Closeup shot of a underground Metro station ceiling in the waffle-like pattern by washingtonydc licensed under Creative Commons.

WMATA considers raising fares as it searches for funding

WMATA’s board is also taking proactive measures and announced it will consider raising fares in order to contribute to the $750 million deficit, while WMATA leadership works with the board to convince local jurisdictions to take on more of the funding share to prevent the catastrophic cuts it anounced earlier this week without increased funding. (Editor’s note, WMATA board member Tracy Hadden Loh is also GGWash’s board chair)  (Justin George / Post)  

Montgomery County purchases Aspen Hill apartment complex to stave off displacement of its residents

The Westchester West Apartments in Aspen Hill, which houses many families in hundreds of units, will continue to house its residents. While a buyout was on the table, the county government bought the complex and sold it to a community partner. The move comes as Montgomery County vows to be more aggressive in fighting for affordable housing by using their right of first refusal to buy properties that go on the market.  (Em Espey / MoCo360)  

DC elected officials rebuke House Republicans’ proposed budget riders

DC elected officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser;  DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson; DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb; Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Charles Allen, and Christina Henderson; and DC House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, have all publicly come out to oppose the Republican-led House of Representatives proposed fiscal bill for 2024. If passed, the bill will restrict how the District can allocate funds for basic goods and services, including subsidizing abortions, and the use of automated traffic cameras.  (Michael Brice-Saddler / Post)  

Falls Church Metro stations to reopen, but portion of Orange Line won’t reopen until July

As scheduled, the East and West Falls Church Metro stations will reopen on Monday, which will provide much-needed relief for commuters in those areas. However, the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will remain closed until July 16. WMATA will provide extra shuttles during this time.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)  

Maryland environmental groups release report on public health benefits of reducing carbon emissions

Several Maryland-based environmental groups have released reports emphasizing the public health benefits of stricter regulations surrounding carbon emissions from trucks and buses throughout the state. The reports come as the state deliberates over Advance Clean Cars II, which would promote electric vehicles.  (Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters)  

Fairfax County wants to convert former high school into multi-use public facility

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is looking into the possibility of converting Mount Vernon High School’s original building into a public facility. The building, located in the Fairfax County portion of Alexandria, is large and covers 22 acres, but it’s also a designated historic property. As such, the Board must seek a “special exception amendment” to go through with its plans.  (Matt Blitz / FFXNow)  

Alexandria residents protest tree removal at Del Ray park

Several Del Ray residents wrapped themselves around a tree on Wednesday in the Eugene Simpson Park to protest tree removal. The park, which the Alexandria City Council approved renovations on last Saturday, will be resurfaced with artificial turf baseball fields to aid in building capacity for the city’s baseball and softball teams and increase parking capacity. The park will also get replacement trees, and new trees, increasing the tree cover from 12% to 25%, the city’s minimum tree coverage requirement for park areas it controls.  (James Cullum / ALXNow, Vernon Miles / ALX Now)  

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