Brunch links: Silly governments and parking

Bad economy means parking lot

The “Arts at 5th and Eye” project proposed for 5th and I Streets, NW has collapsed due to lack of funding, and ODMPED is now planning to build a surface parking lot. Neighbors don’t want a parking lot in the interim. How about some of that “temporary urbanism” Harriet Tregoning has been talking about? (DCmud, Life in MVS)  (Tip: Michael P)

Not what we mean by maximums

Washington, PA is banning construction of any new private parking lots because they aren’t getting enough revenue from their municipal lots. (PT’s Parking Blog, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)

Smarter parker

San Francisco is experimenting with parking sensors for on-street spaces. They can make it easier for drivers to find parking (or know they won’t find any), and also improve enforcement; the pilot showed that 45% of parking “sessions” were unpaid. (GOOD, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)

Metro needs fixing, still safest

Robert McCartney says fixing WMATA requires a good General Manager and adequate funding from area governments and the feds for operating and capital. Nevertheless, “For all its troubles, Metro is still much safer than driving on the Capital Beltway. It’s the most efficient, least-polluting means of transportation in our region.” Amen. (Post)  (Tip: Michael P)

OK, we preserved enough?

Towson’s preservation group is ready to disband, after 33 years of work. It sounds like they got all the really historic buildings landmarked, and don’t feel the need to go landmark all the modern crap. (Baltimore Sun) … BeyondDC notes that the preservation movement has declined in general nationwide as well.  (Tip: Craig)

“Tarnished my respect for the police a bit”

Sead Medlock (aka Jim Treacher) discusses what he’s learned from the experience of getting hit by a Diplomatic Security Service driver and then receiving a ticket while in the hospital while mysterious “agents” looked on. (FishbowlDC)  (Tip: Michael P)

The Martians of PG don’t mind

MARTA will rename the “Yellow” line to “Gold” after Asian-Americans on the line objected. Marta recently assigned colors to its lines. (AJC)