White Flint. Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Pushback on the Gaithersbungle

Momentum is slowing for the Science “City” plans at Gaithersburg West. Critics of the plan have been getting signfiicant ink, from Planning Board member and Kentlands developer Joe Alfandre, ACT’s Ben Ross, and others. MDOT and SHA are worried that the plan will bring a lot of traffic to areas without enough infrastructure, and the Montgomery Housing Opportunities Commission believes it will exacerbate an imbalance between jobs and housing in the area. And Councilmember Phil Andrews has come out against the plan’s scale. (Post, Gazette, Examiner, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)  

Examiner bores into Medical Center tunnel

Bill Myers covers the outrage over MCDOT’s clandestine behavior changing the pedestrian access to Medical Center Metro into a grade-separated car interchange.  

Leggett: Walkable places bad if they interfere with driving

County Executive Ike Leggett and MCDOT’s analysis of the White Flint plan sound like something out of the 1950s. They’re afraid that denser development will just slow down existing commuter traffic through the area, especially to the BRAC site which they’re working hard to make more car-oriented, and believe that the best way to reduce pollution is to move more traffic faster instead of helping people live near work and Metro. (Friends of White Flint)  

Faster than driving

In 1907, it was faster to get from Falls Church to DC by trolley than the same trip today by car or bus. (Marginal Revolution, Ken Archer)  (Tip: Ken Archer)  

What women want (in bike infrastructure)

Women represent a small minority of bike commuters, but use off-street bike paths at much higher rates. Researchers are looking at this and other disparities to identify ways to help more people bicycle. (Scientific American, Gavin Baker)  (Tip: Gavin Baker)  

Bloody Monday for pedestrians

A woman got off a bus in Trinidad on Monday and started to cross the street. But another bus driver passing the first bus then struck her. The woman has died. (Post, DCist) … And a car driver hit and killed a pedestrian on Route 1 in Fairfax, also on Monday. (Post)