metro

Metro service extended to midnights starting Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Daniel Kelly

From WMATA:

“Metro will expand train service to midnight, seven days a week starting Sunday, July 18. The extended operating hours are the first in a package of service improvements passed by Metro’s Board of Directors in June that will add more all-day rail service, create high-frequency bus routes and improve service across the region.

“Riders that work late, enjoy the region’s restaurants and nightlife or need to get to and from places at night will now have more flexibility with trains running longer every night,” said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “As the region recovers, Metro will be there to meet the transit needs of customers and businesses in the National Capital Region.”

In addition to extending rail hours until midnight, Metro resumed late-night bus service to 2 a.m. in June on 36 routes, restored more service and improved the frequency of buses on high-demand routes. (more…)

“I was greeted with the following message playing every five seconds…for 10 minutes until my train came.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Caitlin Faw

“Dear PoPville,

Any idea what’s going on with Metro’s automated announcements? When I got to Shaw-Howard this morning I was greeted with the following message playing every five seconds…for 10 minutes until my train came.

Attention attention would the station manager report to the kiosk and inspect your F9 panel(?) and notify central of any discrepancies. Thank you.”

“The work, beginning Saturday, July 17 through Sunday, August 29, requires around-the-clock single tracking between Dupont Circle and Van Ness stations.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From WMATA:

“Metro is reminding customers of upcoming construction on the Red Line for improvements to the tunnel ventilation system. The work, beginning Saturday, July 17 through Sunday, August 29, requires around-the-clock single tracking between Dupont Circle and Van Ness stations. (more…)

“Amazon and Metro Announce a $125 Million Commitment to Create 1,000 Affordable Housing Units at Metro Stations in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by LaTur

From WMATA:

“Amazon and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) today announced a goal to create more than 1,000 new affordable housing units at Metro Stations throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. Amazon is committing $125 million in below-market capital to expedite development of affordable homes so that moderate- to low-income families in the National Capital Region can afford to live in communities with easy access to employment, schools, healthcare, education, and other amenities. The investment is part of Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund, a more than $2 billion commitment to preserve and create over 20,000 affordable homes through below-market loans and grants to housing partners, traditional and non-traditional public agencies, and minority-led organizations. (more…)

“Continuous single tracking between Dupont Circle and Van Ness stations. July 17 – August 29”

By Prince Of Petworth

Now that metro is getting back to good…

From WMATA:

“As part of Metro’s investment in safety and reliability, construction will begin in July on the first of two major capital projects on the Red Line that will upgrade the tunnel ventilation system and repair deteriorating platform canopies. The work is expected to cause significant impacts for customers, with around-the-clock single tracking and station closures.

“It is important that we continue with this safety critical work so that we are ready and able to resume normal operations as the region reopens,” said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We will be working around the clock, seven-days a week, to maximize efficiencies and allow us to get the work done more quickly.”

Beginning Saturday, July 17, and continuing through Sunday, August 29, Metro and its contractor will install new, more powerful fans in the tunnels between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park as part of a pilot project to improve tunnel safety in the event of a smoke or fire emergency. (more…)

“Metrorail will extend operating hours to midnight, seven days a week (July) until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (September)”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Bekah Richards

From WMATA:

“Metro’s Board of Directors today approved improvements to Metrobus and Metrorail service and fares that will support the region’s recovery and encourage more customers to return to transit.

Rail service will be extended to midnight, seven days a week, in July, and other bus and rail service improvements and fare changes will start being implemented in the Fall, beginning Labor Day weekend, as many in the region prepare to go back to work and school.

“This package of service and fare changes makes it easier for riders to return to Metro and give transit a try,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “The Board today voted to provide more frequent trains and buses, addresses the historic transfer fee to promote connecting from bus to rail, and includes special weekend fares that will encourage visitors and area families to take transit as they start traveling again.”

Dates of key service changes and improvements will be detailed in future announcements. The improvements approved by the Board today include: (more…)

“WMATA Balance Question”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I am wondering if someone can give me information on what the “period remaining value” means in your WMATA balance?

Like a lot of people, I stopped filling my SmartBenefits order/tax free method of loading mySmartTrip card in April 2020. I’ve only ridden the metro/bus a handful of times since then and when I tapped my card last time, the turnstile indicated that my current balance on the card was over $1,000! (more…)

Android Users Can Now Get Some of that High Tech SmarTrip Action

By Prince Of Petworth


If you missed our look back on commemorative smartrip cards, you can see them here.

Ed. Note: Info on iPhone and Apple Watch action here.

From WMATA:

“Metro today announced the launch of SmarTrip® on Google Pay, providing more options and more convenience to Android™ customers wherever they go on the Metro system. SmarTrip — the way to pay for Metro and all regional transit providers in the Washington, DC area — allows the ease to tap-and-go on any Android compatible phone using the Google Pay app.

As the region recovers from the pandemic and more riders return, customers will find managing their SmarTrip card even easier with Google Pay, with more functionality from the app. Customers can transfer an existing SmarTrip card or purchase a new one, and instantly add value or passes. (more…)

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