Mayor signs DC’s Comprehensive Plan update

By Libby Solomon (Writer and Editor) • July 8, 2021

An update to the Comprehensive Plan is moving through the legislative process after Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the bill Wednesday.

Americans bought 600,000 e-bikes in 2020. Will the infrastructure match the demand?

By Kea Wilson (Streetsblog) • July 8, 2021

As Washington gears up to pour billions into getting Americans behind the wheel of electric cars, demand for electric bicycles is soaring — and advocates say that demand would be even stronger if US cities were building bike infrastructure to match the revolutionary emerging mode.

Breakfast links: Dupont Circle streateries will be back, this time permanently

By Malcolm Mossman (Contributor) • July 9, 2021

17th Street in Dupont Circle is getting bike lanes and permanent streateries

Dupont Circle residents were concerned when outdoor dining areas along 17th Street began to be removed, but officials say they’ll be back: the street is getting an overhaul with bike lanes and dedicated streatery zones.  (Anna Spiegel / Washingtonian)

Arlington apartment square footage is rising

The amount of space in the average newly-built Arlington apartment is rising according to RENTCafé. Across the river in DC, however, average apartment sizes are shrinking.  (Jo DeVoe / ARLnow)

MDOT works to get Beltway expansion back on route

Maryland officials asked the Transportation Planning Board to vote to restore the Beltway & I-270 toll lane plans to a list of regional transportation projects at the upcoming July 21 meeting after previously rejecting it. The move is necessary for the project to get federal environmental approval to move forward.  (Katherine Shaver / Post)

DC lost more residents than usual during the pandemic

Data from the U.S. Postal Service indicates that 9,335 residents moved out of DC permanently in 2020, 2.6 times more than 2019. Neighborhoods around downtown DC with lots of apartment buildings lost the largest share of residents.  (Ally Schweitzer / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)

MCPS will continue to distribute free meals

Montgomery County Public Schools plans to continue handing out boxes with a week’s worth of food to children at locations throughout the county. MCPS provided millions of free meals throughout the pandemic.  (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)

Seniors move into new affordable housing in Brightwood Park

A new affordable housing complex built for seniors on a fixed income has opened in Northwest DC. Mayor Muriel Bowser attended a ribbon cutting ceremony, calling attention to her push to put $400 million into affordable housing.  (Mark Segraves / NBC4. Tip: Chester B.)

The UMD researchers who were among first to spot “quarantine fatigue”

Researchers at the University of Maryland used cell phone location data to measure Americans’ willingness to follow government stay-at-home orders and found that “quarantine fatigue” hit as early as mid-April 2020.  (Katherine Shaver / Post)

European cities work toward gender-inclusive transportation

Men and women often use transportation differently, and planners in Germany, Spain, and France are beginning to consider ways to build more inclusive mobility systems and infrastructure.  (CityLab)

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