Photo by Brave New Films.

DC getting in on big boxes

It was going to be a mixed-use development; instead, the area between New York and Montana Avenues and Bladensburg Road will be a Wal-Mart, fairly near the planned Costco. There’s plenty of room for the usual huge parking lot and big, flat store. (O’Connell/Post, Neibauer/WBJ, DePillis/City Paper, Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)  

Metro improving safety

Metro is proactively taking cars out of service to fix a possible malfunction which could make doors open when they shouldn’t. See, Metro is being proactive about safety! This will mean fewer trains this week, but ridership is also expected to be lighter. (Kytja Weir/Examiner)  

Reagan’s actions affect Reagan today

Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers in 1981, meaning most current controllers started at the same time. Now they’re all retiring, and new, less experienced replacements make mistakes. There have been 22 close calls in the region in 6 months versus 18 all year last year. (Ashley Halsey/Post)  

Does DC need to up its game?

Lydia DePillis responds to my response to her musings about what Tysons means for DC. If more walkable urbanism will eventually come to Fairfax, does DC need to up its game to keep growth here, with better schools, housing, business, safety and more? DC should be and is doing all this no matter what.  

Why don’t Amtrak and bikes mix?

Amtrak still requires bikes to be in boxes to take on most trains, and only on those with baggage cars, which is few. How about some bike racks? Amtrak is open to the idea when they get new cars. (NARP, Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)  

Did you steal our trail counter?

Someone stole the infrared trail counter on the Metropolitan Branch Trail. A sign kindly asks them to return it, since it’s not useful to anyone else. (TheWashCycle)  

Hit and run and get away

A driver of a black Volvo hit a bicyclist and fled the scene, and a witness got 4 digits of the plate as well as the type of car and a description of the driver. But MPD doesn’t seem interested in following up to see if any black Volvos match the partial plate. (Prince Of Petworth)  

Fix the water, here’s no money

The federal government is forcing DC to upgrade its stormwater management, but the federal government is refusing to pay the share for its own properties. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has a bill pending to instruct federal agencies to pay stormwater fees. (Jonathan O’Connell/Post)