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METRO ON HEIGHTENED ALERT FOLLOWING NYC SCARE
Metro police officers are on heightened alert following the failed New York City bombing in Times Square over the weekend.
K-9 teams, specialty officers and extra units are being deployed at some stations, Kiss and Ride lots and station entrances as a direct result of the terror plot.
"There is no information that leads us to believe that the National Capital Region is under any threat of terror," Metro Deputy Transit Police Chief Jeff Delinski tells WTOP. "However, I feel that a law enforcement response is necessary under these conditions so I requested increased patrols throughout this week which began this morning." (WTOP)
METROBUS RIDERS LOSING OUT IN METRO BUDGET PROPOSAL
Metrobus riders may fare worse than their rail counterparts as Metro's next budget starts to take shape.
The proposed $1.46 billion operating budget that starts July 1 for Metro isn't finalized yet but the efforts to plug a $189 million hole are crystallizing. Metro officials will likely raise fares more than ever before in the agency's history but avoid most of the service cuts initially threatened.
Backing away from the bulk of the service reductions represents some good news, but the potential casualties in the months-long fight are emerging: Riders overall will be losing, shouldering more expensive trips for somewhat less service and less investment in the system. (Washington Examiner)
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
LIQUOR LICENSE MORATORIUM IN GEORGETOWN UP FOR DEBATE
D.C. officials will decide in June whether to renew, abolish or change the moratorium that has been in place halting the issuing of new liquor licenses in Georgetown.
A five-year moratorium on new licenses in Georgetown expired April 14, though it has temporarily been extended until a June 9 meeting of the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, when the issue will be reconsidered. That moratorium was a renewal of previous similar measures dating as far back as 1998.
James Bracco, executive director of the Georgetown Business Improvement District, said his board has been meeting with such groups as the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and restaurant owners to come to a united front before the June meeting.
(Washington Business Journal)
PURPLE LINE PROMPTS LOOK AT CHEVY CHASE
Spurred by a possible Purple Line Metro station at Connecticut Avenue, the county is updating a development plan for Chevy Chase.
County planners are gathering business and resident input to help create the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan, which will create new growth, land-use and zoning guidelines around Chevy Chase Lake Drive and Connecticut Avenue, where a shopping center is located.
Major changes could take place at the Chevy Chase Lake property, which is near a proposed elevated station for the Purple Line, a 16-mile light rail system that would connect Bethesda to New Carrollton. (Gazette.net)
