Breakfast links: Takeaways from the recent DC Council roundtable on dangerous driving
Ticketed vehicle on DC street in 2018 by Rex Block used with permission.
Key takeaways from DC’s Council’s six-hour roundtable on dangerous driving
DC Council held a six-hour panel last week with traffic safety experts discussing a wide range of topics including updating legal language for crashes and addressing incidents between and with interstate drivers. DC government agencies have been under scrutiny for several of their policies regarding the use and access of crash information, along with a lack of accountability for drivers with multiple traffic infractions. (Jordan Pascale / DCist)
Alexandria vehicle crash into Old Town business latest in string of similar crashes
A driver struck the Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato in Old Town Alexandria at 1 am on Wednesday morning, the latest in a trend of drivers crashing into Alexandria storefronts over the last year. The driver was taken to INOVA Alexandria Hospital for injuries and is expected to be okay. (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)
Prince George’s County becomes latest regional county to restrict single-use utensils
Prince George’s County will join DC and Montgomery County in restricting access to single-use utensils at restaurants on October 1. The Prince George’s County Council passed a bill this week which will require restaurant and food service patrons to request single-use utensils, including silverware, plastic straws, and coffee stirrers. The county has built in an opt-out plan for businesses for which this requirement would create an undue burden and will launch a public information campaign to inform residents of the rule change. (Editor’s note: Dannielle Glaros is a member of the GGWash board of directors). (Colleen Grablick / DCist)
Maryland gas tax rising to 47 cents per gallon in July
Maryland’s gas tax will increase to 47 cents per gallon on July 1. The state sets the tax annually on July 1 based on both the base price of gas and inflation. Drivers will pay about $366 extra each year based on the new rate. While the tax still will go to state road improvements, some are calling for alternative revenue sources citing both consumer cost and underfunding of the state’s transportation budget as the current calculations don’t quite take into account all of the effects of inflation. (Bryan P. Sears / Maryland Matters)
Residents and business owners weigh in on proposed Connecticut Avenue development guidelines
In late May, residents and business owners testified at a public hearing on the DC Office of Planning’s proposed development guidelines for the stretch of Connecticut Avenue between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park. The guidelines recommend increased density along commercial nodes. Testimonies reflect familiar tensions between those who prioritize increased housing and those who favor historic preservation. (Note: This article is behind a paywall) (Tristan Navera / Washington Business Journal)
Residents testify, again, on issues at Arlington affordable housing development
In testimony before the Tenant-Landlord Commission, a resident of The Shelton in Arlington’s Green Valley neighborhood said significant management issues remain, despite residents first raising concerns back in 2016. The situation highlights the commission’s limited ability to intervene or mediate compared to neighboring Fairfax County. (Jo DeVoe / ARLnow)
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