Breakfast links: Wiedefeld nominated to be Maryland Transportation Secretary
Moore Administration press conference nominating former WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld as state transportation secretary on Tuesday January 24, 2023 by Via Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna MiIller’s Twitter account.
Governor Wes Moore nominates former WMATA general manager Paul Wiedefeld for Maryland transportation secretary
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was flanked by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Moore, a former Montgomery County Department of Transportation engineer, and several other Maryland transportation and elected officials at Tuesday’s press conference and announcement of Paul Wiedefeld as state transportation secretary. Wiedefeld’s appointment will still need to be confirmed by the state Senate and was not without some controversy expressed online. (Washington Post, Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters, DCist)
Metro plans service disruptions from May to September
There will be various closures on the Orange Line, Silver Line, and Green Line at different points in the summer. The changes will allow Metro to complete station roofing, replace steel rail to prevent breakages, work on radio and signal projects, and other improvements. (Sarah Y. Kim / DCist)
Fairfax County’s sole taxi operator hopes to challenge existing taxi phase-out requirement.
The operator, Old Dominion Transportation Group, would like to change Fairfax County’s requirement to retire vehicles after 10 years and 500,000 miles of service to 12-15 years of service, based on the car’s engine, and waive the 500,000-mile requirement. Only Fairfax County and the District of Columbia have such stringent regulations for taxis in the region. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
Maryland Attorney General files complaint against recycling company for dumping waste in a Prince George’s County stream
The Attorney General is suing a Cheverly-based recycling company dumping waste that should be going to recycling into a stream. The company has faced such allegations for years, and entered a consent decree on the issue in 2018.The company has also been found to dump in Baltimore. (WUSA9)
Arlington County to widen sidewalks near Metro stations
The sidewalks will be widened near Clarendon and Virginia Square Metro stations to make them more accessible for people with disabilities. This will be the final phase of several steps in improving the impacted streets, including storm sewer improvements, street trees, and other changes. (Jo DeVoe / ARLNow)
Over 560 units planned in the vicinity of 14th Street
In addition to the former 80-unit Faircliff Plaza East replacement by a 125-unit affordable housing project and a 197-unit market-rate development, there are also plans nearby for a 65-unit condo project on two blocks of Church Street and building with up to 143 housing units and up to 67 hotel rooms on top of the Metro station entrance on the corner of 13th and U Street. (Urban Turf)
Fairfax Connector to add a new route to Tysons Metro station among other route changes
The changes, which will take place at the start of February, will use the new I-66 express lanes and will also include stops at Vienna Metro station and Fairfax County Government. The changes, which were approved in September, are being implemented slightly later than expected. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
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