Because we simply can't get enough of salary talk, today the Post tells us that Metro's presumptive new head honcho, John B. Catoe Jr., will be taking in $300,000 a year, not to mention a $60,000 living allowance, a company car, and all the free Metro rides he can take. more ›

When we found out earlier this year that Richard White, WMATA's troubled general manager, would be replaced by District Department of Transportation Director Dan Tangherlini, we were happy. Tangherlini had long been known for being approachable and affable, a young and ambitious civil servant dedicated to improving service and quality in his day-to-day functions. Those qualities translated quickly into his work at Metro, where he visited with the rank and file, encouraged riders to offer... more ›

Under the leadership of former WMATA Chief Richard White, the transit agency wasn't known for being particularly user-friendly. And while steps were taken to open the agency to commuter advice and scrutiny in White's latter years -- townhall meetings were hosted, online chats occurred and the Riders Advisory Council was created -- Metro seemed somewhat insulated from the day-to-day troubles that its many riders experienced. more ›

Today is Richard White's last day at WMATA. As you may recall, it was a little over a month ago that the transit agency decided that White had overstayed his welcome, replacing him with District Department of Transportation Director Dan Tangherlini. more ›

Back in November when we first reported on the idea of extending the Yellow Line beyond its terminus at the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center stop, we thought it a bit of a shot in the dark. After all, then WMATA Chief Richard White didn't seem to keen on the idea, stating, "Such an extension of service would be exceedingly expensive, both from an operating cost perspective, as well as from a capital cost perspective." But... more ›

Severance for Metro Chief Higher Than Average: When WMATA Chief Richard White stepped down/was fired last week, few seemed surprised at the news. Most were, though, surprised at the size of his severance package -- a one-time payment of $238,000, an annual pension payment of $116,000, free Metro travel and health care for life, and a $58,000 annual salary for his wife. Yesterday the Post reported that White's severance exceeds that of comparable transit systems, notably San Francisco's, where a manager of White's seniority would receive a one-time payment of $283,000 but only benefit from an annual pension payment of $72,000 to $81,000. The head of Philadelphia's system, SEPTA, would receive a measly $29,000 annual pension payment a year. more ›

Yes, it is about that time of year again. That time when DCist comes out from behind our computer screens to prove that we do, in fact, have lives and personalities. And we'd love for you to join us. Since we imagine we're not incentive enough, we'll have drink specials, giveaways, and DJs. And if you were under a rock this week, this is what you may have missed: more ›

In response to allegations that existing state law banning gay marriage hasn't gone far enough in protecting traditional marriages from corrosive homosexual influences, Virginia is now considering further defining marriage as only being between a man and a woman, reports WJLA. We thought that Virginia had made their opposition to gay marriage clear enough last year with their endorsement of "Traditional Marriage" license plates, but it's always good to err on the side of excess.... more ›

It's been rumored for the better part of the last month, and today it has finally come true -- WMATA Chief Richard White is being replaced. According to a reliable DCist source, White will be replaced by District Department of Transportation head Dan Tangherlini. more ›

Today the Post is reporting that WMATA's Board of Directors is quietly discussing whether to dismiss head honcho Richard White, whose troubled nine-year tenure at the transit agency has been marked by controversy and criticism. Ironically enough, the Post notes that one of the issues that might provoke White's dismissal is a series of articles that appeared in the newspaper in June that detailed over $1 billion in mismanaged spending. This instance serves as a... more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's time for us to let you in on a secret: some of us start work on these roundups the night before they go online. In fact, as we write this we're watching FOX5's 10PM storm coverage — and we're afraid that, at the moment, the weather prognosis does not look good. Judging solely by WTTG's graphics packages and the number of personnel on their Snow Patrol, we're facing a bona fide snowpocalypse. For those lucky few who have hoarded enough bread, milk and toilet paper to (briefly) forestall an icy demise: here's your morning roundup.

Storm Aftermath: Last night's storm dumped a whopping — well, we don't actually know how much snow came down. It certainly looks like less than an inch here in Northwest, but the local news outlets seem to be too embarassed by their doomsaying to fess up about the actual amount. Nevertheless, an icy coating may mean problems for your morning commute. WMATA crews worked through the night to make sure Metro runs smoothly, but it does look like the roads are slippery. Be careful out there. And, if you're still hoping that you might not have to venture out at all, NBC4 has a list of area closings here — most noteworthy is the federal government's two hour delay/unscheduled leave policy. Finally, all weatherphiles should be sure to check out CapitalWeather's liveblogging of the storm.

WMATA Board Considers Firing Chief Executive: Today's Post reports that members of the transit agency's board of directors are quietly considering removing CEO Richard White from his position. White has been with the agency since 1996, but his image has recently been hurt by a number of small scandals — and some mismanagement of funds large enough to attract Congressional attention. The board had asked to see improvement; apparently they haven't seen enough. In some good news (for riders, anyway), White has just announced his 2007 spending plan — and it doesn't include fare hikes.

Two Women Charged With Soliciting Assassins: In a truly bizarre story, two different Fairfax women — both named April — have been charged with trying to hire someone to kill their respective boyfriends. In both cases the solicitor's inquiries were answered by undercover police. The incidents aren't related, but there are even more similarities. The Post has all of the weird details.

Briefly Noted: Montgomery Blair H.S. student arrested for arson... Man spoiling for fight with city over nativity scene... Woman assaulted on way home from Metro... Sex Ed curriculum in Montgomery County sparks controversy...

Picture posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user erin m

Today's Transit on Thursday brings us a personal account of one of the city's few metered cabs, how to calculate your commuting costs, and WMATA's Richard White on Instant Messenger. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Today it will be partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain, so be prepared. Flickr user birdcage from Missives from the Birdcage posted this photo of the Prince George's County Fair to DCist photos. We are getting excited for our first birthday party tomorrow at Stetson's - will we see you there? Cost of Living Rises in Area: Yesterday we reported and analyzed the news that affordable housing in the... more ›

Well, DCist has gone and done it now. In an arbitrary post last week discussing the American Political Science Association's annual meeting in the District, former DCist food connoisseur Kanishka offered $100 to any reader who could catch Cornel West scarfing down a jumbo slice. Safe bet, right? I mean, who would have thought that Cornel West would actually scarf down, of all things, a jumbo slice? Well, one reader managed just that. Above, Cathy... more ›

Photo from the archives of Drew McDermott OK, you may be getting sick and tired of DCist writing about transit. Please blame Jo Becker and Lyndsey Layton and their cohorts at the Post for bringing into the public record so much great information about the ailments of the region's transit system -- ailments we've been looking at in one way or another since DCist launched last summer. Today, the Post's in-depth series comes to... more ›

Good morning Washington, WAMU reports that the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has declared it a Code Orange air alert day, but we can't seem to find any information on MWCOG's website about the air alert besides some general information. It's going to be hot again with highs around 90. Storm Report: We hope you survived the storm yesterday. (As for us, we got soaked trying to seek cover in a metrorail station, and... more ›

In response to the Post's in-depth report on the ailments of WMATA and its metrorail system, Richard White released a statement on the transit agency's website, with the header in red for emphasis. more ›

(Photo from the archives of Drew McDermott) more ›

Moving into the weekend -- which is set to be beautiful, according to Capital Weather -- today's news is particularly heavy on the transportation front. (This photo is from Melissa, who posted this photo on DCist's Flickr page of a sunrise over the campus of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast.) First, DCist anxiously awaits the results of a meeting held late last night concerning whether Georgetown's Whitehurst Freeway will be torn down... more ›

With ridership levels at an all time high, how do we ensure that metrorail gets commuters to and from work safely and efficiently? more ›

In a continuing attempt to improve WMATA's image and customer relations reputation, Metro General Manager Richard White took to the Internet this afternoon and fielded questions, concerns, and complaints from commuters during his third hour-long online forum over the same number of months. Among the issues discussed were the following: Security: White admitted that the federal government had provided only $7 million in homeland security funding for the transit system over the last two years,... more ›

It must be the week of "Stayed tuned for details" as it seems that Richard White, WMATA's chief executive officer, is using the same public relations tactics as Linda Cropp. Just as Cropp, the D.C. Council chairman, says she has a new way to finance the proposed baseball stadium telling everyone to stay tuned for details, the region's transit chief says he has big changes to announce next week. But he isn't shedding much light on what he has planned. more ›

DCist would like recommend White start riding metrobus, especially some of our most love-to-hate lines, including the D2, 30-series and 90-series. We'd also like to note that Mayor Anthony Williams drives to work from his Foggy Bottom apartment while Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York is a regular rider of his city's subway. more ›

We thought that we'd seen it all on metrorail. But sure enough, DCist saw the up-ended Red Line train that crashed into another one yesterday at the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan. WMATA did its best to shield the view of the damage from riders with a blue tarp, but there is something very odd about seeing a metrorail car sticking up at a 30 degree angle resting awkwardly atop another train car. more ›

WMATA Chief Executive Richard White said that criticism that has been dished out about the failings of the metrorail system has been warranted and that the agency is reviewing past decisions that, as the Post's lede said "'don't make much sense' or have 'misfired badly.'" more ›

Preparing for Terror: Although there is no concrete intelligence suggesting Nov. 2 will be targeted by terrorists, elections officials are preparing for that possibility. Memos have gone out in Virginia from the top elections official saying that a "delicate balance" must be found that allows the democratic process to continue without scaring voters half to death with a more vigilant security presence. The Post has the rundown of the situation and what different jurisdictions are... more ›