Breakfast links: Baltimore rail tunnel replacement receives federal, state funding pledges
Governor Wes Moore at Monday’s announcement of state and federal funding for the Frederick Douglass Tunnel by Office of the Governor.
Baltimore’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel receives state, federal funding
On Monday President Biden, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and other dignitaries gathered in Baltimore to kick off the construction of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel. The project, which is estimated to be completed in ten years, is funded primarily by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has received $450 million in funding from the State of Maryland. Once finished, the project will increase train speeds through that stretch of the Northeast Corridor from 30 mph to 110 mph, removing a significant bottleneck and source of train delays throughout the region. The project will also include a new, ADA-compliant West Baltimore MARC station. (Brett Samuels / The Hill, Callan Tansill-Suddath / Baltimore Banner, Emma Kinery / CNBC, Luz Lazo / Washington Post, Chris Megirian / APNews)
Class-A apartment vacancy rate in DC is rising; affordable units are in demand
DC’s vacancy rate for Class-A apartments has risen from 4.2% to 5.7% in the past year. The vacancy rate for older, more affordable Class-B apartments, however, is significantly lower. This suggests that the over 6,000 new high-end units developers plan to deliver this year are not what the DC rental market is looking for. Additionally, the rate increase is sharper in DC than it is for Class-A units in Maryland and Virginia. (Jacob Wallace / BisNow)
DC’s bill to make buses fare-free becomes law
Mayor Bowser declined to either veto or sign the bill, which the council passed in December. It will take effect this summer. The new law is part of a growing trend in U.S. urban areas to provide “fare-free” transit. (Rebecca Picciotto / CNBC)
McPherson Square to be cleared and fenced off February 15
The park is the site of the city’s largest homeless encampment, which has grown as government agencies have cleared other downtown camps in recent months. The National Park Service, which is responsible for the park, says the DC government asked for the clearance to be moved up from April. (Marissa J. Lang / Washington Post)
NoVA housing market continues to adjust to pandemic shifts, higher interest rates
Housing sales were down 45% in northern Virginia in December compared to December 2021, and the median sale price stayed steady at approximately $530,000. (Sun Gazette)
Belle View neighborhood residents clash with VDOT over intersection improvement proposal
The intersection at Fort Hunt Road and Rollins Drive in Fairfax County has been the site of 16 crashes since 2017, five of which resulted in injuries. VDOT has proposed a trial closure of Rollins Drive at the intersection, and many neighborhood residents are unhappy with the proposal and want VDOT to consider other options. (Erika Christ / On the MoVe)
New study investigates how Maryland can get clean energy into rental housing stock
The study found that switching rental units, especially low-and middle-income units, to cleaner electric sources of heating and cooking fuel is crucial for the state to meet its climate goals. However, the state currently lacks an organized plan for making it happen. (Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters)
Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.