Breakfast links: Slow down, speed up

WMATA’s house

Did you know WMATA owns a single-family house in Vienna, which it rents out? Neither did most people until staff recommended selling it off last week as part of a broader effort to get rid of unneeded property. However, the zoning needs to change to allow single-family residential on the site. (Kytja Weir/Examiner)

Suicide on Metro not involving train

A man committed suicide by jumping onto the Red Line tracks at Grosvenor, and died without being hit by a train. This created major headaches for Red Line commuters in the evening.  (Kytja Weir/Examiner)

Other ideas for station retail

Capital Business surveyed retailers about other stores that could go in Metro stations besides DVD rental kiosks and trolley tickets. Top ideas include dry cleaning drop-offs, movie tickets, mall stand goods like makeup and sunglasses, and tourist T-shirt shops. (V. Dion Haynes)

Gas station proposal out of gas

The Montgomery County Council has shown no apparent desire to modify zoning so that a planned Wheaton Costco can get a gas station without the usual review process. Costco isn’t willing to “wait around” for the year-long review, so they will probably build without it or find another location for the station. (Kensington Heights Citizens Association, Cavan)

ACTing through letters

ACT leaders have two good letters in the press. Ben Ross compares O’Malley and Ehrlich on toll lane plans. (Baltimore Sun) And Richard Hoye explains the problems with the Medical Center Metro underpass study, which is having a public meeting on July 20. (Post)

Church parkers speak loudly

A spokesperson for Mayor Fenty, as well as Kwame Brown and Vincent Orange (both candidates for DC Council Chair) promise to help churchgoers who park illegally on Sundays and get tickets. (Ann Marimow/DC Wire)

Shoup on DC parking pilots

Ashley Halsey is back in form with an analysis of DC’s new parking pilots that quotes Donald Shoup and explains a fair amount of complex parking issues. (Post)

Destruction in Europe

Germany might be way ahead of us in transit and bicycling mode share, but they’re still building big freeways, one of which could damage much of the nation’s Riesling production (BBC News, Matthias) … The creator of the Range Rover was killed by a van and driver while he was cycling (Autocar) … The US owes $54 million in unpaid congesstion tolls in London. (AP)  (Tip: Matthias)