Photo by NoHoDamon.

Two externality-busting revenue sources survive

The DC budget gap-closing consensus looks to include a gas tax hike to match Maryland’s and market-rate parking for city employees (but not Council employees or Councilmembers). Higher fees for extra RPP stickers beyond the first doesn’t appear to have made it into the final proposal. That’s too bad; that would make parking easier for many residents, while also raising twice as much as needed to restore the Access to Justice program that helps the poor get legal help when they need it. (Washington City Paper)  

Safety net still to be saved

Advocates for DC’s neediest residents are still working to save the safety net. It’s not too late to sign the petition at SaveOurSafetyNet.com; groups will also be rallying at the Wilson Building today at noon. (DCFPI)  

Nightmare in two years

The military’s plans to move 20,000 jobs from the Pentagon/Crystal City area to Fort Belvoir are getting closer, and Jim Moran is warning about the likely “traffic nightmare”  due to the lack of public transportation around Belvoir. (WTOP, Froggie)  (Tip: Froggie)  

$0 for roads, 0 for ideas

Virginia’s bankrupt transportation budget means no money for roads in 2010 for any NoVA counties. Creigh Deeds promises to change this but has no plan; McDonnell wants to move money from schools (probably a bad idea) and toll some interstates (a good idea, but probably impossible given federal law). The reporters don’t mention transit at all. (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)  

Dutch road pricing coming

The Netherlands is moving toward a comprehensive national system of road pricing, setting standards for in-vehicle units that record location and time of vehicle travel.  This will replace the existing car taxes that finance roads. (Ertico, Ken Archer)  (Tip: Ken Archer)  

Stupid, indeed

Ryan Avent calls the I-270 widening “one of the stupidest projects I’ve seen in a while,” arguing that it not only induces traffic, but also induces land use that will affect traffic down the line. (The Bellows, Dave Murphy)  (Tip: Dave Murphy)  

Sidewalks on Kojo

Today’s Kojo Nnamdi show will cover the sidewalk debate in some of DC’s currently least walkable and most pedestrian-unsafe neighborhoods. Councilmember Mary Cheh will also participate. Will most of the calls come from sidewalk opponents?  

Park easier

Lifehacker picks up on bestparking.com, which shows garage parking rates in cities including Washington, DC. Their commenters wasted no time in whining about the cost of DC parking. Tools like this help reduce circling and better utilization of the existing off-street parking. (Lifehacker, Ward 1 Guy)  (Tip: Ward 1 Guy)