Breakfast links: The railcars set to replace Metro’s oldest trains in 2024 will feature air filtration and digital displays
Tragically, we doubt Metro's new railcars will feature everyone's favorite orange carpet. Metro of an earlier era by washingtonydc licensed under Creative Commons.
New Metro railcars, coming to a station near you
Metro is gearing up to retire its 2000 and 3000 series trains after 40 years, replacing them with the 8000 series in 2024. The new cars are expected to include air filtering, digital displays with realtime transfer data, and phone charging. (Daniella Byck / Washingtonian. Tip: Azan)
DC Council considers opening the door to more evictions
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson is introducing a bill that would carve out another exception to DC’s eviction moratorium, allowing landlords to evict tenants after attempting to get rental assistance. But critics say DC’s rental assistance program, STAY DC, hasn’t even seen successful implementation yet, so it’s not clear people will be able to access aid to begin with. (Amanda Michelle Gomez / City Paper)
Maryland officials renew push to get rid of Baltimore’s Highway to Nowhere
Maryland Democrats are pushing for the Reconnecting Communities Act, federal legislation that would offer grants to communities to remove highway projects. Politicians held a news conference at Baltimore’s “Highway to Nowhere,” pointing to it as an example of a project that cleaved apart Black communities and exacerbated inequality. (Jeff Barker / Baltimore Sun)
561 affordable units could be coming to Arlington
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing is moving forward on a zoning application to build 561 affordable housing units at Arlington’s Marbella Apartments. The project would include 193 “family units” and 132 senior units. (Nena Perry-Brown / UrbanTurf)
Got vaxxed? You can lose your mask in DC (in some places)
If you’re two weeks past your final vaccine dose, you don’t need to wear a mask outdoors in DC or in businesses that don’t require it. You still need one for airports, public transit, schools, healthcare settings, and some other places. (Jordan Pascale / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)
Pedestrian killed after hit-and-run in Fairfax County
A driver struck a pedestrian with their side mirror on Leesburg Pike on Sunday and then left the scene, according to Fairfax County police. The pedestrian fell to the ground and was struck by multiple other drivers, who did remain at the scene. (Meagan Flynn / Post)
DC’s buzzy new tour group
Even cicadas ride Metro in artist Carlos Carmonamedina’s illustrations imagining Brood X as DC tourists. In the illustrations, cicadas wait for a Metro train, push baby cicadas around the Wharf, and scooter through Tenleytown. (Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian)
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