Breakfast links: Election eve

Not sold on statehood

A sizable minority of DC voters have a few reasons for opposing statehood - they feel the measure is too expensive, politically unfeasible and unconstitutional.  Plus, they don’t like the proposed name. (WAMU)

GOP out of cities

Today, Democrats tend to be from dense areas, while Republicans come from more rural ones. But that hasn’t always been the case. Race is the biggest factor that made the GOP abandon cities and urban policies. (NYT)

What inner city?

Donald Trump is attempting to appeal to African Americans by focusing on “inner cities”. But inner cities are poorly defined and African Americans live across metropolitan areas, not just central cities. (Urban Institute)

Transit on the ballot

It’s election day tomorrow and there are a number of transportation ballot items around the country, including $120 billion for LA’s transit system and Seattle’s light rail network. (Transport Politic)

Metro’s need for less speed

Speed restrictions have become more common thanks to a growing list of track sections in need of repair.  It’s a sign that WMATA is taking safety more seriously, although many riders think Metro could do more to communicate when and where trains are slowing down. (Post)

More Purple Line jitters

One Montgomery County councilman is worried that permanently eliminating late-night Metro service could jeopardize the Purple Line by giving Judge Richard Leon another reason to delay its construction. (WBJ)

Real estate to the rescue?

Despite all of Metro’s problems, commercial real estate developers continue to value proximity to stations more than ever.  Could they help to save the system?  Developers have already partially funded Metro initiatives like the construction of the NoMA-Gallaudet U station.  (Post)

Walkable future in Tysons?

Pedestrians have no safe options for crossing the Route 7 and Route 123 intersection in Tysons.  Fairfax County wants to change this and is reviewing a series of plans that would inject some much-needed walkability to the commercial district. (In Tysons)

Historic preservation discord

Some owners within the Florida Avenue Market aren’t happy about about its new status as a historic district.  They say the process was rushed and worry that they won’t be able to add density. (UrbanTurf)

And…

President Obama might become a Metro rider after he leaves office. (The Hill) … DDOT will host a public meeting on November 17th about the possibility of expanding the streetcar from Union Station out to Georgetown. (Borderstan) … The Transportation Planning Board is looking for people to serve on its Citizen Advisory Committee.