metro

“Starting next week, Metro customers will be able to bring their bikes with them on the train – at any time”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown

From WMATA:

“Starting next week, Metro customers will be able to bring their bikes with them on the train – at any time – as Metro ends a longstanding restriction that prohibited bicycles during rush hours.

The policy change, which takes effect Monday, is expected to make Metrorail a more attractive travel option for reverse commuters (i.e. customers traveling outbound in the morning and inbound in the evening) who want to take their bike to travel between the rail station and their workplace.

Metro reviewed its policy and determined that it could respond to requests from the bicycling community by ending the rush-hour bike restriction without significant negative effects. (more…)

“15 Metro stations got much brighter in 2018. Here are the next 14 to get LED lighting installations.”

By Prince Of Petworth


via WMATA

Cellular, data service and more from WMATA:

“In less than six months, Metro has installed new trackbed lighting systems at 15 underground stations – making them an average of six-times brighter – as part of a multi-year $50 million capital investment in state-of-the-art, energy efficient LED lighting. The new lighting infrastructure improves visibility and enhances safety and security, all while cutting energy use in half and reducing ongoing maintenance requirements.

All of Metro’s 48 underground stations will be upgraded to LED systems over the next 30 months.

To date, Metro has installed new LED trackbed lighting at the following 15 stations: Union Station, Court House, Rosslyn, Foggy Bottom, McPherson Square, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, Bethesda, U Street, Columbia Heights, Archives, Waterfront, L’Enfant Plaza (upper level), Metro Center (lower level), and Gallery Place (lower level).

Each of the stations measured 3-to-9 times brighter once the new lights were installed. Installation of new pylon and parapet lighting is ongoing and the platforms are expected to be even brighter once complete.

Three stations – Van Ness, Tenleytown, and Friendship Heights – are 50 percent complete, with new light fixtures installed along the inbound track only. Installation on the outbound track is scheduled for the weekend of January 26, 2019.

Eleven more stations will be upgraded in the first half of 2019: (more…)

“Metro Transit Police arrest suspect who exposed himself to kids” … “the kids were very upset that not a single adult on the train came to their defense”

By Prince Of Petworth


via Metro Transit Police

Ed. Note: I think it’s important to read this whole post through to the end. Twice. There is a lot to unpack here, on many levels. And props/respect to the Metro Transit Police Detective who worked this case.

“Dear PoPville,

My son and his friends took video of him. As the video ends, you can hear the kids freaking out because they say he took his penis out of his pants.

Here’s what REALLY grabbed my attention about this…the kids were very upset that not a single adult on the train came to their defense. He said there were at least 20 other people in the car with them. I can’t imagine not at least standing up and telling this guy to leave the kids alone.

I also want this to become a topic in DC parents’ minds. They should talk with their kids about riding public transportation and how to react if someone approaches them or behaves inappropriately. My son and his friends almost didn’t tell me because they were so upset and ashamed that this happened and kinda blamed themselves. One of his female friends was terrified that her dad would find out and she would “get in trouble.” That blew my mind. And it’s worth mentioning that the station manager at Union Station laughed at them when they got off the train and tried to report it to them. That probably added to their shame.

The detective we spoke to was really sweet to the kids and told them (and us parents) that they may feel a certain way about it today but things might be different tomorrow or in a few days because that’s how trauma works.

The detective wanted to make sure all the kids had the text tip info. If they don’t want to cause a scene but want to report something that makes them feel weird or unsafe, they can text 696-873

From Metro Transit Police:

“Metro Transit Police arrest suspect who exposed himself to juveniles (more…)

“more than half of Metro’s tunnels are now wired for cellular and data service”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Today Metro and the nation’s leading wireless carriers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless announced that more than half of Metro’s tunnels are now wired for cellular and data service. The milestone was accompanied by the formal announcement of three new tunnel segments coming online as “wireless ready.”

The three new “wireless ready” tunnel segments announced today are: (more…)

Could Original Late Night Metro Service Hours Be Coming Back?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user DCbmyers

The Washington Post reported yesterday:

“Metro board members who represent the District will move this week to restore late-night service beginning in July, bringing back 3 a.m. closings for the first time in three years.”

Ed. Note: reduced hours went into effect June 25th 2017 so if this goes through, God willing, it would be for the first time in two years. Or am I missing something? Anyway let’s all send our thoughts and prayers to make sure this happens.

The Post continues:

“The measure up for consideration Thursday (more…)

Heads Up if You’re Planning on Taking Metro this Weekend “Stations closed: Waterfront, L’Enfant Plaza (upper level), Archives and Gallery Place (lower level)”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Elvert Barnes

From WMATA:

“Red, Orange and Silver line trains operate regular weekend intervals
Blue Line trains operate every 16-20 minutes, see below for details
There is no Yellow Line service
Free shuttle buses replace Green Line trains between Navy Yard and Mt Vernon Sq (more…)

“MTPD detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to ID the two individuals pictured here in connection with an assault of a blind passenger”

By Prince Of Petworth


via Metro Transit Police. “MTPD detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to ID the two individuals pictured here in connection with an assault of a blind passenger this morning on the Red Line near NoMA.”

UPDATE to this morning’s “Absolutely Disgusting Behavior on Red Line This Morning”.

From WMATA (via email):

“MTPD is actively investigating, including reviewing video from aboard the railcar.

Below is the narrative from the police incident report:

On 11/26/2018 at approximately 0750 hour V-001, a blind male with a service dog, reports boarding a red line train in the direction of Shady Grove at the Rhode Island Avenue metro station located at 919 Rhode Island Ave NE Washington, DC when he inadvertently bumped into a passenger as he boarded the train. As the train left the Rhode Island Ave station S-01 pushed V-001 and began to verbally threaten him. W-1 intervened and attempted to defuse the altercation when S-01 and S-02 began to shout obscenities at her. W-1 further reports that as she attempted to call the police S-01 and S-02 attempted to grab her phone, however she was able to hold on to her phone, call the police and later video record the altercation that had developed between S-01, S-02 and an unknown/unidentified passenger as the train continued to service the subsequent two (2) stations. W-1 reports the altercation ended when the train serviced Union Station and S-01 and S-02 got off the train making good their escape. V-01 reports having no injuries and no medical attention was required. DVR requested.

Suspect 1 is described as:
B/M, band-aid under his right eye, dark blue jeans w/ dark blue, blue and white underwear showing, and a black hooded sweat shirt

Suspect 2 is described as:
B/M 18-20 yoa, black knit cap, blue stone washed jeans”

From Metro Transit Police:

“SEEKING TO ID: MTPD detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to ID the two individuals pictured here in connection with an assault of a blind passenger this morning on the Red Line near NoMA. Have info? Call (301) 955-5000 or send a text to MyMTPD (696875) #wmata”

“Absolutely Disgusting Behavior on Red Line This Morning”

By Prince Of Petworth

Update: “MTPD detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to ID the two individuals pictured here in connection with an assault of a blind passenger”

“Dear PoPville,

Around 7:45am, I boarded a red line train at Ft. Totten heading towards Shady Grove. There was a swell of people near the doors, so people shoved their way on once they opened. Among the people pushing through was a blind man with a seeing eye dog. Once the man sat down, he was approached by two teenagers, a taller kid with kind of a scraggly beard, and a younger one with a bandaid on his face. The older one asked why the man was pushing. The blind man responded, “Because I’m blind, that’s why I have a seeing eye dog.” One kid asked, “You blind?” The blind man said yes. The older kid said, “Don’t push me again, you blind (more…)

“Thanks to brother Daniel and his artistic skills for creating this special work”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

It was quite a long, but very enjoyable process and the finished product looks great! Thanks to brother Daniel and his artistic skills for creating this special work for my wife and I! And thanks to PoPville for helping me track him down!

For others interested in employing Daniel’s services, he always says his phone number, 202-705-9412, is open for business 25 hours a day 8 days a week.”

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