Photo by PoPville flickr user Gerry Suchy
From WMATA:
“Here is a summary of Metrorail service changes on Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19, to allow for safety and reliability maintenance work:
Highlights
Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains every 24 minutes
Silver Line trains every 24 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston
Free shuttle buses replace Red Line trains between Medical Center and Grosvenor (more…)
gun recovered via WMATA
From WMATA:
“Two Metro Transit Police Officers sustained minor injuries yesterday afternoon following a violent struggle with a suspect armed with an illegal firearm.
The officers were on routine patrol at Minnesota Avenue Station at approximately 3 p.m. yesterday when they observed a male subject fare evade by squeezing his body through the fare gates as he entered the station. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab
From WMATA:
“Weekend service adjustments November 3-5 for scheduled maintenance
Highlights
Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals
Red and Orange line trains will operate every 30 minutes
Silver, Yellow and Blue line trains will operate every 15 minutes
There will be no Yellow Line service between Fort Totten & National Airport. Use Blue Line trains for travel to/from Downtown DC.
On Sunday from 8:00AM until 2:00PM, a quarterly emergency drill will further impact Yellow and Blue line trains, see below for details. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“Beginning Saturday, November 25, and continuing through Sunday, December 10, 2017, Metro will undertake a major capital improvement project on the Red Line involving the complete replacement of a mainline interlocking, a location where trains cross from one track to the other. During this time, there will be no Red Line trains operating between Silver Spring and Fort Totten, and Takoma Station will be closed.
During the project, Red Line trains will operate in two segments: between Shady Grove and Fort Totten, and between Glenmont and Silver Spring. Customers should allow additional travel time and expect some crowding, as trains will arrive less frequently than normal. Free shuttle buses will provide limited service between Silver Spring, Takoma and Fort Totten stations. (more…)
From a press release:
“Initial Budget Reaction
‘It’s a sad day for transit riders when ‘we won’t proactively hurt you this year’ is considered a good headline for WMATA. Yet, that’s the spin dominating today’s brutal budget news. The fact is that the GM’s FY2019 budget proposal fails to address the most recent service cuts, fare hikes, inadequate safety measures, and daily disruptions that deny riders the safe, reliable, and affordable service they need to survive. It fails to offer those with transit choices any incentive to start riding again.
‘No fare hikes’ isn’t good enough when 11,000 riders signed petitions asking WMATA for a flat fare or free transfers between bus and rail. ‘No service cuts on the trains’ isn’t good enough when 11,000 riders signed petitions demanding shorter headways and restoration of evening and weekend service. ‘No evening or weekend service improvements’ isn’t good enough for small businesses trying to keep their doors open and their employees well-compensated. (more…)
UPDATE from WMATA:
“Metro has absolutely no involvement in the advertising that appears on them. The shelters are owned by DDOT and the advertising is sold by Clear Channel.”
“Dear PoPville,
Seems ironic that while even Twitter is now prohibiting ads from the Kremlin propaganda outlet Russia Today that WMATA is still willing to take their money for bus stop ads”
Ed. Note: Back in August we learned that the ACLU Sues DC Metro Over Rejection of First Amendment Ad.
Thanks to Ben Carver for sharing from DHS:
“Timelapse footage of the Washington DC metro rail system (and a short segment from the AMTRAK area at Union Station). Metro footage was captured in a single day at the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan station and the Chinatown station. This footage is used as b-roll in the DHS video “Securing Surface Transportation”:
Surface transportation such as subway systems can be a unique security challenge due to the large crowds of travelers and the open, unstructured environment. Public safety officials (including mass transit Operators, mass transit police, state and federal law enforcement teams) need a capability to detect potential threat items on persons and in bags without negatively impacting the speed of travel. S&T is developing technology to meet this challenge with the Surface Transportation Explosive Threat Detection Program, helping provide a layered, integrated capability to detect and mitigate the explosive threat at the speed of the traveling public.”
From WMATA:
“Metro General Manger/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld today proposed a combined operating and capital budget of just over $3.1 billion for FY2019 (begins July 1, 2018) that requires an increase of $165 million over last year’s level of jurisdictional funding support. While protecting customers from fare hikes and service cuts, the plan calls for continued strict management cost controls and increased funding for safety and reliability capital improvements.
“This proposal builds on our success in investing capital to deliver projects that improve safety and reliability, which is critical to winning back riders,” said Wiedefeld. “This budget also doubles down on management cost controls to ensure we have squeezed the value out of every dollar that we spend delivering service to the region.” (more…)
Thanks to Mike the Mad Biologist for the sending around 8am:
“Observed this at Dupont Circle Metro. Chanting “F-ck it. Make it fair. Fix it.” Not getting a lot of love but it is the early commute”
It had been 35 days since our last heads up…
From AlertDC:
“WMATA reports delays on the red line at Farragut North (1705 K St NW) subway station due to fire activity. FEMS is on scene investigating and track inspections are being conducted.”
WMATA reports:
“Red Line: Expect residual delays in both directions due to an earlier track problem outside Farragut North.”