There have been a lot of interesting, local ideas about the future of public transportation in the D.C. metro area floating around the internet this week, so Transit on Thursday has gathered them all up for your perusal. As a starting point, Dr. Gridlock (Robert Thomson) of the Washington Post posted a very detailed map that outlines the next big forays in D.C. area transit - streetcars and bus rapid transit, or BRT. Of course,......

We admit it. We're sometimes a little of envious of WTOP Radio's "Sprawl and Crawl" reporter, Adam Tuss. Not only did he get to tag along with Mayor Fenty while he showed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg around the Metro system today, but he also got to hang out with Robert D. Lisle, one of the funniest Yellow line train operators around. "His voice is silky smooth as he announces station names and......

Eep. Just a week after we first heard that the Federal Transit Administration was still a bit skeptical about the Dulles Rail project, which would require $900 million in federal funds to be completed, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. John W. Warner (R) and a few other state officials went down to Capitol Hill today only to be told by the head of the Federal Transit Administration, James S. Simpson, that the project doesn't seem......

Good morning, Washington. The week surrounding the holidays is almost always a certifiably slow news period, so you can bet good money every local media outlet in the country is shamefacedly relieved to be able to find their own angle on the terrifying fatal San Francisco Zoo tiger attack. Sister site SFist has the roundup of Bay Area coverage, and the Examiner steps up to the plate with the D.C. version of the story --......

Happy Thanksgiving, Washington. The streets are quiet this morning in the capital; one cab driver remarked to this writer that it was his favorite day to drive in the city -- no traffic, no tourists, and everyone he picks up tends to be cheery and a big tipper. The forecast in D.C. today is calling for an unseasonably warm high of 72 degrees, with a solid chance of afternoon showers and gastrointestinal distress. What's the......

Good Morning, D.C. Remember the news we told you about back in August, about an investigation into a potential prostitution ring at D.C. firehouses? Well D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin acknowledged yesterday under fire from the D.C. Council that "sex for overtime" allegations in his department are "potentially true." The Council also expressed concern about the abnormally high rate of disciplinary action against African American firefighters in the department. African Americans were the subjects of......

Happy Halloween, Washington! From the looks of things, Mayor Adrian Fenty is in a festive mood for the holiday, and had a great time right alongside everyone else at last night's 17th Street High Heel Race. The Examiner isn't so sure Fenty's high spirits will last though, as members of the D.C. Council are ticked off at the Mayor for snubbing their hearings by not sending a representative from his office to attend them. Hopefully......

A long-time complaint of commuters looking for more and better options to get between Washington and Baltimore could be remedied as soon as next year. The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland Transit Administration plans to expand MARC commuter train service to include weekends and additional weekday trains in 2008. The ambitious plan, which will still require approvals from relevant rail agencies, includes tripling MARC's capacity by 2035. The change would allow those looking for......

It's never a good sign when it's already this steamy this early in the morning, and indeed, the heat index looks like it will near 100 degrees today (actual temps closer to 94). The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management has some helpful tips to beating the oppressive heat, but this list has a shameful lack of ice cream sandwiches involved. DCist heartily recommends the Ice Cream Sandwich Method of keeping cool today, which involves......

We do hope you had a pleasant, relaxing, not too horribly hot weekend, Washington. Even if you didn't, chances are your Monday morning is shaping up to be less of a hassle than it is for the staff of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). Webb finally admitted over the weekend that he owns the gun that his aide, Phillip Thompson, was arrested for carrying into the Capitol in March. What kept him from clearing up......

Yesterday's snow storm didn't add up to much as expected, but some of the melted snow on the ground froze overnight, causing a number of suburban school districts to alter their schedules today. Lucky bastards. In the end, only 1.3 inches of snow fell at Reagan National Airport, and with sunny days today and tomorrow with highs in 40s, most of that will likely disappear in short order. Better luck next year, snowpocalypse. Jail Time......

It's another nice day out there, Washington. Or, is it? Actually forecasters are calling for rain (but no wintry mix here) in the late part of the day, so bring your umbrella even though it doesn't seem like you really need one right now. And while you're searching the depths of your closet for one, consider this question: Now that the plans for a new Madame Tussauds wax museum in downtown Washington are officially coming......

Bring out your purple plastic beads and get ready for some king cake! Well, we wish. For obvious reasons, the District and surrounding areas are decidedly calmer than, say, Bourbon Street. But we've still got some action going on. If you'd like to experience some good ol’ Mardi Gras flavor, the Post's City Guide lists what's going on today, from galas to Zydeco. Of course, there is always Lulu’s in Foggy Bottom -- they......

They might not be chaining themselves to doors or laying across roadways, but certain Virginia residents have resorted to protest in response to a toll increase along the Dulles Toll Road in Loudoun County, Va. The toll, which increased by 25 cents yesterday, is being funneled toward paying for Virginia's share of the $4 billion Dulles Rail Project, which seeks to extend Metrorail's Orange line out to Dulles International Airport. Landowners Opposed to Wasteful Expenditures......