Metro pulled its 7000-series trains out of service this week after a Blue Line derailment prompted an investigation, taking out 60% of its fleet and cursing Monday’s commute with long headways, crowded trains, and significant delays. Safety investigators say Metro has known about issues with wheels since 2017 that could have led to a “catastrophic incident.” Service disruptions are expected to last at least through the weekend; Metro is encouraging people to take the bus. (DCist, Post)
October 27 will be the last day to apply for STAY DC rental assistance. Officials say the program is running out of money but they are hoping the federal government will reallocate unused funds from other jurisdictions to DC. (Ally Schweitzer / DCist)
Alexandria’s council voted Saturday to make the pedestrian-only block of King Street between Lee and Union streets permanent. The block, now serving as a “streetery,” would have otherwised reopened to cars in April next year. (Luke Lukert / WTOP)
A food hall, Commas, is opening in downtown Silver Spring next year, serving cuisines including Ethiopian, Korean, Malaysian, and Salvadoran as well as a bar. (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat)
A small group of activists are going door-to-door in Alexandria trying to garner support for changing Confederate-inspired street names, naming them instead for figures like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Elijah Cummings. (Teo Armus / Post)
City Paper live-tweeted a DC Council hearing Monday on redrawing Ward 8’s boundaries. The ward’s population has to expand by 3,370 people; at the hearing, people discussed how to do that without diminishing the power of Black voters. (City Paper / Twitter)
By George Kevin Jordan (Managing Editor) • October 18, 2021
Who’s traveling where in the Washington region, and what does it mean for transportation policy? Join GW’s Prof Leah Brooks and GGWash’s Alex Baca Thursday, Oct. 28 for the first in our series, “Getting There,” and more in this week’s urbanist events.
