Breakfast links: Black architects have left their mark on the nation’s capital
First called the MCI Center and now the Capital One Arena, this building was designed by Marshall Purnell, the first African-American president of the American Institute of Architects. Image by Trakker used with permission.
10 DC projects built by black architects you should know
While African Americans continue to be grossly underrepresented in the architecture field, black architects have still left their mark on the nation's capital. Here are 10 local projects designed by black architects that you should know. ( Michelle Goldchain / Curbed)
Urbanists are geeking out over Black Panther’s Wakanda
In Wakanda, there are mixed density buildings, walkable and human-scale streets, a rapid transit system, and much more to delight urbanists. The film offers a vision for the future, and a model for what a city designed by and for black people could look like. ( Alissa Walker / Curbed)
2017 was good for the region’s airport trio
All three of the Washington region's airports — Dulles, National, and Baltimore's Marshall — had increased amounts of passenger traffic 2017. Dulles saw its highest growth since 2007, and all three broke annual passenger records. (Lori Aratani / Post)
There are some new details about Jan 31 Amtrak crash
The preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the crash involving an Amtrak train carrying members of the GOP and a trash truck reveals that the truck had maneuvered around the safety gates designed to prevent access to the tracks. (Lori Aratani / Post)
More bad vibrations for Metro
Just as Metro is getting ready to release its findings on the investigation into the Petworth neighborhood complaints of trains causing vibrations, more complaints of vibrations are surfacing — now from Foggy Bottom. (WTOP)
DC’s transit score takes a hit
In a report released every two years, DC's transit score has taken the sharpest drop compared to its competition, though it maintains its spot as the 4th best US city for transit. New York, San Francisco, and Boston remain the top three. (WTOP)
Wednesday sets record highs for DC temps
DC hit a record-high temp of 82 degrees Wednesday, the warmest it has ever been this early in the year. Combined with Tuesday's 78 degrees, these were the highest back-to-back winter days in DC ever. (Jason Samenow / Post)
Transit agencies in LA and Seattle are fighting for affordable housing
Transit agencies in LA and Seattle are testing methods to encourage affordable housing development near transit hubs. LA is providing loans to developers who build within half a mile of transit lines, while Seattle provides heavy discounts on property sales. (James Brausuell / Planetizen)
Why do US cities focus on the dangers of walking?
Pedestrian deaths have risen in the past decade, but the solution probably isn't to ban walking and texting at crosswalks. Advertising “distracted walking” as a health risk shifts the blame for those deaths onto pedestrians without finding real fixes. (Angie Schmitt / Streetsblog)
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