Breakfast links: Fire alarm

Friday’s tough commute

Metro suspended service between McPherson Square and Federal Center SW stations on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines after an arching insulator caused a fire near Metro Center. (WTOP)

What started the fire?

An independent review found that stray currents are the number one cause of smoke and fire incidents.  Metro used to do system-wide tests for such currents but now only does so at interlockings due to funding cuts. (WTOP)

WMATA’s board woes

WMATA Board Chairman Jack Evans thinks the board he leads is the reason why change is so hard. He thinks its members are too tied to their local jurisdictions to make hard decisions, especially on funding issues. (Post)

Ride-hailing’s late night future?

If Metro has to scale back late-night service, some board members and riders see subsidizing ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft as more cost efficient than buses which have few riders. (Post)  (Tip: Aman A.)

New public housing

The District is seeking someone to redevelop a 3.5 acre site that was formerly subsidized housing into new public housing. Residents from the original site will be first in line for the new units. (City Paper)

DC’s commune scene

This video provides a glimpse into a small DC commune of seven who think their ability to pool together unpaid labor and rejection of capitalism will make for a more enjoyable and less stressful standard of living. (The Atlantic)

Tough church transformations

Redeveloping a church into a condo presents a lot of architectural and design challenges.  Developers also have to be respectful of a church’s place in a community to ensure a smooth transition. (Post)

Frederick’s urban future?

Frederick, MD has changed by leaps and bounds over the years. It’s home to a growing number of young professionals and families who are taking advantage of the urban amenities and lower cost of living. (Washingtonian)