Breakfast links: Bad choices, good choices

Dulles Metro station won’t be in front of terminal

MWAA has ruled out an above-ground station adjacent to the terminal, leaving an underground station next to the terminal and an above-ground one at the parking garage farther away. Metro officials are pushing MWAA not to take the cheap option to the long-term detriment of ridership. (WTOP)

DC bag fee works, VA & MD ponder own fees

After instituting the 5¢ bag fee, 55 million bags were used in DC in 2010, an enormous drop from 2009’s 270 million. (DCist, Steven Yates) … Observing DC’s success, Virginia will consider a 20 cent fee in its upcoming legislative session, while Maryland is considering a 5 cent fee. (WTOP, Gazette)  (Tip: Steven Yates)

RAC opposes bag searches

The Riders’ Advisory Council voted overwhelmingly to oppose WMATA’s bag search program, citing a variety of concerns. (Dr. Gridlock)

Kass promoted on transportation committee

Tommy Wells has hired Jonathon Kass, Jim Graham’s transportation policy guy, as staff director for the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Kass has been a force for great policy on the committee when Graham ran it, and this bodes well for it to continue to get better under Wells.

Welcome, GOP majority

As predicted, the new GOP-controlled House stripped all Congressional delegates of their votes in the Committee of the Whole upon assuming power yesterday. (TBD) … They also passed a rule that eliminates previous protections of the Highway Trust Fund, now making it possible to reallocate money elsewhere and cut transportation spending. (Transportation Nation)

How CaBi may expand

In something of a reversal, the Georgetown ANC unanimously endorsed 3 locations in the neighborhood for future Capital Bikeshare stations. Arlington has money for 16 stations which will start in Rosslyn and then expand toward Ballston. (Georgetown Metropolitan, Ken Archer, WashCycle)

Historic preservation not always a hindrance

Richard Layman is frustrated by Matt Yglesias’ implication that the only thing historic preservation lists accomplish is to hinder development. (RPUS)

Help create transit manual

Kittelson Associates created a Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual in the mid-90s to complement and counter-balance the FHWA’s Highway Capacity Manual.  Now they are updating the manual for a new edition and are looking for input. (Human Transit)

And…

Mary Hynes will take Metro to WMATA board meetings, like her predecessor Chris Zimmerman did. (TBD) … An off-duty cop struck a pedestrian in a Capitol Heights are without crosswalks or signals (WUSA) … The Petworth library is collecting stories from long-time residents (DCPL, Lynda) … Will a redevelopment authority come back under Gray? (Housing Complex)  (Tip: Lynda)