Breakfast links: DC Council pushes for more climate-related budget changes
Potomac River as seen from a graffiti adorned portion of the Old Aqueduct Bridge in Georgetown by Jeff Vincent licensed under Creative Commons.
DC Council Council Transportation and Environment Committee votes for more climate funding and faster energy upgrades in annual budget
The DC Council Environment and Transportation Committee has voted to increase climate-related funding over what was proposed in Mayor Bowser’s budget, and to maintain the existing schedule for implementation of the District’s groundbreaking building energy performance standards. In addition, they voted to increase fees on resident energy and gas bills by $0.88 and $1.77 respectively to provide more funding for the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund. The new funds would, among other things, help low-income households replace polluting gas stoves with cleaner electric options. (Jacob Fenston / DCist)
WMATA tested proposed new fare gates and decided they need to be even higher
Facing a surge in fare evasion in its rail stations, WMATA has decided to replace its newly-installed faregates with higher ones that are harder to jump over or push through without paying. The agency tested a handful of 4-foot tall gates at Ft. Totten station, and while they did reduce fare evasion by half, Metro decided that was not enough. They will instead use even-higher 5-foot tall gates with reinforced hinges. The 5-foot gates are expected to be installed throughout the rail system this year at a cost of $35 million. (Justin George / Washington Post)
Early voting starts in local Virginia races May 5 with housing and land policy as a major debate
As primary elections loom, many candidates in Arlington and Fairfax counties are focusing on debate over the need for more apartments and townhomes and fewer “McMansions.” In Prince William County, the changes, or potential changes, coming from new data centers dominate campaigns (Washington Post)
Maryland Civil Rights Commission hosts forum on racial bias in housing and neighborhood investment
The forum participants discussed issues such as disparities in housing appraisals based on race and methods to increase diversity of home appraisers. It also highlighted disparities between bank holdings and investments, where banks hold funds from people in predominantly minority communities but do not make investments in them. (William J. Ford / Maryland Matters)
Annapolis leaders hope traffic study will catalzye reforms, redevelopment
Anne Arundel County will release the first traffic study in decades of Forest Drive, a major north-south thoroughfare outside of the historic core of Annapolis. Some elected leaders and community members hope this will be a catalyst to implement safe streets reforms to reduce traffic fatalities, along with addressing housing, small business, and transit inequities along the corridor. (Rick Hutzell / Baltimore Banner)
Fairfax County starts work to make outdoor dining permanent in zoning code
Fairfax County is working to make permanent outdoor dining provisions first adopted in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic emergency provision doesn’t expire until March of 2024, county leaders are looking ahead to make sure the provisions become a permanent part of the county’s zoning code. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
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