MDOT head Pete Rahn was hostile to transit. Will his replacement be better?

By Alex Holt (Maryland Correspondent) • December 12, 2019

Maryland State Secretary of Transportation Pete Rahn suddenly resigned on Monday, leaving behind a legacy on transit includes cancelling Baltimore’s Red Line and axing Montgomery County’s Corridor Cities Transitway. Rahn is heading back to his native New Mexico, where he’s been commuting from since Governor Larry Hogan tapped him to lead MDOT in 2015.

This DC pilot aims to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis in circulation

By George Kevin Jordan (Editor and Correspondent) • December 12, 2019

Currently, there are about 280 wheelchair-accessible taxis in the District that make about 36,000 trips in total per month, but that’s not enough to meet the demand. A new pilot program by the District Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) aims to incentivize wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) drivers to make more trips, and increase the number of accessible taxis in circulation.

The GGWash publication has reached 83% self-sufficiency. You can help make it 100%!

By David Alpert (Executive Director) • December 12, 2019

Thanks to support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and more this year, we’ve been able to double our staff, expand our media operations, and strengthen our financial position. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!

Breakfast links: You may be able to pay your Metro fare with your iPhone in 2020

By Liam Sullivan (Contributor) • December 13, 2019

Metro moves forward with mobile payment

In 2020, Metro will introduce a mobile fare payment system, available only for iPhones at first, that would function as a virtual SmarTrip card.  (Justin George / Post)

Alexandria moves towards a different glass recycling scheme

Alexandria will move away from recycling glass in typical, single-stream containers picked up from home. The move will allow for more glass to actually be used again, though residents will have to drop their glass at designated spots around the city.  (Jacob Fenston / WAMU)

How MD can limit displacement along the Purple Line

Housing advocates are recommending that Maryland adopt 12 policies to combat displacement along the Purple Line. Advocates recommend that Maryland increase affordable housing along the line as well as help existing renters afford increases.   (Ally Schweitzer / WAMU)

Virginia’s governor announces a free community college program

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has proposed an $145 million program which would make community college free for certain Virginia residents. The proposal would make funds available to individuals making below a certain income threshold and looking to enter specific fields, such as cybersecurity.  (Hannah Natanson / Washington Post)

A Lyft partnership connects Prince George’s to grocery stores

A new partnership program with Lyft in Prince George’s County will connect residents living in ‘food deserts’ to nearby grocery stores for a flat rate. The program will launch in 2020.  (Jack Pointer / WTOP)

Fewer cars in cities is the future

As cities look to align incentives and policy to people’s needs, trends in New York, Paris, Rotterdam, and soon San Francisco point to getting fewer cars on the road and creating more responsive design for pedestrians and public transit.  (Brooks Rainwater / CityLab)

A DC tourism ad wants you to be a “escaleftor”

WMATA does not officially condone Metro passengers moving to the right to allow people on the left to walk on escalators, but a recent tourism video from StaylocalDC encouraging people to stand to the left may be a bit too far for daily commuters.  (Rachel Kurzius / DCist)

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