Our schizophrenic winter continues this morning as a confused mess of frozen and unfrozen precipitation falls across the region. I woke up early enough to catch a few flakes falling in Brookland, but it appears to have now switched over entirely to rain. Yippee.
Tangherlini to Improve MetroAccess: Metro had often cast itself as the wronged when facing accusations of poor MetroAccess service, but with a new man at the helm, the transportation agency is ready to take steps to solve service problems. Yesterday, Dan Tangherlini announced the formation of a group of managers charged with investigating MetroAccess’ shortcomings and reducing the number of trips that result in a rider being late or stranded. The Post notes that Maryland Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) may have been behind the quick announcement; the Representative sent Tangherlini a critical letter, no doubt tired of receiving complaints about the service from his constituents.
Kaine’s Transportation Battle Continues: NBC4 plays up the most immediate part of the story, Kaine’s appearance and performance at a transportation meeting in Woodbridge where he elicited cheers and boos from the crowd. Only later in the piece do they get to the good stuff: the developing battle between Virginia’s urban and rural areas, an instate fight that seems likely to split Virginia’s legislators in weird ways. Delegates from rural areas have complained that 43 percent of the Commonwealth will receive 95 percent of the increased transportation funding under the Kaine plan; Delegates from urban parts of Virginia, like Fairfax County’s David Albo, are quick to respond, noting the disproportionate share of the tax burden borne by Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area.
Briefly Noted: Metro installation of advertising displays in TUNNEL to cause train delays…Mixing Bowl to be a mess amid closings…Prince William County joining municipalities with housing occupancy rules, potentially aimed at immigrants…City may add Lunar New Year as an official holiday…We knew this would happen, someday.
Picture taken by Olivia Leigh.
