Lots of open windows in my Firefox browser, so here’s a link dump:<\/p>\n
Beeee-autiful. <\/strong>Dr. Gridlock reports that lots of Metro stations will be getting a nice cleaning<\/a> over the next couple of months.\u00a0 He also links to a Post<\/em> story about the process of cleaning a station<\/a> from March of this year.\u00a0 The following stations will be spruced up:<\/p>\n Major Enhancements:<\/strong> Dunn Loring, East Falls Church, Eisenhower Avenue, Forest Glen, Medical Center, Potomac Avenue, Twinbrook, Wheaton, White Flint, U Street, Vienna, West Falls Church.<\/p>\n Mini Enhancements:<\/strong> Ballston, Bethesda, Brookland, Court House, Foggy Bottom, Franconia-Springfield, Friendship Heights, Rockville, Shady Grove, Smithsonian, Virginia Square, Woodley Park.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The enhancements really make a huge difference.\u00a0 The stations seem lighter and more welcoming.<\/p>\n Freakonomics<\/strong> had a nice post with some links<\/a> to a few old studies noting how closing roads sometimes improves traffic flow.\u00a0\u00a0 This particular case is from Vancouver, but this is precisely the logic behind the pedestrianization of Times Square in New York.\u00a0 In certain situations, this kind of action can be a win-win-win – you improve traffic flow by simplifying the turning movements and signals, you increase pedestrian space and safety, and you maintain the urban design that makes Times Square an actual square.<\/p>\n The New York Times<\/strong> paints a portrait<\/a> of the infamous Randal O’Toole.\u00a0 It’s somewhat sympathetic, but does a decent job of letting O’Toole’s constant obfuscation collapse under its own weight.<\/p>\n