Breakfast links: How Virginia moves
Vihstadt goes after streetcars
New Arlington County Board member John Vihstadt unsuccessfully moved to block all streetcar work. The move came at the end of a budget meeting, one week after his election. He and Libby Garvey also tried to defund infrastructure in Crystal City. (Post)
Virgina dropping E-ZPass fees
Governor Terry McAuliffe signed a bill eliminating the 50¢ monthly fee for E-ZPass transponders. VDOT will now have to find another way to pay for the $10 million a year system. (Post)
Ethics reform loophole
The ethics reform bill passed by the Virginia legislature fails to limit gifts by non-lobbyists. Even if it had been in place, the law would not have been able to prevent the abuses that sank Governor Bob McDonnell. (ArlNow)
Maybe not so good
The new owner of Montreal’s bankrupt bike sharing supplier plans to cancel all contracts except with Dubai and Guadalajara. Does that mean more delay or worse for DC’s and College Park’s and other regional orders? (City Paper)
500 families in 100 days
DC Mayor Gray kicked a rapid rehousing program to take homeless families out of shelters, where the city pays for four months of rent. But what happens when the money runs out? (City Paper)
Young people don’t go suburban
Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, and similar NYC suburbs are not attracting as many young people as in the past. Do 24- to 34-year-olds want to stay in cities? Lack jobs which can pay for a house? Or want condos and apartments which some such towns have resisted? (NYT)
“People are healthier…”
Places where more people bike and walk to work tend to have lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. (Streetsblog)
The EU limits bags
The European Parliament passed legislation requiring countries to reduce plastic bag use by 80% by 2019. Some countries tax bags (like DC does), while others can ban them outright. (Daily Mail)
And…
MWAA has received loans for Silver Line construction, which will keep tolls from rising on the Dulles Toll Road. (WTOP) … Half of cyclists have had their bikes stolen, many more than once. (Atlantic Cities) … A Brookland ANC commissioner deleted a recording of a public meeting rather than produce it to a court. (PoPville)