Breakfast links: It’s Metro, just without the Metro

Metro considering huge closures

Looming financial worries have caused Metro to propose drastic measures like hiking fares and closing stations for periods of the day (GGWash). Amidst the gloom, the DC Council unanimously voted to urge Metro to restore late-night service. (WTOP)

Bring back BRT

Maryland legislators sent a letter to Governor Hogan and Transportation Secretary Rahn calling a recent move to pull funding for a proposed BRT line on the I-270 corridor bad for growth and the economy. (Bethesda Beat)

Criminal justice changing in DC

The DC Council approved changes to the city’s juvenile justice program, including a ban on solitary confinement. (DCist) The warden of the DC jail also retired at the end of September, the third major departure from the Department of Corrections in the past several weeks. (WCP)

September house hunting

More houses sold in the DC region this past September than in any September in the past 10 years. The area’s median home price is the same as last year, but there are fewer new listings. (Urban Turf)

Seed money

Edgewood’s Rhode Island Center could mean 1,500 new units (with over 100 being part of DC’s affordable housing program) plus new retail. Mayor Bowser wants to use a special tax program to help finance the project. (BizJournal)

Closing the 7000 gap

There’s a gap between cars on Metro’s 7000 series trains, and people with low vision are at risk of mistaking it for a door. Metro is retrofitting the railcars with safety devices to keep people from falling between them. (Post)

Clueless about race and cities

Donald Trump recently said 45 percent of African Americans living in “the inner cities” are in poverty. Equating “black” with “inner city” is racial stereotyping, and besides, the poverty rate for black residents in metro areas is 26 percent, while it’s 37 percent in rural areas. (Post)

Is the Mall broke?

The National Mall receives 30 million visitors a year and needs $4 billion in maintenence and repair work. It’s unclear where that money will come from, though. (Roll Call)

Transit truths

The closer you live to transit, whether that’s bus or rail, the more likely you are to use it, according to a recent report. Also, over 1/3 of people who changed jobs or homes last year took commuting into consideration. (TPB)

And…

A private tour of the National Zoo? Only for Adele (Washingtonian)…Local AirBnb rates have already tripled for inauguration weekend (DC Inno)…Poland is building a self-sustaining glow in the dark bike lane (CityLab)