Breakfast links: Metro understated its role in assisting white supremacists, new emails show
Image by Rich Renomeron licensed under Creative Commons.
Emails show Metro accommodated a white supremacist rally
Emails obtained by the Washington Post show that this summer’s Unite the Right rally sought, and received, special accomodations from Metro. The emails show that the rally organizer contacted Metro regarding safety concerns and possible accommodations around the rally. Participants ultimately received a police escort on the system. (Faiz Saddiqui / Post)
Amazon’s HQ2 choices reveals its longterm strategy
Amazon’s choice of New York City and the Washington region represents a desire to access two pools of talent: global executives, and government and policy leaders. The split decision helps to illustrate Amazon’s longterm goals to continue growing and diversifying its already gargantuan business. (Richard Florida / CityLab)
Virginia is increasing enforcement in HOV and Express lanes
Virginia police are increasing enforcement in the state’s HOV and express lanes. The move is intended to motivate drivers to use both options correctly to help maximize their capacity. (Mike Murillo / WTOP)
Metro can be intimidating to navigate if you don’t speak English well
Lots of important Metro messages are only in English even though tens of thousands of riders each day aren't fluent, by the agency's own estimates. Making the system less intimidating for non-English speakers could encourage them to ride more. (Kery Murakami / Post)
Connecticut Ave’s reversing lanes may be history
The District Department of Transportation is studying whether removing Connecticut Avenue's reversing lanes will help the city to accomplish its 2024 Vision Zero initiative. The lanes have long been a source of stress (and crashes) for drivers. (Jacob Fenston / WAMU)
A plan to increase pedestrian options over the Potomac moves forward
A new proposal for Long Bridge would double the number of tracks over the Potomac River to Arlington and add new options for people walking or bicycling. A new two-track bridge would also be added between the existing bridge and Metro’s Yellow Line bridge. (Max Smith / WTOP)
DOPA, a DC tenant protection law, will soon go into force
DC may start to use the the District Opportunity to Purchase Act in 2019, which will provide an extra layer of security for residents whose buildings are being sold. The law provides tenants in very specific situations the right to refuse sale to certain developers. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
Lyft buys Capital Bikeshare’s operating company
Lyft has bought bike-dock operator Motivate, which operates DC’s Capital Bikeshare docks. Lyft has not announced an expansion of docked or dockless bikes in DC, but the action aligns with their previously announced expansion into the space. (Jeff Clabaugh / WTOP)
A ranked atlas of US transit systems
A new atlas ranks US cities’ transit systems based not just on size, but also on efficiency and total uptake. The book examines how cities have utilized different modes of transportation to varying degrees of success, and focuses on where progress can still be made in each city. (Laura Bliss / CityLab)
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