Marissa reports:
“Just a small portion of people outside Van Ness metro at 10am. A passerby told me there’s a fire and some medical emergencies? Anyway, if you’re a Lyft or uber driver you could make some serious cash taking people to downtown.”
From WMATA:
“Red Line service suspended btwn Dupont Circle & VAN NESS -track problem outside Dupont Circle.”
Correction Red Line service suspended btwn Dupont Circle & VAN NESS -track problem outside Dupont Circle. Shuttles established. 10:03 #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) June 23, 2017
Update:
Red Line: Train service restored btwn Dupont Circle & Van Ness. Expect residual delays as trains resume schedule & spacing. 10:42a #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) June 23, 2017
Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX
From DDOT:
“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will reinstate standard rush hour parking restrictions on priority transit corridors following the June 25 end of SafeTrack.
Beginning Monday, June 26, 2017, rush hour parking restrictions will be 7 am to 9:30 am for the morning rush, and 4 pm to 6:30 pm during the evening rush period.
Extended morning and evening rush-hour parking restrictions were put in place to help alleviate the traffic impact of SafeTrack, WMATA’s yearlong accelerated track work plan to address safety recommendations and rehabilitate the Metrorail system. The following corridors will revert to the original rush hour times: (more…)
You can read more details on the coming changes here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend
From WMATA:
“Every 1000- and 4000-series railcar — Metro’s oldest and least-reliable cars, respectively — will be decommissioned and permanently removed from passenger service by July 1, months ahead of original projections, Metro announced today.
Under Metro’s Back2Good program, announced earlier this year, Metro had accelerated the retirement of the 1000- and 4000-series railcars as new, more reliable 7000-series railcars arrive, resulting in improved service, fewer offloads and delays. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
“Dear PoPville,
Have you heard any updates from WMATA about the status of Dupont AC? It’s clearly still not working and it’s now been three years since I thought they said it would be fixed. I’m sure lots of people would love an update about whatever the heck they’re supposed to be doing.”
A couple weeks ago WAMU reported:
“Farragut North and Dupont Circle have been without reliable air conditioning for quite a while, and there’s no date certain for even temporary repairs, WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld told reporters on Monday. As for a permanent solution, that could take years.
“For this summer what we’re looking to do is a temporary fix, which is to put a portable cooling tower,” said Wiedefeld, who would not commit to a date to having it in place. “We’re pushing as hard as we can. I’d love to get it in June. Let’s see what we can get to.”
From WMATA:
“Update May 4, 2017
Farragut North and Dupont Circle stations currently have no cooling capacity due to the failure of 40-year-old water lines that run under Connecticut Avenue NW and connect the stations’ off-site chiller plant (located 40 feet below the median of Connecticut Ave) to a cooling tower located on the roof of a nearby building.
Since 2015, Metro and its contractors have made multiple attempts to repair the pipes, including identifying and patching individual leaks, followed by a complete relining of the pipes from within. Unfortunately, none of the repair strategies applied to date has been successful.
Currently, an independent engineering firm is reviewing the situation to determine the best course of action on a permanent fix, which may involve excavation of Connecticut Avenue NW to allow for complete replacement of the pipes. While that effort is underway, Metro is working cooperatively with the District of Columbia, Golden Triangle BID, and other stakeholders to install temporary cooling equipment while this complicated permanent fix is advanced.
Based on current project timelines, the temporary cooling capacity could be in place as early as June. We should note that, because these cooling lines run under Connecticut Avenue NW, the project may have an impact on motorists. The independent engineering review will identify solutions and strategies that minimize this impact to the extent possible, and we will continue to work with DDOT, Golden Triangle BID, and other stakeholders throughout the project.
Background (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“Metro today completed a major capital project to replace six escalators at Woodley Park Station, including the three longest escalators in the District of Columbia.
Metro’s contractor, KONE, replaced the escalators two at a time in succession. The overall project took more than two years to complete, including site preparation, demolition and removal of the old escalators, installation of complex gantries and cranes to move the new escalators and supporting structures into place, as well as testing and tuning.
“Metro’s infrastructure is aging and this is another example of the kind of investment that is needed across the system to provide customers with good, safe and reliable service,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Before being replaced, these escalators were more than 30 years old and beyond their useful life. With these brand-new escalators customers will see the improvement.”
MTPD Notice from 2010
“Dear PoPville,
At Petworth metro station this morning. Multiple MPD officers with dogs and these machines that were searching through people’s bags before getting on the metro. Any idea why? Bomb threat?”
Metro Transit Police have been doing random searches since at least 2008. We also spoke about random inspections in 2010.
Explanation from 2010:
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab
From WMATA:
“Metro will perform maintenance work over the weekend of May 26-29 to keep trains operating safely and reliably.
Highlights
Green Line trains will operate regular weekend intervals.
Free shuttle buses replace Orange Line trains between Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton due to SafeTrack Surge 15.
Limited shuttle buses replace Red Line trains between NoMa-Gallaudet and Brookland stations.
Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
Silver Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Stadium-Armory only.
Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square only.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, The Metrorail system will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. Trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day, and parking will be free at all Metrorail parking facilities. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Lucas Keene
“Dear PoPville,
every year I get caught in the traffic lock down on the Saturday of Memorial weekend due to the United House of Prayer parade in Shaw/Logan Circle. I seem to recall they shut down the roads before the announced time last year, how do I find out when the shut downs really start?”
From MPD:
“On Saturday, May 27, 2017, United House of Prayer will be hosting their annual Memorial Day Parade in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with this event, there will be several street closures that motorists should take into consideration:
Saturday, May 27, 2017 starting at 9:00am
§ “M” Street NW from 5th Street to 7th Street NW
§ 6th Street NW from “L” Street to “N” Street NW
Saturday, May 27, 2017 starting at 11:30am (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1
From MPD:
“On Sunday, May 28, 2017, the 2017 Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom will take place in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with this event, there will be several street closures that motorists should take into consideration:
Assembly Area
The rally area will be at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on the north and south parking lots, which will be open at 7:00 am.
The staging area will be in front of the Lincoln Memorial at Ohio and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Parade Route
The following roads will be closed from approximately 10:30 am to 3:00 pm:
Memorial Bridge
Constitution Avenue, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
3rd Street, SW from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
Independence Avenue, SW from 3rd Street, SW to West Potomac Park, SW
All NORTHBOUND traffic across the 14th Street bridge will be diverted to EASTBOUND I-395 (SE/SW Freeway)
12th Street Tunnel will be closed to ALL NORTHBOUND traffic
The 9th Street Tunnel will be closed to ALL SOUTHBOUND traffic
There will be no closures of the 3rd Street tunnel but traffic may be heavier than normal, due to the other closures
The motorcycle ride will form in North Pentagon Parking Lot and will proceed over the following route: (more…)
