By David Alpert (Executive Director) • December 6, 2019
When Greater Greater Washington was getting started almost 12 years ago, we had a lot of fun making up maps of what the Metrorail network might look like if we just added a few lines, or a lot. We stopped doing this, because while it’s fun, new Metrorail lines are expensive and just drawing lines on a map doesn’t factor in what professional planners need to think about.
Many downtown parking lots are getting a new life as housing and offices. A plan to build a high-speed light rail connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver gains traction. Dallas takes on transportation as its first climate change issue.
If there’s mold in your rental home in DC, you may not get help without a fight. While landlords are supposed to get rid of mold when it’s spotted, some tenants have to take them to housing conditions court in order to get an inspection and treatment. Currently, city inspectors aren’t trained to spot mold and can’t fine landlords when they neglect to address it.
The strike for Fairfax Connector bus workers ended late Sunday as both the unions and Transdev, a Metro contractor, agreed to work on a new contract without a disruption of service. Bus services are expected to resume normal hours Monday. The Cinder Bed Road strike continues. (Justin George / Post)
The Bike Rack near Logan Circle is the latest in a string of bike shops to close in the District over the past few years. Store operators say this is partly due to competition from online and national retailers. Some speculate bike share could be playing a role. (Colleen Grablick / DCist)
More than 40 tenants in a Columbia Heights apartment building say their landlord won’t address rodents, bugs, and damage, so they’re refusing to pay rent until conditions improve. We’re previously written about rent strikes at a different building in Columbia Heights and in Brightwood Park. (Shomari Stone / NBC4)
A member of the Montgomery County Council is proposing that highway cameras be installed to catch drivers using their cell phones. The footage would be reviewed by police officers or artificial intelligence, and offenders would have to pay a fine. (Rebecca Tan / Post)
A new exhibition at the Library of Congress features items from the life of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, such as photographs and letters spanning her youth to her famous role in the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. (Lenore T. Adkins / DCist)
If WeWork were to declare bankruptcy due to highly publicized financial problems, rents for commercial office space in the District would remain relatievly low due to high vacancy rates. Bankruptcy could also be a boon to the coworking giant’s competitors in the region. (Ally Schweitzer / WAMU)
Kansas City, Missouri is now the first major US city to completely eliminate fares for public bus services. This is expected to cost $8 million annually and is intended to help low-income residents commute. (Martin Cizmar / 435 Magazine)
