Breakfast links: The Metro board is mulling different operating hours
Image by MW Transit Photos used with permission.
The Metro board will weigh different hours of operations
At this Thursday's meeting, the Metro Board will decide whether to keep rail service hours the same, go back to pre-2016 service hours, or split the difference by adding only a few more weekend hours to current service. (Max Smith / WTOP)
The DC Council decriminalizes fare evasion on Metro
A supermajority of the council voted to pass a bill that makes fare evasion on Metro a civil infraction punishable by a $50 ticket instead of a criminal offense. Mayor Muriel Bowser had vetoed the bill, but this vote overturned her. (Andrew Giambrone / Curbed)
The Virginia legislature will vote on an anti-NIMBY bill this year
The bill would prevent local jurisdictions from blocking new housing developments because of the expected income or race of the future tenants, but would not address pracitcal barriers to affordable housing like high construction costs. (Ned Oliver / Virginia Mercury)
Virginia funds two Crystal City transit projects that were part of the Amazon deal
The Commonwealth Transportation Board will put some state funds towards the expansion of the Crystal City-Potomac Yards Transitway bus network out to Pentagon City, and to building a second entrance to the Crystal City Metro station. (Alex Koma / ARLnow)
Catherine Hudgins isn’t seeking a new term on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Catherine Hudgins recently announced that after 20 years, she won't be seeking a sixth term. Chairman Sharon Bulova (D) and Supervisors John Cook (R-Braddock) and Linda Smyth (D-Providence) are also stepping down after this term. (Brian Trompeter / InsideNOVA)
Furloughed workers will get new eviction protections in DC
DC passed emergency legislation to stop evictions of furloughed workers and will offer unemployment benefits to unpaid “essential” employees. The city tapped emergency funds to help cover benefits, and it estimates that the shutdown is costing DC $10 million a week. (Fenit Nirappil / Post)
What’s it like inside DC’s new apartment building for grandfamilies?
The Plaza West building has 50 affordable apartments for grandparents raising children. Grandfamilies are on the rise nationwide, and this is the first DC building designed specifically for them, including an on-site case worker and partnerships with local organizations. (Andrew Yarrow / Post)
A new study shows ridehailing drives down transit use in American cities
A study from the Unviersity of Kentucky found that when Uber and Lyft enter a US city, bus use drops by 1.7% and rail drops by 1.2%, and the decline increases over time. Some cities, like DC, have also experienced separate rail maintenance issues that fed into the decrease. (Angie Schmitt / Streetsblog)
Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.