Photo by Topsy at Waygood on Flickr.

Bag fees, Bethesda to Burtonsville

Montgomery County has passed a 5¢ bag fee. Unlike DC’s, it applies to all retail, not just food sales. Nancy Floreen (at-large) was the only dissenter. (Post)  

WMATA employees park free

Employees of the 14th Street bus garage are using handicapped placards to park for free all day in metered, on-street parking spaces. Even if the placards are legitimate, they may only be used for 4 hours. (MyFoxDC)  

DDOT rejects Walmart traffic study

DDOT says the traffic study for the Brightwood Walmart is “insufficient and incomplete”, and recommends not approving the plan until their specific concerns are addressed. The Office of Planning told the developers they have to work with DDOT. (The Brightwoodian, Jonathan O’Connell)  

Visualize the 4/26 election

Keith Ivey created maps of voting preferences in the April 26 DC special election. Biddle had the broadest appeal, just not strong enough, while Mara and Orange were very concentrated in opposite halves of the city. (Four26)  

Black church turns to solar

A century-old church in LeDroit Park has become the first black church in DC to use solar power. The church is launching a green ministry to educate its congregants about environmental justice and clean energy. (Post, Gavin)  

Today in buildings

Could redevelopment plans for Capital City Market finally be headed somewhere? (Housing Complex) … The Georgetown ANC officially opposed the development at the Key Bridge Exxon, but was far more vehement in their opposition to construction proposals by neighbors themselves. (Georgetown Metropolitan)  

Where are the food deserts?

The USDA created a great interactive map of food deserts. By their metric, DC doesn’t actually have that many food deserts; much of Prince George’s is far worse. (RPUS)  

Using Tysons to better Fairfax

Fairfax County leaders want to use proposed pedestrian and bike friendly street design standards in Tysons Corner as a template to be applied across the whole county. (Examiner)  

And…

Irvin Nathan was confirmed as DC’s Attorney General yesterday. (WAMU) … America Walks is conducting a National Walking Survey to help target their pedestrian advocacy. … New York City picked the “Taxi of Tomorrow,” foregoing the proposal that offered wheelchair accessibility standard. (NYT)