Breakfast links: Region’s drivers spent an estimated 83 hours per person in traffic last year
Cars speed down the Beltway near Leesburg Pike, Virginia Route 7 in Tysons by Daniel Kelly used with permission.
Washington region drivers lost an average of 83 hours to sitting in traffic in 2022
Washington region moved up five places from 13th place to 8th in rankings of cities with the most traffic in the US, according to the Global Traffic Scorecard, falling just behind San Francisco and just above Houston. Traffic levels remain below pre-Covid-19 rates, however. Congestion rankings can be significantly affected by population density and related issues, as GGWash has written about previously. (Michelle Murillo / WTOP)
Calvert County audit leads to water bills over $8,000 for residents
The excess costs stemmed from the county’s use of “Equivalent Dwelling Units,” which provides single-family housing an allotted amount of water use, and charges them for an additional unit if they exceed the allotted amount by more than 120%. The Calvert County Council voted Tuesday night to pause billing and apologized to residents after several residents spoke to reporters at NBC 4 about the situation. (Katie Shepherd / Washington Post, Darcy Spencer / NBC 4 )
Twitter briefly banned WMATA’s official bus tracking account Tuesday
The account @metrobusinfo, which provides updates on bus delays and detours, was banned for six hours before reappearing. No explanation for the ban has been provided to WMATA, whose other accounts were not affected. (Washington Post)
Fairfax County seeks feedback on its parking requirement overhaul
Fairfax County staff have released their parking requirement overhaul recommendations ahead of an open house this week and other public forums throughout the year. The plan includs off-street parking requirements that are designed to encourage more variation in modes of transport in high-density and walkable parts of the county. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
Judge requires that DC allows drivers to renew licenses, even if they have outstanding fines
The judge’s ruling overturns a law signed more than 20 years ago that has prevented people with over $100 in parking fines from renewing their licenses. The DC Council passed a bill in July to lift the law that was set to take effect in October 2023. (Martin Austermuhle / DCist)
MoCo officials host public forum on impact of speed cameras
Montgomery County’s Policing Advisory Commission held a public forum Monday night, at which residents discussed the role of cameras and whether they effectively prevented traffic crashes or not. Pedestrians and bicyclists advocated for cameras and expressed fear when encountering cars on roadways. (Luke Lukert / WTOP News)
Next “Bridge District” phase will include at least 800 housing units
The district, which is being developed near the Frederick Douglass Bridge and the Anacostia Metro station, also includes retail and lodging space. Phase one broke ground on 750 units in 2022. The 825 phase two housing units are expected to be completed by 2025. Twelve percent of the units across this phase will be reserved for households making between 50-60% of the area median income, and half of those units will be three-bedroom units. (Eric Flack / WUSA9, UrbanTurf)
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