WP: Metro to Students: Behave!

According to the Post Metro is now focused on minimizing bad behavior from students using public transportation after school. Unfortunately the link on the Post site to page 2 of the story is messed up. Follow this link if you want to read the end of the story.

RP: Two Tracks to Tartarus?

Sorry, I couldn't resist the (increadibly dorky) Highway to Hell reference. This is more of citywide (and really, just generally urban) issue, but Richard Layman (Rebuilding Place) has a really great piece on why Metro's two track system is a serious problem (main points: delays when anything goes wrong, major danger if we ever experience a terrorist attack, a limit on DC's capacity for latenight service because they have to stop trains to do track maintenance).

Express: New Metro Chief Speaks

Read his thoughts here. Mr. Catoe discusses H Street, lightrail, bus rapid transit ("BRT"), clean vehicles and more. Another interesting point he makes is that even non-Metro riders have a reason to support Metro: if someone is riding a Metro train/bus, that person is probably driving (imagine what would happen if a large chunk of Metro users suddenly decided to drive everywhere). By the way, Catoe attended Springarn High School, which is located in Langston Terrace.

WP: Metro Fare Hikes in Limbo

Following a large public outcry Metro is holding off on raising fares. Metro ridership is up in recent years costs are rising as Metro needs additional cars to ferry these new riders. The budget shortfall for fiscal 2008 is $116 million.