Breakfast links: Microsoft outage impacts area airports, transit systems
National Airport. Image by ep_jhu used with permission.
Global Microsoft outage impacts Washington region transit, airlines
An overnight global Microsoft outage is impacting transportation systems in the Washington region. As of Friday morning, the WMATA website and app are down and the Metro Access call center is down, but WMATA reports that buses and trains are running. The Maryland Transit Authority reports that its customer service functions are down, but buses and trains are running. United, American, Delta, and Allegiant airlines are reportedly grounded, and travelers at National Airport note mounting delays. This is an evolving situation. (Matt Pusatory / WUSA9, Emily Venezky / WTOP, WTOP, WUSA9)
Residents, officials raise concerns about administration of DC Homeowner Assistance Fund
Set up during the pandemic, the DC Homeowner Assistance Fund was intended to help homeowners cover overdue mortgage and utility payments. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that as of June 30, the program is no longer accepting applications. Meanwhile, residents and officials suggest poor communications, administrative issues, and mismanagement of funds may have led to delayed application processing and waitlisted applications, and at least one individual is requesting an investigation. (Sam P.K. Collins / Informer)
WMATA is exploring platform screen doors
Metro has issued a call for vendors to design and install platform screen doors at two Red Line Metrorail stations as part of a pilot initiative. Responses are due August 16. (Mass Transit Magazine. Tip: Miles Wilson)
Detached homes in Washington region reach new high median price
Detached homes in the Washington region now have a median price tag of $845,000. It’s nine percent higher than last spring and 56 percent higher than in 2020. (DC UrbanTurf)
$10M awarded to area projects that reduce emissions and keep pedestrians and cyclists safe
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board has awarded $10 million to multiple projects that both reduce carbon emissions and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Several locations in Montgomery County will benefit, including Rockville and Gaithersburg. (Suzanne Pollak / Montgomery Community Media)
Arlington will add red light cameras to four intersections
Starting September 1, Arlington will add red light enforcement cameras to four intersections as a safety measure. The cameras, placed in areas susceptible to crashes, are part of Arlington’s Vision Zero initiative. (Daniel Egitto / ARLNow)
Construction begins on 456-unit affordable housing complex in Tysons
Construction is officially underway for the Somos at McLean Metro, an all-affordable, 456-unit housing complex. It’s considered an important step forward for affordable housing in the Tysons area, which has a higher percentage of low-income households than the rest of Fairfax County. The county aims to add 10,000 affordable housing units by 2034. (Disclosure: Senthil Sankaran, principal of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, serves on the GGWash board of directors.) (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
Montgomery County farmers split on proposed campground zoning reform
Last month, a bill was introduced in the Montgomery County Council that would allow additional zoning for campgrounds throughout the county. Farmers are divided on the issue, and opponents have voiced concerns about sprawl and its effects on agriculture. (Ginny Bixby / MoCo360)
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