Breakfast links: Should I stay or should I go?

by Erik Weber • January 17, 2011 9:35 am

Photo by tracktwentynine on Flickr.

Might Sarles stay?: Richard Sarles might not mind staying on the job, and gets praise from Board members. He has improved WMATA's relationship with the NTSB, though mostly by uncritically doing whatever they say rather than prioritizing hazards and also says he is set on continuing the bag searches simply because other cities are doing it. (Post)

Solar Decathlon off the Mall: The Park Service is kicking the Solar Decathlon off the Mall, because they're concerned it's hurting the Mall's health. Spokesman Bill Line won't say if the Park Service will cut down on other big events. (DCist, City Paper)

Remembering transit's role in the Civil Rights movement: In honor of Martin Luther King day, TheCityFix remembers Civil Rights leaders who fought for equality in the US, including in our cities' public transit systems. Public transportation is still a central issue in today's social justice struggles.

Belward Farm Science City slowly takes shape: Plans for the supposedly walkable, transit-oriented Belward Farm development in MoCo's "Science City" have the Corridor Cities Transitway running in the middle of a 150-foot-wide road. The original owner of the farm seemed concerned that the university wanted to include retail in the developments. (Patch, Ben Ross)

No criminal charges for killing cyclist: The garbage truck driver who struck and killed Alice Swanson in Dupont Circle has been sentenced to 31 months in prison for entering the US illegally, but was not charged for anything relating to Swanson's death. (Post)

Man killed in Farragut North metro: A man was found dead in the tracks of the Farragut North metro station on Saturday, but it remains unclear who he was or whether he was actually killed by the train that struck him. (TBD)

VA transportation funding plan draws criticism: Governor McDonnell's plans to fund transportation have drawn varying criticism. Some dislike the plan to privatize the state's liquor stores, some balk at the state taking on more debt, and others dislike the reallocation of general funds. (WAMU)

Poor travelers can't pay for China's HSR: Long distance passenger traffic in China is mostly migrant workers, who can't afford the new HSR trains. Bus travel is exploding as they switch from the cheaper, but much slower, passenger trains. Doesn't sound too different from the Northeast Corridor. Coming next on Megabus: Shanghai. (China Daily, charlie)

And...: A Northern Neck delegate wants to jumpstart economic development in his region by adding a $1 surcharge to all VRE tickets originating in Manassas and Manassas Park. (WTOP) ... Newport News wants to build a new Amtrak station to accommodate further ridership growth that is expected in coming years. (Virginian-Pilot) ... A bike carcass continues to "rot" outside the MPD headquarters. What happened to the broken window theory? (TBD On Foot)

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Erik Weber has been living car-free in the District since 2009. Hailing from the home of the nation's first Urban Growth Boundary, Erik has been interested in transit since spending summers in Germany as a kid where he rode as many buses, trains and streetcars as he could find. Views expressed here are Erik's alone.

Comments

The Solar Decathlon probably does have an adverse impact on the Mall's grass; though it's a great location for the event.

If it must be on the Mall, but can't be on the grass... then why not build a mini city around the Capitol reflecting pool? Each house could hang over the edge. Or, there's a big ugly paved parking lot north of the pool - surely Congress can find some other place to park for ten days in the summer...?

by M.V. Jantzen on Jan 17, 2011 11:17 am • link • report