Photo by TheBazile on Flickr.

Fairfax and Loudoun threaten Silver Line

Fairfax and Loudoun counties are threatening to pull funding for the Silver Line if the MWAA doesn’t pay for an underground Dulles station itself. VDOT says raising Dulles tolls is not an option. (TBD)  

NTSB report questions 1000 series

The NTSB report on the November 2009 rail yard crash again questions the crash worthiness of 1000 series cars which were totalled in the crash despite traveling at most 19 mph. (Examiner)  

Gray, Norton mixing messages?

The Mayor had framed DC’s objections to the budget deal as a fight home rule, but after appearing on national press in front of Planned Parenthood, he may risk making abortion the central issue. (Examiner) … Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced amendments to the funding bill to remove DC riders, pleading for autonomy, but later appeared with Gray at Planned Parenthood. (TBD)  

Driver strikes cyclist, gets tickets

A driver who struck and all but killed a cyclist in Baltimore has received two traffic citations.  The cyclist was left in a coma and is not expected to regain cognitive function. (Baltimore Sun)  

Budget includes money for NoVa, MoCo roads

Congress’ budget deal includes $300 million to expand roads around Fort Belvoir and the Naval Medical Center, but nothing for transportation alternatives to the two, or any funding for Mark Center access improvements. (Post)  

VRE adds seats for rush hour

A new agreement with CSX will allow VRE to add rail cars to rush hour trains (PDF) holding an additional 700 passengers each day.  (mcs)  (Tip: mcs)  

Online gambling now legal in DC

In the heat of budget negotiations, Congress’ 30 day window to object to a new DC law legalizing online gambling has passed, paving the way for the city to earn an estimated $13 million over 3 years. (WAMU)  

Chicago Walmart portends problems

The experience with construction of a Walmart on the west side of Chicago shows Walmart is not used to the urban construction world and questions whether professed local benefits aren’t quite what they make them out to be. (Crain’s New York Business)  

And…

The Post’s annual Peep diorama contest contains more than a few regional references. … Arlington says just kidding about the Rosslyn and Courthouse CaBi stations it said were coming this week. (ARLnow) … Baltimore wants to get a comprehensive count of its bike traffic this spring and needs volunteers. (B’more Bikes) … The Post has endorsed Patrick Mara for DC Council at-large.