Breakfast links: Washington’s rail system was beset by a trespasser, fire, and a deer
Metropolitan Grove MARC station by BeyondDC licensed under Creative Commons.
The Washington region rail system survived a trespasser, trash fire, and deer
On Monday evening, three separate incidents tested the resilience of the Washington region's rail system. A man was found unharmed on the MARC tracks outside Union Station, a trash fire smoldering along a pocket track at the Mount Vernon Square Metro station, and a deer was struck by a Metro train at Prince George’s Plaza station. (Martin Weil / Post)
DC prepares its shelters for hypothermia season
As the temperature drops, people experiencing homelessness are having trouble keeping track of which shelters have opened up. The city is trying to do maintenance and finalize contracts with motels for overflow space. (Morgan Baskin / City Paper)
Here are the tax incentives DC used to try to attract Amazon
DC offered a combination of discounts on property, sales, and corporate franchise taxes over a 15-year period. Maryland offered up to $8.5 billion, and Virginia's winning bid offered $573 million for 25,000 jobs plus $223 million for transportation improvements. (Jonathan O’Connell / Post )
Alexandria attempts to soothe residents’ HQ2 traffic concerns
Alexandria officials noted that 75% of the 25,000 Crystal City HQ2 employees are expected to commute without cars. “They’re actually bringing 25,000 workers into a community that has lost 25,000 workers over the last decade,” said Alexandria Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Yon Lambert. (Dick Uliano / WTOP)
Blasting begins on Bethesda’s Purple Line station
Crews will be begin work on an elevator shaft for the planned Bethesda Purple Line station above the Bethesda Metro station. The 16-mile, 21-station light-rail line through Montgomery and Prince George’s counties is expected to open in late 2022. (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat)
The head of DC’s Consumer and Regulatory Agency is stepping down
Melinda Bolling will be replaced in the interim by Ernest Chrappah, who leads the Department of For-Hire Vehicles. DCRA has received criticism from housing advocates, residents, business owners, and builders for failing to respond quickly to complaints about housing code violations or permit issues. (Martin Austermuhle / WAMU)
Spin scooters join DC’s growing fleet
Spin, which previously had dockless bicycles in the District that vanished, is back with an all-scooter fleet. The company has only released 100 scooters right now, but plans to reach the 400-scooter cap by the end of the year. (Rachel Sadon / DCist)
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