Breakfast links: Sadness
Tragedy
A violent drive-by shooter shot and killed Charnice Milton on Wednesday when she was waiting for the bus. Milton reported on local news, ANCs, and communities east of the Anacostia River for Capital Community News. Her stories were an important source of news and information for the community. (Post)
Bridge blues
Starting today, Memorial Bridge will lose two of its travel lanes and both sidewalks for passenger travel for at least 6 months. The emergency closure comes after inspectors found significant corrosion of support beams on the bridge. (Post)
Advertising ban
The WMATA Board unanimously voted to ban political and issue-based advertisements for the rest of the year after an anti-Islam organization planned to buy ads on Metro buses depicting the prophet Muhammad. (Washingtonian)
Go on-dola
DC’s budget includes $35,000 for a feasibility study of a gondola between Georgetown and Rosslyn. The Georgetown BID has raised most of the $200,000 needed for the study and Arlington may contribute as well. (Post)
New bike lanes?
As part of the I-66 expansion project, VDOT will consider extending the Custis Trail to Gainesville. (TheWashCycle) … Montgomery County wants to complete a bicycle route around the White Flint Metro. (Bethesda Beat)
HOT and bothered
Homeowners affected by the proposed I-66 expansion expressed their frustration at the first public hearing on the project this week. VDOT hopes that building HOT lanes will encourage enough carpooling to keep traffic moving. (Post)
220 problems
The decision over whether to order an additional 220 7000-series railcars is complicated. But WMATA and local jurisdictions must decide if increasing system capacity or saving money is more important. (WAMU)
Barriers to biking
One cyclist rode along the new Southeast Boulevard on a bike, and shows how DDOT missed a good opportunity to add bike lanes to the wide, underutilized road. (dave rides a bike)
And…
Major construction has begun on the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel. (DCist) … Police are ticketing cyclists for going the wrong way on a short one-way stretch of M Street near the Convention Center. (POPville) … The lawsuit between the White Flint Mall and its lone tenant, Lord & Taylor, will start in late July. (WBJ)