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…

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. Beyond being known as one of Metro’s only top honchos to actually ride the system they ran, White was associated with a tumultous period in which the agency’s spending came under repeated questioning. And…

We here at DCist have long been fans of Cultural Tourism DC, a non-profit coalition of community organizations that encourage cultural tourism and promote “economic development and hometown appreciation of the capital’s rich variety of heritage and arts attractions.” We have found their online event directory and weekly newsletters a useful source of information on an eclectic mix of cultural events and sites around the city. Thus, we couldn’t help but agree to be an…

Feeling a little squeezed in on Metro these days? It’s not just your imagination — there really are more people riding the rails these days, according to the Examiner. High gas prices have pushed more and more people onto Metro, further crowding a transit agency already experiencing record high ridership. While eight-car trains have been tested on various lines in recent weeks and used during busy weekends, the crowd-thinning longer trains won’t be in full…