*Safe regarding Coronavirus/Covid-19…
As many federal agencies begin to require staff return to the office, @wmata isn't doing enough to make people feel safe. If they don't take more decisive action (visible deep cleaning and masking enforcement), ridership is going to stay down for a LONG time. @PoPville https://t.co/dNWslkt54U
— Cobun (not covid) Zweifel-Keegan (@cobun) July 6, 2020
To the polls:
Photo by Tim Brown
From WMATA:
“Work on the Green and Yellow lines will continue through mid-July in the segments outlined below. Once this work is completed, Metro’s summer track work will move over to the Red Line from mid-July to August.
Metro will actively monitor ridership – which is currently extremely light – to ensure that the work does not cause unintended impacts as the region begins the initial stages of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why is Metro doing this work, and why now?
Currently, ridership levels are extremely low (down 90-95 percent), and buses are able to run in place of trains without traffic delays. Metro is taking advantage of these conditions to schedule around-the-clock track work in selected areas to keep critical maintenance and reliability projects on schedule. By doing this, Metro is working to offset potential delays to the project schedule as a result of Covid-19 safety protocols, supply chain delays, and workforce availability challenges.
July 6-18, 2020
Work zone: Green LineYellow LineU Street to Fort Totten
Stations closed: Columbia Heights and Georgia Ave-Petworth
Customer impact: (more…)
reopening Sunday
Ed. Note: Covid-19 Mon-Fri Service
5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Covid-19 Sat-Sun Service
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
From WMATA:
“Metro today announced that 15 rail stations that had been closed as part of the transit agency’s Covid-19 response will reopen on Sunday, June 28. In addition, beginning Monday, June 29, buses will be added to the system’s 14 busiest bus lines to provide more capacity and more frequent service as the region reopens.
Rail Stations
The following stations will reopen on Sunday, June 28. (more…)
Photo by Eric P.
From WMATA:
“Metro is operating on regular Covid-19 service hours today, Wednesday, June 3. Service will operate as follows:
Metrorail is open until 9:00 p.m. Red Line trains will arrive every 15 minutes. Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains operate every 20 minutes on each line. (At stations served by multiple lines, trains arrive every 7-10 minutes.)
Metrobus will continue until 11:00 p.m. on a Modified Sunday Schedule. (more…)
From WMATA:
“DC rapper, go-go artist and actor Anwan “Big G” Glover is taking on a new and important role- helping the community stay healthy in the fight against Covid-19.
Glover, who starred in the hit HBO series “The Wire,” is featured in a new public-service campaign to remind residents that the Covid-19 emergency is not over and to drive up the use of masks, particularly among communities at greater risk of negative health outcomes from the coronavirus. (more…)
Photo by Olaf Zerbock
From WMATA:
“Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld today accepted a recommendation of the transit authority’s Pandemic Task Force that face coverings or masks be required when traveling on Metro effective Monday, May 18. The move strengthens Metro’s position on the matter, which has “strongly recommended” the use of face coverings since early April, in accordance with CDC guidance. While the overwhelming majority of riders already comply voluntarily, the requirement is viewed as a necessary step as Metro plans for an eventual recovery with more riders using the system. (more…)
From WMATA:
“Metro today released preliminary details of its covid-19 pandemic recovery plan, outlining a flexible blueprint for ramping up service, while protecting customers and employees, as the region prepares for recovery from the public health crisis. The recovery strategy will be discussed at Metro’s Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, May 14.
Metro’s plan is closely aligned with steps planned by local governments and employers, including the federal government. Its success depends on a sustained downward trajectory in infections and a gradual ramp-up in service and ridership. The phases of the plan coincide with the relaxing of stay-at-home policies, return to workplaces, and the widespread availability of testing, treatment and a vaccine, among other variables. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Yesterday WMATA closed the brookland station “as a safety precaution” for a few hours. I saw the tweet then forgot about it and went for a run later. I saw 6 or 8 people in full hazmat great deep cleaning a metro shelter /bench. Do you know if this is something metro is just doing to metro stations, or was there some incident that caused them to clean this station and this shelter in particular? If this was a normal thing, maybe metro should tweet station is being closed for “regular cleaning” so it’s more clear.”
I know Union Station isn’t Orange/Yellow I just liked this photo by angela n.
From WMATA:
“Making the most of historically low ridership and traffic-free highways, Metro today announced plans to combine the schedules of its two biggest capital priorities in Virginia: rebuilding platforms and connecting the Silver Line to Metro’s existing network.
Under the expanded plan, Metro will combine this summer’s work demolishing and reconstructing platforms at four Orange Line stations with a separate project on the Silver Line to connect Metrorail to the new “phase II” stations, which are being constructed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The resulting summer shutdown will close a total of nine stations from Memorial Day weekend through the fall. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan
From WMATA:
“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, Metro will operate significantly reduced rail and bus service this weekend, maintaining a core network of 26 “lifeline” bus routes and providing twice-hourly rail service for our region’s essential travel needs. Essential travel includes medical providers and hospital staff, first responders, critical government functions, individuals involved in helping the community respond to COVID-19, grocery and pharmacy trips, among others.“