Breakfast links: Another step in the slow march to Metro safety oversight

Inching closer to a new Metro Safety Commission with Senate approval

The Senate passed a bill approving the creation of the new Metro Safety Commission on Tuesday, leaving only the House left to vote on the measure. Once the new commission is in place, the Federal Transit Administration is expected to release millions in withheld funding to the region.  (Martine Powers / Post)

Should DC still give the Carnegie Library to Apple?

Apple has been planning to take over the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, which has drawn mixed reaction. Kriston Capps of Citylab thinks the proposition to make the Library into a “gadget store” is a terrible idea.  (Kriston Capps / CityLab)

Fairfax County is debating how dense is too dense

Reston residents are pushing back against a proposal to allow denser construction. County planners say that more density will allow Reston to achieve development goals from its Master Plan, but opponents argue the proposal is moving too fast for the community to weigh in.  (David Emke / Reston Now)

DC considers turning unused offices into usable housing

DC Councilman Robert White is proposing that the city convert some of it's large and empty office buildings into affordable housing units in order to solve two problems the city faces.  (Michael Neibauer / WBJ)

What’s next for the Southwest Waterfront

The Wharf project is redeveloping a huge swath of Southwest on the Potomac. Phase 2 of the plan will mean big changes to the waterfront in the form of three large residential buildings and an small office.  (Mark Welborn / Urban Turf)

Baltimore is building out bus-only lanes

Baltimore reorganizing its bus service as BaltimoreLink, part of which includes carving out bus-only lanes on nine downtown streets. The city hopes to speed up transit by choosing streets where buses move more people than a single lane of cars.  (Stephen Miller / Streetsblog)

Protected bike lanes, by the numbers

How much does it cost to install protected bike lanes on a city street? That depends on the kind of protection the lane has. Here's the breakdown on the cost per mile, protection offered, and durability of different styles of lanes.  (Michael Anderson / People For Bikes)

Nation’s critical duck ramps under fire from Congress

The duck ramps that appeared at the Capitol Reflecting Pool on Monday haven't captured everyone's heart. North Carolina Congressman Mark Walter criticized the ramps as a wasteful expenditure.  (Liam Stack / NYT)