Photo ‘money pile’ by hmcharg on Flickr.

Silver Line Audit

The USDOT has serious questions about how federal funds for the Silver Line have been managed. A report cites improper use of funds (including lobbying payments to retired MWAA board members) and lack of support for expenses. (Post)  

$1.1 trillion winners and losers

The omnibus spending bill that passed Congress has no funds for high speed rail and cuts to several HUD rent supplement programs. On the plus side, Amtrak will get a major cash infusion. (NextCity)  

Riverfront retail bubble?

The rapid expansion of retail space around the ballpark may be too much of a good thing. What should happen at the street level of new buildings when a neighborhood can’t handle more restaurants and grocery stores? (City Paper)  

Penn Daw gets green light

As a condition of approvals for redevelopment of the Penn Daw shopping center in Huntington, the developer must use their “best efforts” to land a grocery store tenant. Any car-focused uses, like drive-through pharmacy or bank, or a gas station, would mean starting the process all over again. (WBJ)  

Our invisible aging infrastructure

A research team drove every street in DC and discovered nearly 6,000 natural gas leaks and 12 manholes with potentially explosive concentration. The culprit? Aging cast-iron pipes from the turn of the last century. (Post)  

Parking wars, teacher safety edition

Residents of Manor Park put orange cones on a street near Capital City Public Charter School to stop teachers from parking there. They parked farther away, and two were mugged. (NBC4)  

Picking up your pothole tab

Recent temperature swings have created even more potholes in area roads, and a big one can do a number on your ride. Did you know that you can file a claim with your local government to cover the damage? (WJLA)  

And…

A UMD student was killed in a hit and run this morning crossing Route 1. (WJLA) … Loudoun will outsource the development and operation of Silver Line garages. (WBJ) … Tesla will install a “supercharging” station at Westfield Montgomery Mall. (BethesdaNow) … Does using Google Glass count as distracted driving? (Fox Business)