Photo by Halans on Flickr.

A mea culpa for the meltdown

WMATA has no excuses, only apologies and acknowledgment that Thursday’s metro meltdown should never have happened. The reported cause was the failure of an uninterruptable power supply, shutting down all communications systems other than radio. (TBD)  

Streetcars gone 50 years

50 years ago today, the DC streetcar took its last trip. The next trip could be summer 2013, if the new streetcar stays on schedule. At least one man who saw the last trip as a kid plans to attend and bring his small child. (Post)  

Condemn me

At least some owners of properties to be condemned by the Purple Line want their homes taken, as they’d rather move elsewhere than live with a wider street. Others are in a “bunker mentality,” implying PR landmines lie ahead. (City Paper)  

DC statehood gets mixed reception

Mayor Gray and several DC Councilmembers argued DC statehood in front of a New Hampshire House committee, only to see the supporting resolution voted down. The bill will still be reported to the floor. (DCist)  

No more spending

The DC Council doesn’t want to spend the unexpected $42 million surplus discovered this year until 2013. Mayor Gray wants to spend the money on this year’s shortfalls, including a $21 million school deficit. (Post)  

The health effects of urban design

Sprawl makes us fatter, sicker, and lowers our life expectancy. This is the subject of a new PBS documentary series, Designing Healthy Communities, which will look at connections between cities and health. (Streetsblog)  

The great art of the train

From the London Underground to Chicago’s El, transit advertising of the 1920s was nothing short of an art form, pushing speed and the natural world just a train away. What would WMATA have advertised? (Salon)  

And…

Capital City Diner in Trinidad will close, partly due to a Denny’s opening nearby. (DCist) … Kojo analyzes the corporate contributions to recent DC candidates. (WAMU) … Some neighbors don’t want more 1-bedrooms for 20-somethings. (UrbanTurf)