Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX
Ed. Note: Peak bloom was announced for April 3rd-6th.
From WMATA:
“Metro is planning to welcome area residents and visitors traveling during the busy Cherry Blossom season with a four-week suspension of almost all weekend track work beginning Saturday, March 23. Many of Metro’s highest ridership days occur during Cherry Blossom season when weekend ridership can nearly double. (more…)
Oof, thanks to Jimmy for sending.
From WMATA earlier: “UPDATED: Red Line Delay: No longer single tracking. Residual delays continue in both directions due to an earlier police investigation at Rhode Island Ave.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Matt Calvert
A reader reports around 1:30pm:
“just left Gallery Place station – something on fire on the tracks, smoke everywhere
It was a classic scene – smoke filling the station, employee on platform yelling into a walkie talkie, guy on train says “oh no, i am not dying today” and runs off train, train conductor telling people to get on board then booking it out of the station.”
From ALERT DC:
“DC Fire reports the Gallery Place / Chinatown Metro station is closed due to fire activity. Metro shuttle buses are in service.”
Update 2:39pm:
“Metro reports the fire activity is clear from the Gallery Place / Chinatown Metro Station and normal service has been restored.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“This weekend, Feb. 9-10, Metro will work around the clock to install new, brighter lighting at Farragut North and the Red Line platforms of Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. Due to the location of the lights in the middle of the tracks, trains cannot operate on either track while the work is taking place. As a result, buses will replace trains between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square throughout the weekend. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend
“Dear PoPville,
Do you know if anyone else has had issues with fare purchased online loading onto Smartrips? I purchased fare on January 15, followed the instructions re the waiting period and nothing happened. I reached out to WMATA customer service who essentially said “just keep tapping until it shows up.” I load it from my benefits card which runs from the 15th to the 14th so I can’t load more money from my benefits card yet. I wanted to know if anyone else had similar issues! Oh, and I ride the bus which has different waiting periods.”
Ed. Note: OP is NOT a fed affected by the shutdown.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Kyle
The petition says:
“Metro promised the region that late night service would return on July 1, 2019. Now they’re trying to backtrack on that promise.
The Metro Board may soon vote on whether to break the promise and kill Metro’s late night rail service. Washington, DC needs a Metro system that meets the needs of our residents, our workers and our businesses. That means we need a Metro that stays open as late as our region does. Sign the #KeepMetroOpen petition to let the Metro board know that you agree with Mayor Bowser: we are a world-class city that deserves a world-class Metro.”
You can sign here.
Ed. Note: Reduced hours went into effect June 25th 2017.
10th and U St, NW. Photos via WMATA
Ed. Note: The 13th Street replacement project was completed in 2017.
From WMATA:
“Since July 2018 the U St Escalator Replacement Project has been underway, replacing both east entrance escalators. Today marks the completion of these units and the replacement of all four entrance escalators at this station. Welcome back.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
Senator Mark Warner tweeted yesterday:
“Holy smokes. @WMATA is losing $400,000 PER WEEKDAY due to the shutdown. That revenue loss doesn’t even include federal funds that are on hold because the Department of Transportation is shut down. This has got to stop.” (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.
“Dear PoPville,
I’m hoping you can help me solve a metro mystery:
I commute in the afternoon from Crystal City up to Mt. Vernon Square on the Yellow Line. At Archives station, I almost always see a few people get off and seemingly wait for a train to come in the opposite direction. Why would they do this? If they were switching to the Green line south toward Branch Ave, why wouldn’t they get off at the stop before–L’Enfant? I can’t seem to figure out a logical reason but there are always a few people who do this.
I realize this is a relatively unimportant question related to the Metro but I’ve always been curious. Any thoughts?”
Thanks to Mark for sending:
“A new LED billboard has been turned on in the tunnel at the 11th and G Street entrance at Metro Center. It joins the two billboards that were installed several months ago at the street level of the entrance.”
In other metro ad news a few readers report:
“Heard my first audio ad (for Some school/program at GWU and Megabus ads) on an S bus this morning–I vaguely remember hearing something about this a while ago, but had yet to encounter one until now. Was weird.”