Breakfast links: Power struggles

Pepco has reliability problems

Pepco’s reliability has been steadily declining over the last five years. The utility company has often blamed outages on weather issues beyond their control, but it turns out, more often than not, equipment failures have been to blame. (Post) … In response, Pepco will outline a 5-year improvement plan. (WTOP)

Orange Crush will continue

Metro has delayed indefinitely plans to increase the number of eight-car trains during rush hour.  Then money which had been budgeted for traction power upgrades has been shifted to cover the costs of safety upgrades in the wake of the June 2009 Red Line crash. (Examiner)

Fairfax Fire and Rescue wants design by fire truck

Fairfax County’s fire department is pushing for wider streets so that it’s easy for fire trucks to get around easily, even if that means unsafe streets that cost more lives than the fire accessibility saves. (FABB)

Education advice for Gray

The founder and CEO of the KIPP DC charter schools argues that Mayor-elect Gray’s education priorities should include funding parity for charter schools, paying for longer school days and years, and teacher quality. (Post)

Traffic deaths down in DC

Traffic deaths have dropped more than 50% since 2008.  Pedestrian deaths in 2010 are down over last year, but only slightly, and there are no numbers on cycling deaths. (DCist)

More pay-by-cell parking in MoCo

After Montgomery County’s pilot program in the Bethesda Parking District was deemed a success, the county will now expand pay-by-cell parking to Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Montgomery Hill. (Gazette, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)

Ghost bike in Fairfax

Christopher Benton died in late November as the result of a collision with a motorist at Fort Hunt and Belle Haven Roads in Fairfax County. FABB placed a ghost bike at the site of the crash on Saturday as a memorial to Christopher, and a reminder to passing motorists to share the road. (FABB, Fionnuala Quinn)

A responsive transit agency in Rhode Island

Providence blogger Jef Nickerson suggested his local transit agency post a map showing bus service through their bus tunnel, and created a sample map. The agency liked the idea so much they just went ahead and posted his map. (Greater City Providence)

And…

The DC YMCA brings together hundreds of DC high school students to learn about and practice civic and political engagement. (WAMU) … DDOT has installed 40 Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) across the District and hopes to have 100 by 2012. (d.ish) … Couldn’t WMATA buy some of these rail cars, designed by BMW? (Fast Co. Design, Doug D.)