Tasty Morning Bytes – Metro’s Escalator Plans, a Violent Metrobus Driver and Returning to Anacostia
Good morning, DCentric readers! Hope you have your umbrella with you– it’s a wet week.
Metro plans to hire contractor to speed up repairs of escalators “Over the years, Metro has alternated between staff and contractors to perform escalator maintenance and repairs. Along the way, it has dumped tens of millions of dollars into its equipment and hired consultants to do studies of whether in-house or contracting out is better, all without finding a lasting solution.” (The Washington Post)
Video shows Metrobus driver throwing off passenger “While the Metrobus driver and passenger are in an argument, you can hear the passenger ask the driver to take him to the next stop — possibly without paying first. When the bus driver asks the man to get off the bus and the man stays, the driver pushes the man, takes the man’s hand off a pole, picks him up and throws him to the ground.” (WTOP)
UIP Relieves Another Crappy Landlord, This Time in Adams Morgan “Back in 2007, owner NWJ Companies sued advisory neighborhood commissioner (and Councilmember Jim Graham’s consituent services guy) Wilson Reynolds for organizing a cleanup at the building, where the mostly Hispanic residents had complained of shoddy conditions.” (Washington City Paper)
Bus “adjustments” may be coming to a line near you “Surely there will be riders inconvenienced by these changes, though other riders may benefit. At a public hearing, inevitably we will hear most from those who lose out, and it’s important to think hard about the loss. Some people may drive instead, adding traffic congestion. Transit-dependent riders might find themselves unable to travel at some times of the day. Riders with disabilities could start using paratransit more, which is far more expensive than fixed-route bus service.” (Greater Greater Washington)
Long-time car salesman returns to Anacostia; Astro Motors re-opens “For years, Astro Motors operated at 2001 MLK until the Fenty administration’s crackdown on used car lots had ricocheting restrictive consequences for shops like Richardson’s. ‘They said the dealers were eyesores,’ [Dale] Richardson said while confirming the real intent was directed at unscrupulous dealerships. ‘But in the process they made it so you can only have 4 cars in the front of your lot.’ No matter the size of your space, unless there is a garage or warehouse on-site, DCRA strictly enforces the 4 car rule.” (The Washington Syndicate)