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 or not. Last time we mentioned the possibility, readers seemed particularly passionate over the fate of the roadway — an eyesore or a much-needed driving alternative, depending on who you asked.

CSX and Government Refuse Negotiations: CSX Transportation Inc. and the federal government refused a court-offered 30-day opportunity to negotiate with District officials over the fate of railroad shipments of hazardous materials through the city, reports the Post. The D.C. Council voted in early February to limit the transport of certain materials within two miles of the Capitol, a move railroad execs and the government say represents an intrusion into interstate commerce. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan is set to rule next week on the matter.

No More Natural Gas for WMATA: A WMATA committee voted last night to purchase 117 diesel buses and 100 hybrid buses, replacing the 164 natural gas buses in the 1,450-bus fleet. The Post reports that the vote on the $90-100 million purchase divided the committee’s Maryland rep, who opposes natural gas buses, and the District’s rep, who noted that Council legislation forbade him from voting for diesels or hybrids. A vote of the full board is expected on April 21.

Nats Going Cheap on Metro: The AP, via WTOP, notes that the Washington Nationals announced that they have no intention of paying WMATA for metrorail service that runs late due to night games. WMATA Chief Richard White stated that policy has the agency charging event organizers $18,000 an hour for service extending past closing time.

Briefly Noted: D.C. Councilman Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) threatened not to build the Nationals a new stadium unless a pending TV deal put more of their games on local channels, adding a new twist to the ongoing stadium debate … Georgetown University students to be prohibited from participating in political activities during study abroad trips.