Breakfast links: Metro is getting new escalators
Rosslyn Metro by John Brighenti licensed under Creative Commons.
Metro will replace 130 escalators
Metro will replace 130 escalators in 32 different station starting in May, replacing escalators that are on average 38 years old. No more than 18 escalators will be out of service at once. (Abigail Constantino / WTOP)
New Navy Yard development will have pedestrian plazas
Brookfield Property published design plans for the new phase of the Yards project which includes a six block long woonerf-style shared street for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. (Nena Perry-Brown / UrbanTurf)
One more e-scooter company is now operating in Alexandria
E-scooter company LINK just started operating in Alexandria with 200 scooters available to rent and ride. LINK joins Lime, Bird, Raxor, Spin and Helbiz all operating in Alexandria already. (James Cullum / ALXNow)
Maryland could rename Route 210 after Obama
Maryland State Senators Arthur Ellis and Obie Patterson introduced a bill to rename the stretch of Route 210 called Indian Head Highway after President Barack Obama. This proposal goes along with another one, encouraging the town that the highway is named after to change its name as well. (Aris Folley / The Hill. Tip: MarkusJT)
Virginia will use federal money for rent relief
Virginia will put $160 million of the $524 million it got in federal pandemic relief money towards funding rental assistance programs, and may add more. The state has spent $84 million on pandemic-related housing relief since June and is requiring landlords to help tenants secure rental assistance. (Ally Schweitzer / DCist)
Maryland may get rid of qualified immunity
Maryland Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins is sponsoring a bill to get rid of Maryland’s “qualified immunity” for state employees, under which they cannot be sued in civil court for their actions. Removing this provision would mean police officers can be sued for monetary damages if they harm a member of the public. (Hannah Gaskill / Maryland Matters)
Arlington working group recommends police oversight
Arlington County’s Police Practices Work Group published a report recommending, among many things, a civilian review board for the police department with subpoena power, a sliding scale for traffic fines based on income, and reevaluating when 911 calls are sent to the police versus other county services. (Christian Zapata / DCist)
Some Loudoun and Fairfax students are returning to school
Yesterday the first wave of students came to school for in person learning in Fairfax and Loudoun county public schools. Over the next month the counties will bring all students who opt to back into school for at least part of the week. (Hannah Natanson / Post)
The Baltimore Sun is set to return to local hands as a nonprofit
After a long run under Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, Maryland’s largest newspaper, and its affiliated regional publications such as the Capital Gazette, are set to be acquired by a nonprofit created by a Maryland businessman. (Christopher Dinsmore / Baltimore Sun)
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