Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

From DDOT:

Saturday, May 25, 2013 to Monday, May 27, 2013

Annual Thunder Alley

Rolling Thunder will kick off its Annual Thunder Alley on Saturday, May 25, 2013. The following streets will be affected on Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday, May 27, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· 22nd Street, NW between C Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.

Sunday, May 26, 2013
Rolling Thunder Rally

On Sunday, May 26, 2013, the Rolling Thunder Rally will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. In conjunction with this event, there will be several street closures that motorists should take into consideration. For more information on Thunder Alley and Rolling Thunder Rally, please visit http://rollingthunderrun.com/.

Traffic Route

· Route will begin at the Pentagon and travel across the Lincoln Memorial Bridge (Eastbound)
· North on 23rd Street, NW
· Right turn on Constitution Avenue, NW
· East along Constitution Avenue, NW
· Right on 3rd Street, NW
· South on 3rd Street, NW
· Right on Independence Avenue, SW
· West along Independence Avenue, SW until Ohio Drive, SW
· West on Ohio Drive, SW until West Potomac Park (disband).
· The stage and rally point is located near the Korean Memorial in West Potomac Park (USPP Territory).

Monday, May 27, 2013
National Memorial Day Parade

On Monday, May 27, 2013, the National Memorial Day Parade will take place from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

The streets along the following route will be closed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

· Starting from 7th Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW ending at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
· Also closed: 7th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue, SW

All street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions.

and from MPD:

United House of Prayer Memorial Parade
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Starting at 12 Noon to 3:30pm

Parade Route:

The parade will form at 6th and M St NW. It will then start north on 6th St NW to S St NW, west on S St to 13th St NW, South on 13th St to Logan Circle southwest around Logan Circle to P St NW, east on P St to 7th St, South on 7th St to M St, East on M St to 6th St where they will disband.

From DDOT:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the closures on 14th Street NW and F Street NW will remain in place while DC Water continues to repair a damaged sewer line at this location.

DC Water and contractor crews will work 24 hours per day until the repair is complete and it is likely that this activity will continue beyond tomorrow evening.

Current Street Closures

· 14th Street NW between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and New York Avenue NW and
· F Street NW between 13th and 15th Streets NW

The sidewalks and crosswalks along 14th Street NW and F Street NW remain open. Repair activities may require for the crosswalks to be temporary closed at the 14th and F Street intersection.

Motorists that are headed northbound on 14th Street NW are advised to turn onto Constitution Avenue to avoid traffic backups approaching Pennsylvania Avenue.

Connecticut Avenue NW between Ordway and Macomb Streets

Back in April we noted that Chevy Chase had upgraded their “Crosswalk Flags” to a “HAWK signal (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK)”. Cleveland Park got one too – from a DDOT:

District law requires motorists to legally stop and give the right of way to pedestrians within crosswalks. However, DDOT research has shown that on busy, high traffic roadways, only about one in four drivers are willing to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. If appropriate warrants are met, a HAWK signal can be installed on those roadways that do not meet engineering standards for installing a conventional traffic signal.

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From DDOT:

As crews from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and DC Water continue to address the undermining of the roadway at F Street NW and 14th Street NW the area will remain closed through the evening rush hour period.

14th Street NW will remain closed between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and New York Avenue NW and F Street NW will remain closed between 13th and 15th Streets NW.

Update 8pm

14th Street NW and F Street NW Will Remain Closed Through Tomorrow Morning’s Rush Hour Period

Crews from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and DC Water continue to address the undermining of the roadway at the 14th and F Street intersection. As this activity continues, 14th Street NW between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and New York Avenue NW and F Street NW between 13th and 15th Streets NW will remain closed through tomorrow morning’s rush hour period.

The sidewalks and crosswalks along 14th Street NW and F Street NW remain open. Roadway repair activities may require for the crosswalks to be temporary closed at the 14th and F Street intersection.

Motorists that are headed northbound on 14th Street NW are advised to turn onto Constitution Avenue to avoid traffic backups approaching Pennsylvania Avenue.

Photo by PoPville flickr user streetamatic

From WMATA:

For the weekend of May 17 through 19, rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange, and Green lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

There is no scheduled track work this weekend on the Blue or Yellow lines.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 17 through closing Sun., May 19

Red Line trains will single track through two work zones — between Van Ness and Dupont Circle, and between Rhode Island Ave and Takoma — to allow for tie and fastener replacement and third rail renewal.
Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.
Additional trains will operate between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet, providing service about every 10 minutes between these stations during daytime hours.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 17 through closing Sun., May 19

Free shuttle buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and Clarendon to allow for track circuit module replacement, a key NTSB safety recommendation.
Two stations will be closed: Ballston and Virginia Square.
Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals between Vienna and East Falls Church, and between Clarendon and New Carrollton.
Shuttle buses will operate continuously between East Falls Church and Clarendon making intermediate stops at Ballston and Virginia Square stations. Customers using shuttle bus service should add up to 25 minutes to their travel time.
To allow for connections to other lines, the last trains of the night from Vienna to East Falls Church will depart 28 minutes earlier than normal — at 1:57 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 10:57 p.m. on Sunday.

Green Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 17 through closing Sun., May 19

Free shuttle buses will replace Green Line trains between Greenbelt and West Hyattsville to allow for track upgrades, including tie and insulator renewal, interlocking maintenance, and work associated with construction of a new test track for 7000-series railcars.
Three stations will be closed: Greenbelt, College Park and Prince George’s Plaza.
Throughout the weekend, Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend service intervals between West Hyattsville and Branch Ave.
Shuttle buses will operate continuously between Greenbelt and West Hyattsville, making intermediate stops at College Park and Prince George’s Plaza. Customers using shuttle bus service should add up to 35 minutes to their travel time.

Photo by PoPville reader LP

WMATA updates last night’s metro fire in Silver Spring:

The investigation into the cause of last night’s Red Line fire is ongoing. While Metro has not yet identified the root cause of the fire, investigators have eliminated track conditions as a contributing factor.

The investigation is focused at this time on the rail car — a 1000-series car that is the oldest type in the fleet and scheduled for retirement with the arrival of the new 7000-series rail cars next year.

As a preliminary matter, investigators are looking at the way the electrical arc-flashing occurred beneath the car, which suggests possible unintended contact between a metal-shielded hose under the train, and power cables. Careful examination of the rail car is expected to require several days, as its under-car equipment suffered damage from the fire.

In addition to determining the root cause, the investigation will review all aspects of the operation of the incident train yesterday, including the offloading of passengers and the train’s movement beyond Takoma Station.

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Dysfunction Junction chronicles the most forlorn, baffling, and wonderful crossroads of our fair city. Ben Ball is a transportation nerd in his spare time. He lives in LeDroit Park. Ben previously wrote about 14th and Park/Kenyon NW.

“We Are Georgetown” – or so the ads tell us.  If “we” refers to a frothy mix of foreign tourists, well-to-do students, and old biddies clutching their Hermès handbags, then I’m willing to concede the point.  For quite a few of us, though, Georgetown has always felt much more like “them” – a neighborhood that feels like an appendix to DC proper.  (The oft-revisited idea of secession doesn’t help.)

It’s simple:  this intersection is over capacity.  Wisconsin is the big north-south thoroughfare, and M is the big east-west thoroughfare, but neither can deal with the jam of drivers, pedestrians and daring cyclists who just want to get where they’re going.  Naturally, the place where they meet just compounds the lunacy.

The sidewalks here are already legendary for their narrowness.  Most of the time, it just feels like the line for Georgetown Cupcake metastasized over the whole neighborhood.  Garbage cans and parking meters further promote the sense that you’re running an obstacle course.  Then the crowd of people looking to cross the street turns this intersection into a giant game of red rover, thwarting those who just want to go around the corner.  Every light change starts the Mexican standoff between entitled pedestrians, harried drivers looking to turn right, and left-turning drivers stuck in the middle of the intersection.

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Photo from LP

From WMATA around 6:30pm:

Red Line service is temporarily suspended between Takoma and Forest Glen due to fire department activity at Silver Spring.

Metro is working to establish alternate shuttle bus service between Takoma and Forest Glen stations, with an intermediate stop at Silver Spring. Customers are advised that it will take time to bring enough buses to the area to support current ridership.

The fire department is on the scene at Silver Spring evaluating the situation. Additional details will be provided as information becomes available.

A reader writes:

“There’s a fire on the tracks in silver spring. Passengers can see the fire. Silver Spring Station is being evacuated.”

UPDATE from WMATA:

Shortly after 6 p.m., the Metrorail Operations Control Center received a report of smoke and possible fire under a railcar on a train at Silver Spring Station. There were no passengers aboard the train at the time. There are no reported injuries. The fire is reported to be out at this time. However, the fire department and appropriate Metro personnel remain on scene evaluating the situation.

Red Line service remains suspended between Takoma and Forest Glen. Metro is working to bring shuttle buses to the area. Customers can expect lengthy waits for shuttle bus service and should consider other options.

Metrobus route 70 operates between Gallery Place and Silver Spring stations via Georgia Avenue.

The cause of the incident has not been determined.

Looks like a Swedish sauna.

Photo by PoPville flickr user m01229

From WMATA:

This weekend’s rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

There is no scheduled track work this weekend on the Green Line. Trains will operate normally between Greenbelt and Branch Avenue.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 10 through closing Sun., May 12

Red Line trains will single track through two work zones — between Grosvenor and Twinbrook, and between Rhode Island Avenue and Takoma — to allow for platform reconstruction at several stations.
Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate every 28 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.
Additional trains will operate between Grosvenor and NoMa-Gallaudet, providing service about every 10 minutes between these stations during daytime hours.

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Dysfunction Junction chronicles the most forlorn, baffling, and wonderful crossroads of our fair city. Ben Ball is a transportation nerd in his spare time. He lives in LeDroit Park. Ben previously wrote about Dave Thomas Circle.

If this intersection is the beating heart of Columbia Heights, I’d say we’re heading for some sort of cardiac arrest.  The lovely plaza, complete with splash fountain for the kiddies, is a marvelous public space.  Surrounding it, however, is one of the most congested places for people and vehicles I can think of.

It is not easy to get through this area in a car.  The herringbone street pattern of northern Columbia Heights (a legacy of poor planning in the early part of the previous century) is a big part of the problem.  But in 2010, DDOT made it worse by redoing the traffic pattern at this intersection, where one of the few westward passages in the area crosses a major north-south corridor.

In the interests of “traffic calming”, DDOT altered the lane which allowed drivers heading southbound on 14^th St to easily make a right turn onto Park Road.  Now traffic is so calm that it’s fallen asleep.  Just two years after DDOT worked its magic, a Metro study of the 50 buses found that traffic near 14^th and Park averages less than ten miles per hour at all times of day. The study didn’t mention that the bus stop is part of the problem – buses frequently hang across both lanes, taking out both lanes of traffic in the process.

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Photo via St. Patrick Catholic Church

From DDOT:

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has provided the following information about scheduled street closures for the Blue Mass event that is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

The following streets will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

G Street, NW from 9th Street to 11th Street, NW
G Place, NW from 9th Street to 10th Street, NW
10th Street, NW from H Street to F Street, NW

From St. Patrick Catholic Church:

All parishioners and friends of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church are cordially invited to join hundreds of first responders from around the country at St. Patrick’s 19th Annual Blue Mass. Held each year at the beginning of National Police Week, we pray for those in law enforcement and fire safety, remember those who have fallen, and support those who serve. Representatives of Federal and local law enforcement and public safety agencies from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area and around the country attend.

Before Mass, hundreds of law enforcement officers and public safety officials gather outside for the solemn processional into St. Patrick’s. Units from federal, state, and local jurisidictions gather in formation to pass under a huge American flag proudly hung over the street by two fire ladder trucks. Also gathered outside are officers on horseback, as well as pipe and drum corps units.

Inside the church, the principal celebrant and homilist for the 2013 Mass will be His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. The Mass includes an honor guard, bagpipers, and the solemn playing of “Taps” in memory of those who gave their lives in the past year.

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From WMATA:

This weekend’s rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 3 through closing Sun., May 5

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten stations to allow for the activation of a new train control room at Silver Spring, platform reconstruction at Fort Totten and Takoma, track renewal and insulator replacement.
Five stations will be closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma.
Trains will operate between Shady Grove and Fort Totten every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
Free shuttle buses will operate between Glenmont and Fort Totten on two routes: Express buses will operate non-stop between Glenmont and Fort Totten stations. Customers using express buses should add about 30 minutes to their travel time. Local buses will operate between Glenmont and Fort Totten, with intermediate stops at Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma stations. Customers using local buses should add up to 50 minutes to their travel time.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 3 through closing Sun., May 5

Orange Line trains will single track through two work zones: between Clarendon and Foggy Bottom to allow for fiber-optic cable installation, and between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly for platform reconstruction at Deanwood, rail renewal and fastener maintenance.
Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate every 26 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton.
Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.

Blue Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 3 through closing Sun., May 5

Blue Line trains will single track between Arlington Cemetery and Foggy Bottom to allow for fiber-optic cable installation.
Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will operate every 26 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center.
Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.

Green Line – 10 p.m. Fri., May 3 through closing Sat., May 4

From 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Saturday, free shuttle buses will replace Green Line trains between Congress Heights and Branch Avenue stations to allow for necessary track upgrades and renewal.
During this time, four stations will be closed: Branch Avenue, Suitland, Naylor Road, Southern Avenue.
On Friday night and all day Saturday, Green Line trains will operate between Greenbelt and Congress Heights at regular weekend intervals.
Free shuttle buses will operate between Congress Heights and Branch Avenue on two routes: Express buses will operate non-stop between Branch Avenue and Congress Heights stations. Customers using express buses should add about 25 minutes to their travel time. Local buses will operate between Branch Avenue and Congress Heights, with intermediate stops at Suitland, Naylor Road, and Southern Avenue stations. Customers using local buses should add up to 50 minutes to their travel time.

Green Line – Sun., May 5 ONLY

On Sunday, Green Line trains will single track between Branch Avenue and Congress Heights to allow for necessary track upgrades and renewal.
Throughout the day, trains will operate every 30 minutes between Branch Avenue and Greenbelt.
Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.

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@DCPoliceDept tweeted:

“Shooting_0750 hrs_1200 B/O RAUM ST NE AND /LOF B/M LSW GRAY/GREEN HOODED JKT”

@IAFF36 tweeted:

“Update – 1200blk Raum St NE – 2nd pt, shot multiple times, treating & transporting to trauma center, pri 1 #dcfd”

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From WMATA:

The problem is a crack in the electrified third rail between NoMa-Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue stations. As a result, one of the two Red Line tracks is out of service until repairs can be completed. Trains are single tracking between NoMa-Gallaudet and Fort Totten stations.

Personnel successfully completed repairs to the third rail as of 7:50 a.m. Trains are no longer single tracking.

Dysfunction Junction chronicles the most forlorn, baffling, and wonderful crossroads of our fair city. Ben Ball is a transportation nerd in his spare time. He lives in LeDroit Park. Ben previously wrote about L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station.

I love Wendy’s as much as the next guy, but this is ridiculous.  Everybody seems to know this area as “Dave Thomas Circle” – a moniker that was actually coined by DDOT itself in a study. The original link is dead now…maybe that name got a frosty reception.  (Zing!)

DDOT “fixed” this intersection in June 2010 at a cost of three million dollars, and ever since it’s become infamous for nonsensical routing, baffling inaccessibility, and traffic pileups.  They did succeed in one thing:  if you happen to be heading west on Florida Avenue or east on New York Avenue in a car, it’s not bad at all – you can drive-thru.  (Zing again!)

Every other direction is a challenge.  Going east on Florida requires a near-circumnavigation of Wendy’s.  You’d think that one of the main thoroughfares between the U St corridor and the H St area would require a quicker and easier connection, even if it meant using the powers of eminent domain against “the world’s third largest quick-service hamburger company”.  (In case you’re wondering, the assessed value of that property is just over five million dollars.)

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