Photo by B F
From WMATA:
“As part of a $179 million investment to improve safety and reliability, Metro will begin work to replace the oldest, least reliable escalators in the system starting with Gallery Place Station, Monday, April 26. It’s the first of 130 escalators to be replaced over seven years. (more…)
Ed. Note: If you missed our look back on commemorative smartrip cards, you can see them here.
From WMATA:
“Metro’s original SmarTrip® cards will soon become a relic of the past, as Metro invests in new faregates, fareboxes and fare payment options that will make it quicker and easier to pay but won’t be compatible with the old cards. Customers are encouraged to replace their old SmarTrip cards now to avoid issues later.
The first generation SmarTrip cards contain outdated chip technology and were produced prior to 2012. Metro is phasing out use of the cards in conjunction with the year-long rollout of new faregates in stations starting as early as June and new bus fareboxes next year. As many as 400,000 of the old cards were in active use prior to the pandemic, affecting a small percentage of the six million SmarTrip cards that were in active circulation at the time. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Let folks know that there’s someone on the metro randomly pepper spraying people. He sprayed me right as he was getting off the train so I can’t identify him. I was on either the orange or silver line heading towards Virginia and sitting on the bench near the train door. The door opened at L’enfant Plaza and the guy sprayed me as he was getting off the train. (more…)
From WMATA:
“The Metro Board of Directors Finance and Capital Committee today approved a $4.7 billion operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2022 (beginning July 1, 2021) that maintains current service levels and enhancements, while continuing to accelerate Metro’s capital investment in safety-critical repairs and service reliability improvements. The full Board of Directors is expected to approve the Committee’s recommendation on April 22.
Under the approved $2.07 billion operating budget, Metro will maintain service at 80-85 percent of pre-pandemic levels to support expected ridership growth as the region resumes events, classroom learning, and businesses reopen with increased capacity. (more…)
Photo by Geoff Livingston
From WMATA:
“Metro today announced free shuttle bus service and other travel alternatives to help customers begin planning for this summer’s closure of four Green and Yellow line stations scheduled for reconstruction. Starting Saturday, May 29 through Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Prince George’s Plaza, and West Hyattsville stations on the Green and Yellow lines will be closed. (more…)
Now these oughta make a helluva bar one day.
From WMATA:
“Metro has selected Hitachi Rail Washington LLC (“Hitachi Rail”) to build the system’s 8000-series railcars in the U.S. The contract, valued up to an estimated $2.2 billion, includes a base order of 256 railcars, with options to build up to 800 in the fleet. The project is expected to create direct and indirect jobs in the region. (more…)
Photo by Victoria Pickering
From WMATA:
“Metro expects to avert service cuts and layoffs that had been proposed in its FY22 budget thanks to new federal relief approved by Congress.
“Congress has once again stepped up to address the needs of Metro and the regional transit systems that will be critical to our region’s economic recovery,” said Metro Board of Directors Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “While it will take more time to work out all the details, including Metro’s exact share of this funding, the $1.4 billion provided by the American Recovery Plan for our region’s transit agencies will allow us to avert the painful service reductions and layoffs that were on the table.”
Smedberg continued, “More than 18,000 individuals have provided Metro’s Board of Directors with feedback on our FY22 budget, and that feedback is enormously helpful as we plan for the future. We will continue the public comment period – including virtual public hearings – through March 16, and we expect to vote on a revised FY22 budget in April that takes into consideration this new federal relief.”
Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said, “This relief is only possible thanks to the leadership of our entire congressional delegation, who fought tirelessly for transit workers and riders.”
also from WMATA:
“Beginning Sunday, March 14, Metrobus riders will see more service every day of the week as bus ridership continues to outpace rail during the pandemic’s recovery. Changes will be implemented on 59 Metrobus routes serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, offering improved service, enhancing reliability, and helping to alleviate crowding. (more…)
Photo by DCbmyers
From WMATA:
“Metro is preparing for a major capital project that will rehabilitate the Yellow Line Bridge spanning the Potomac River and repair the steel lined tunnel between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations, both of which date to original construction more than 40 years ago. In an effort to address this critical need, Metro is streamlining the design and construction to save time and money. (more…)
Photo by Bradley Joines
From WMATA:
“The public comment period for Metro’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget is officially open, and Metro’s Board of Directors wants your feedback. Metro is encouraging anyone impacted by changes in this budget to make their voice heard before the comment period ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16.
Metro is facing a significant budget shortfall due to a decrease in ridership caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with ridership down about 90 percent and 60 percent on Metrorail and Metrobus, respectively. Federal relief funding has allowed Metro to avoid layoffs, continue providing essential travel service, and prepare for transit ridership to return. However, even with the additional federal funding and management actions such as limiting the use of contractors and shrinking Metro’s workforce by attrition, there is not enough money to fill the entire budget gap for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021. (more…)
Ed. Note: When’s the last time you rode metro or the bus?
From WMATA:
“Metro escalators are the link that brings customers in and out of stations every day, and a new contract to replace 130 escalators will continue an aggressive, decade-long program to replace and restore the oldest and least reliable escalators in the system. The $179 million, seven-year contract, awarded to KONE, includes the installation of heavy duty, transit grade escalators at 32 stations beginning in May 2021. The new escalators will incorporate the latest safety features, including LED lighting. (more…)