Breakfast links: Metrobus and Metrorail to be free this New Year’s Eve
A Metrorail train at the Ashburn Metro station facing east by Rob Pegoraro licensed under Creative Commons.
Free Metro rides and extended hours on New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, Metro will provide free rail and bus service from 8 pm to 2 am. Metro’s Board of Directors requested these service changes to help prevent alcohol- and drug-related crashes and fatalities. (Editor’s note: GGWash board chair Tracy Hadden Loh is also on WMATA’s board.) (Amanda Michelle Gomez / DCist)
Typical DC area rents declined in November
Between October and November 2022, DC area rents fell by 1%, which is the first time asking rents have declined in the region since early 2021. Last month, a typical DC rent was $2,223. (UrbanTurf)
DC Councilmembers Pinto and Silverman introduce counter bill on DCHA reform
DC Councilmembers Elissa Silverman (At-large) and Brooke Pinto (Ward 2) introduced legislation to reform the District of Columbia Housing Authority, countering Mayor Bowser’s and Chair Mendelson’s earlier proposal. Silverman and Pinto’s plan would create a nine-member board that maintains direct representation of housing recipients, in contrast to Bowser and Mendelson’s plan which would eliminate designated spots for individual public housing residents. However, the alternative plan will have to be reintroduced in the next council period. (Colleen Grablick / DCist)
Developers requesting land use changes for residential over office space in Reston and Herndon
In Fairfax County, several developers are proposing to replace existing office buildings with primarily new residential use near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station and other areas nearby to address an increase in aging office space and not enough residential space. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
Silver Line Phase Two stations are serving 3,500 riders a day
Out of the six new Metro stations opened under last month’s Silver Line extension, Dulles International Airport and the Ashburn stations have seen the most riders. Riders at new stations are most commonly traveling to or from downtown DC stations. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
Metro operator in safety incident last month had worked for 30 days straight
Last month, a Red Line train sped past track workers at excessive speeds. After investigating the incident, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) found that the operator of the train had worked for 30 days straight. Metro is trying to staff up, but they face a labor shortage. Metrorail has 60 fewer operators available each day than specified by the schedule, according to the WMSC. (Jackie Bensen / NBC4 Washington)
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