Metro Info for July 3rd and 4th plus 14 year old arrested for stealing iPhone 6s on the blue/orange/silver lines

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ken Yu

From WMATA:

“Metro will provide frequent rail service during the afternoon and evening hours of Saturday, July 4, to accommodate those attending the fireworks display on the National Mall and the Foo Fighters concert at RFK Stadium.

Several hundred thousand passengers are expected to take Metrorail on Independence Day, with crowds primarily traveling to and from the 9:10 p.m. fireworks display on the Mall, as well as other events around the region. Metrorail service will operate from 7 a.m. until 3 a.m., with near rush-hour service levels before and after the fireworks. Off-peak fares will be in effect until midnight. At 12:01 a.m. through closing on Sunday at 3 a.m., peak fares will be in effect in accordance with Metro’s standard fare policies.

Friday, July 3 (Holiday observed)

Metrorail: Open 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. Trains will run on a Saturday schedule.
Parking: Free at all Metro-operated facilities.
Fares: Off-Peak fares will be in effect all day.
Metrobus: Saturday supplemental schedule.
MetroAccess: Regular service hours. Subscription trips are cancelled. Please ensure all July 4 reservations are booked before 4:30 p.m. on July 3.
Customer Service: Will be closed.

Saturday, July 4

Metrorail: Open 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. Trains will run on a Saturday schedule until about 2 p.m., and then gradually ramp up to near rush-hour service levels before and after the fireworks. Due to large crowds, bicycles and large coolers are not permitted. Silver Line trains will operate between Wiehle-Reston East and Stadium-Armory for the entire service day. Passengers traveling to/from stations east of Stadium-Armory will need to use a Blue Line train to complete their trip.
Parking: Free at all Metro-operated facilities.
Fares: Off-Peak fares will be in effect EXCEPT 12:01 a.m. through closing Sunday at 3 a.m.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR RIDERS TRAVELING TO FOO FIGHTERS CONCERT AT RFK STADIUM: This event is scheduled to end around midnight. At midnight, PEAK fares go into effect as scheduled (standard Metrorail fare policy). Please be sure you load enough value on your SmarTrip or farecard in advance to complete your entire trip. Expect long lines at fare machines at Stadium-Armory.
Metrobus: Saturday schedule. Expect detours around the National Mall.
MetroAccess: Regular service hours. Subscription trips are cancelled. Please ensure all July 4 reservations are booked before 4:30 p.m. on July 3.
Customer Service: Open 7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. by calling 202 637-7000; Lost & Found will be closed.

TRAVELING TO THE NATIONAL MALL

The closest station to the Mall is Smithsonian . However this is not your best choice.

While many passengers choose to use Smithsonian, this station can become overcrowded during larger Mall events. Metro recommends selecting a destination station on the same line as your origin to avoid the need to transfer. There is a station near the Mall on every line. Here is a list of suggested stations:

Foggy Bottom
Metro Center
Federal Triangle
Archives
Gallery Place
Judiciary Square
Union Station
L’Enfant Plaza
Capitol South
Federal Center SW
Arlington Cemetery

This year, Smithsonian station will be open all day, however, the mall entrance will become ENTRANCE ONLY after 9:30 p.m. The Independence Avenue entrance will be available for both entry and exit throughout the entire day.”

Also from Metro Transit Police:

“Metro Transit Police today arrested a 14-year-old male District resident on charges stemming from six robberies along the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.

The six robberies took place aboard trains and in stations between May 27 and June 15, and caused MTPD to issue a public alert to customers encouraging vigilance.

Below are the dates, times and locations of the six robberies for which charges were filed today:

May 27, 2015 11:15 p.m. at Minnesota Avenue
May 31, 2015 9:42 p.m. at Eastern Market
June 1, 2015 10:10 p.m. at Deanwood
June 9, 2015 1:30 p.m. at Eastern Market
June 12, 2015 at 10:50 p.m. at Benning Road
June 15, 2015 at 3:10 p.m. at Deanwood

All of the robberies involved iPhone 6 devices. MTPD detectives used video evidence to identify and charge the suspect.

The juvenile will face the charges in the District of Columbia. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether the suspect can be positively linked to any other cases.”