By Nena Perry-Brown (Editorial Board) • April 7, 2021
Although the DC Housing Authority’s (DCHA) redevelopment of Southwest’s Greenleaf Gardens community is starting off with some promising signs of transparency, the agency is still leaving a lot to be desired when it comes to the plans for some of the other public housing developments under its purview. One of the more obvious examples is just two miles, or two Metro stops, away, in Barry Farm, from which over a hundred households have already been scattered and left wanting for more input on what will happen next.
By Wyatt Gordon (The Virginia Mercury) • April 7, 2021
When the General Assembly created the Transit Rider Incentive Program (TRIP) as part of Gov. Ralph Northam’s 2020 transportation omnibus, the lion’s share of the funding was allocated to support new regional bus routes. With COVID’s cancellation of much commuter service across the commonwealth, those dollars are now being dedicated to TRIP’s secondary goal: fare free transit pilot projects.
By Caitlin Rogger (Interim Executive Director) • April 7, 2021
For more than a year, public life in DC has been gradually drained. First COVID-19 made it unsafe to congregate or interact with people outside our “bubbles.” Over summer 2020, authorities responded to widespread demonstrations by shutting off access to some of our most iconic public squares and parks. On January 6, the physical foundations of our cherished democratic institutions were egregiously assaulted, prompting even greater restrictions to places like the Capitol.
Georgetown is looking to add more room for social distancing and outdoor dining by installing 4,000 feet of deck panels to extend its sidewalks. The project will cost $1.3 million and increase the average sidewalk size from 9.5 ft to 15 ft. (Mimi Montgomery / Washingtonian)
Maryland’s General Assembly passed a sweeping police reform bill that would change discipline and use of force standards, impose new criminal penalties for officers using excessive force, and grant more public access to disciplinary records. The bill is now being sent to Gov. Larry Hogan — it’s unclear whether he might veto all or part of the legislation. (Bryn Stole and Pamela Wood / Baltimore Sun)
The uniquely frustrating Gate 35X at National Airport will soon be replaced by a new concourse, and the infamous gate will close on April 20. Will we miss this “bus station in an airport”? Well… (Dan Zak / Post. Tip: Azan)
During a Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance talk, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said there has been an 85% decrease in rail ridership and 60% drop in bus ridership since the start of the pandemic, with a projected revenue decline from $800 million down to $237 million for fiscal year 2022. (WTOP)
A new solar co-op will allow residents across the region to band together to get a better deal from solar energy companies with a group rate. (Mark Hand / Patch)
For the second year in a row, DC schools will not administer standardized tests. Officials say with most District students attending virtual classes, standardized tests would not accurately show student achievement. (Debbie Truong / DCist)
Former Wall Street Journal reporter and DC resident Neil King is walking from DC to New York City, getting to know the places in between the two cities. He started on March 29 and plans to walk between 12 and 24 miles a day for about a month. (Martin Austermuhle / DCist)
