Plain old buses for the Pike

Transit plans for Columbia Pike include more frequent buses and enhanced bus stops, but longer, articulated buses will have to wait until Metro expands its fleet and Arlington County finds a place for storage. (ArlNow)

No housing in MoCo office space

An idea to convert empty Bethesda office space into housing or schools isn’t financially feasible, according to a Montgomery County report. Vacancy in some office parks is approaching 30%. (Bethesda Beat)

Cranes with creativity

A DC developer is livening up its construction sites by commissioning local artists to bring murals and other art to cranes, parking garages, and building walls. (WTOP)

Metro riders switch it up

Metro riders are finding alternatives during SafeTrack, like switching to other Metro lines or giving bike commuting a shot. Overall system ridership has decreased 12% during this second surge of SafeTrack. (WAMU)

Metro is still the best choice

Metro has its problems, but it’s still the best, or only, choice for many commuters. (Post)

Regional ride-hailing stats

More than half of the region’s 18- to 34-year-old residents have used a ride-hailing app at least once, and it’s becoming a more popular choice for all age groups. (Washingtonian)