Breakfast links: Gun owners sue DC to carry handguns on Metro
Train passes at Farragut West Metro station by Tdorante10 licensed under Creative Commons.
Four gun owners sue to be able to carry concealed handguns on Metro
The lawsuit comes on the coattails of last week’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down New York state’s strict limitations on who can carry guns outside of the home. The plaintiffs’ attorney argues that public transportation shouldn’t be considered a “sensitive place” for which a handgun should be restricted in DC because there is no historical precedent to make such a conclusion. (Martin Austermuhle / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)
Metrorail wait times could be up to an hour on Independence Day
WMATA blames the reduction in service on last fall’s removal of defective 7000-series railcars, which have not all been returned to operation. They advise entering a station other than Smithsonian for travelers leaving the fireworks show on the National Mall. (Zach Schonfeld / The Hill. Tip: Chester B.)
Which modes of transportation are faring better than others in the region?
As the coronavirus restrictions lift, Metrorail is still not seeing pre-pandemic ridership levels. However, Metrobus, local airports, and Capital Bikeshare are nearing normalcy. The area’s suburban public transit systems like the Fairfax Connector, Alexandria’s DASH, and Montgomery County’s Ride On are slowly getting back to normal ridership. (Gaya Gupta / Post)
Planning commission approves redevelopment of Fannie Mae campus in Reston
Despite accessibility concerns from county staff, the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved the plan which includes 74 townhomes near the soon-to-open Reston Town Center Metro station. The proposal now goes to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final approval. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXnow)
Gas-powered leaf blowers could be banned in Montgomery County
The Montgomery County Council introduced legislation prohibiting the sale and use of combustion engine-powered leaf blowers and vacuums due to noise complaints and environmental issues. (Schere / Bethesda Beat)
131 COVID contact tracers laid off in DC
The DC Health Department has shuttered the “DC Contact Trace Force,” which launched in April 2020 in response to the pandemic. At one point, the team had more than 400 workers. About two dozen of the recently laid-off employees were placed in new roles within the health agency. (Michael Brice-Saddler / Post)
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