Washington Informer

Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles has announced the launch of a feature customers have requested for years: the ability to add value to a SmarTrip card from the convenience of their computer.

"Customers can now go online rather than getting in line," said Sarles. "This is the latest—but certainly not the last—example of how we are going to use technology to improve our customers' travel experience."

The SmarTrip Online Reload feature makes it more convenient for riders to manage their SmarTrip card balances and avoid lines at fare machines. Metro officially launched the feature Sept. 22 following a successful pilot program that included 150,000 customers.

Any customer with a registered SmarTrip card can load value simply by logging onto their SmarTrip account on Metro's website, smartrip.wmata.com, and clicking on the "add value" link. The system accepts all major credit cards.

The District has awarded a contract to GCS-SIGAL to fully modernize Cardozo High School, located at 12th and Clifton streets in Northwest. The renovation is slated to begin in December and completion is expected in thesummer of 2013.

"Today's announcement on the design-build award for Cardozo continues the momentum in the District of Columbia of turning our schools into 21st Century, high-tech facilities that go hand-in-hand with ensuring a high quality education for our students," said Mayor Vincent Gray, who announced the contract on Sept. 21.

At-large City Council member Michael Brown said in a brief interview Friday with the Washington Informer that a three-hour meeting called Sept. 22 -- in the wake of a fracas that took place at a gathering two days earlier -- was private, and therefore, no further comment could be provided.

During the latter meeting, police barred reporters from the proceedings.

"We were discussing personnel issues and some other things [related to ethics and reforms] and the meeting was closed to the media," Brown said.

The meeting that took place on Sept. 20 involved members hurling profanities at each other as the 13-member governing body debated raising income taxes among the city's wealthy residents.

In recent times, relationships have been strained among members of the Council, particularly after a string of ethics violations have been leveled against many of them.

However, it was partly because of the tension-filled debate that Council Chairman Kwame Brown called the Sept. 22 meeting, where a new 25-page code of conduct for members was distributed.

The pamphlet also covers concerns such as reporting outside income and accepting gifts, according to a report.

New Program Seeks to Increase Services to Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays and Disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- District officials have unveiled a new initiatve that focuses on signs of developmental disabilities and delays in children from birth to age three.

The Strong Start campaign was launched Sept. 26 and its theme, "Don't Wait and Wonder," encourages parents and other caregivers with concerns about a child's development to sign up for a no-cost evaluation.

Officials for Strong Start, formerly known as the DC Early Intervention Program, will also be able to determine families'eligibility for services.

"For children with developmental disabilities, we know that early intervention works and that better outcomes are the result," said Gray. "My education agenda focuses on a holistic approach to educating our children from birth through age 24, and the Strong Start program is one important component of our efforts. Through this campaign, we are giving children and their families a fighting chance."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17 percent of children in the United States have a developmental disability. Currently, in the District of Columbia, hundreds of eligible children are not receiving services. However, through Strong Start, families will receive individualized care that addresses each child's specific needs.

Beginning this week, radio and television commercials along with Metro transit ads and other educational materials will promote the initiative among District residents.

"We want to assure those families that we can and will help," said Hosanna Mahaley, state superintendent of education for the District of Columbia. "We believe that the launch of the campaign in collaboration with other projects including the mayor's One City vision, will work to provide that strong start for our children."