Breakfast links: Feds and their water

No old fountains means no new fountains

The Commission on Fine Arts frowned upon including some water features at the planned Museum of African-American Art and Culture because… the other museums don’t have any. Thanks, commissioner and Philadelphia resident Witold Rybczynski. (Post)

Feds to pay for their wastewater

The Obama administration has agreed to pay the impervious area charge, levied to bring the sewer system in compliance with the Clean Water Act, for federal properties within the combined sewer area (any area built before 1900). (Infrastructurist, Eric Fidler)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)

Sewage spills into Potomac

Heavy rains caused 201,831 gallons of sewage to pour into the Potomac in southern Prince George’s.  The problem has been going on for years and some blame WSSC for not being prepared for National Harbor. (TBD, Eric Fidler)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)

Many Metro workers don’t report problems

60% of WMATA employees saw a safety problem in the past year.  Of those employees, 30% didn’t report it for fear of repercussions, not from managers but from coworkers. (Post, Eric Fidler)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)

Fighting over White Flint pay plan

Developers in the White Flint area are criticizing the proposed special tax district around the Metro station to support the new smart growth master plan, calling it crippling to growth and development. (Examiner)

A positive spin on real estate

As more people take up bicycling as a means of transportation, real estate developers and agents are taking notice. DC and Montgomery County will soon require bike parking in some new residential construction, and some real estate agents are finding a niche in selling in bike-friendly communities. (Post)

Capital Bikeshare ridership is in

CaBi recorded 4,171 trips since its inception on September 20 through the last day of the month. The Dupont station, the most popular, recorded 300 trips. (CommuterPageBlog, Eric Fidler)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)

Cardinal could run daily

Amtrak plans to run its New York-Chicago Cardinal Service daily, up from the current three a week.  From DC, the plan will add more capacity to New York as well as more ways to reach central Virginia and beyond. (The Hook)  (Tip: Erik W)

And…

Portland has another interesting example of collaborative consumption: tool libraries. (GOOD) … 36.7% of U.S. households spend more than 30% of their pre-tax income on housing. (WSJ, Eric Fidler) … While crime is pretty rare on transit systems today, it’s worth remembering it wasn’t always. (Second Avenue Sagas, Rob Pitingolo)  (Tip: Eric Fidler)