metro

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Update from ALERTDC:

“Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reports all metrorail services have been restored and is fully operational as of 5:00 AM on Thursday, March 17th, 2016.”

From WMATA:

“As of 9:45p • RD inspections OK, normal tomorrow • YL/GR inspections OK, normal tomorrow • BL/OR/SV still being analyzed/update soon”

Full release:

“Metrorail service on all six lines and at all 91 stations will resume tomorrow at 5 a.m. following emergency inspections of the system’s underground third-rail power cables.

As of 10 p.m., Metro crews have completed inspections of approximately 600 “jumper cables” located in the underground portion of the Metrorail system. Over the past 22 hours, 26 locations were identified where damaged jumper cables and connector boots needed to be repaired or replaced. All but four locations have been remedied as of 9 p.m. Repairs at the four remaining locations are underway.

Metro is advising customers of the following service information: (more…)

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From Council Member Jack Evans:

“Happening now: #WMATA Rail will reopen at 5am tomorrow. 26 cable defects found, 18 fixed already. More work happening now.”

From WMATA:

” Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld today announced plans to restore service on Metrorail following an unprecedented full closure of the Metrorail system on Wednesday for emergency inspections of the system’s third-rail power cables.

As of 5 p.m., Metro crews have completed the inspection of 80 percent of approximately 600 “jumper cables” located in 22 underground zones throughout the entire Metrorail system. Crews have identified 26 areas where damaged jumper cables and connector boots needed to be replaced.

Of those 26 areas, 18 cable repairs have been made. Crews will continue to work through the night to complete the remaining repairs.

“I know that today presented a hardship for many throughout the region, but I want to emphasize that this shutdown was indeed necessary,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “I want to thank everyone for their patience and support in putting safety first.”

Following these repairs, Metrorail service will resume tomorrow at 5 a.m. on a normal weekday schedule. However, if additional track repairs are needed, Metro will announce the areas that are in need of repair as soon as they are known, resulting in potential impacts to Metrorail service in those areas. (more…)

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From WMATA:

“I wanted to provide you with an update on the Metrorail inspections that have taken place since last night. This is an interim update and we will be providing more information later this afternoon.

We have reached the 50% completion mark in the cable inspection process and Metro has already identified a half dozen areas where damaged jumper cables and connector boots are being replaced. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

For the Feds from the communications director for OPM:

“Due to the MetroRail closure on Wednesday, March 16, Federal agencies in the National Capital Region are OPEN, but employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. To help alleviate the transportation difficulties that may be associated with the temporary MetroRail closure, OPM is encouraging all agencies to allow their employees to take full advantage of this “change of status” and permit their employees to telework, take leave, or use their AWS Day off.”

From DPW:

“The DC Department of Public Works announced this afternoon that it is suspending residential street sweeping, Wednesday, March 16, to relieve competition for parking spaces from an expected increase in motorists due to the Metrorail shutdown. Street sweeping parking violations will not be written March 16; however, DPW will enforce other violations, such as parking at an expired meter, bus stop and crosswalk, or the time limit on parking in a residential parking permit zone.

Normal parking enforcement of residential street sweeping will resume Thursday, March 17.”

From Capital Bikeshare:

“Capital Bikeshare will offer free 24-hour memberships at all 370 stations on Wednesday, March 16 beginning at 12 a.m. to better serve commuters looking for transportation during the Metrorail closure. Usage fees will still apply to all trips over 30 minutes. Visit any station kiosk and follow the prompts on the touch screen to access a free membership. 24-hour memberships will remain free at all stations until 11:59 p.m.

Capital Bikeshare will also offer morning Corral Service at three locations from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Corral Service will offer guaranteed open docks in the morning by having staff on hand to remove bikes when the station docks are full. Corral service will be available at:

21st St & Eye St NW in Foggy Bottom
13th St & New York Ave NW near Metro Center & Franklin Square
Columbus Circle next to Union Station

From the Philips:

“Just wanted to send you a quick advisory:

The Phillips Collection will be closed Wednesday, March 16, due to the emergency closure of the metrorail system throughout the region.”

From Split:

“With Metro closing I’m reaching out because Split, the DC on-demand smarter shared rides, is putting more drivers out on the road tomorrow in anticipation of need. Split ridership has been growing and many riders use Split as an effective alternative to Metro (since lately it’s been so hard to rely on WMATA).”

And most importantly from Smoke and Barrel:

“Hey tele-workers! Our usual Wednesday 1/2 price draft happy hour starts at noon tomorrow! Limited food menu.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rob Cannon

Update:

“DCPS will be OPEN tomorrow, March 16. We are working with Metro to add additional bus service. Tardies and absences will be excused.”

Official word from WMATA:

“All Metrorail service will be suspended Wednesday, March 16, for emergency inspections

Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld, with support from the Authority’s Board of Directors, today announced the full closure of the Metrorail system on Wednesday, March 16, for emergency inspections of the system’s third-rail power cables following an early morning tunnel fire yesterday.

The inspections of approximately 600 “jumper cables” will occur along all tunnel segments on the Metrorail system. At the conclusion of the inspection process, there may be a need for additional rail service outages. Any further service impacts will be announced to the public as soon as they are known.

“While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, and that is why we must take this action immediately,” Wiedefeld said. “When I say safety is our highest priority, I mean it. That sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions, and this is one of those times. I fully recognize the hardship this will cause.”

The Metrorail system will close at its normal time tonight (midnight) and remain closed until 5 a.m. Thursday. All six Metrorail lines and all 91 stations will be closed on Wednesday.

The unprecedented action follows an early morning electrical fire involving a cable in the tunnel outside McPherson Square Station yesterday. There were no injuries; however, service was disrupted along the Blue, Orange and Silver lines throughout the day. (more…)

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From WMATA:

“Dear Metrorail Customer,

I know that it was a tough commute this morning for our Blue, Orange and Silver line customers. I want to provide you with an update so that you can plan for the commute home.

About 4:30 a.m., the Rail Operations Control Center received a report of a fire in the tunnel outside McPherson Square Station. Buses were called in to substitute for trains through downtown until the fire department cleared in the 6 a.m. hour. Metro restored limited rail service using a single track between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle stations.

I know that many of you experienced delays of 30 to 60 minutes on Blue and Orange line trains this morning. Silver Line trains were turned back at Ballston Station to reduce congestion downtown, and some trains bypassed stations to ease delays for the greatest number of customers.

Hopefully you received timely notification of the disruption through our communication channels: wmata.com, MetroAlerts email and text messages or the news media. (If you are not signed up for MetroAlerts, please take a moment to sign up at wmata.com/metroalerts.)

Unfortunately, the fire damaged several cables that will need to be replaced tonight in order to restore full service for tomorrow. Single tracking will continue throughout the day and will affect the evening commute. If you have the ability to consider alternate travel options today, I encourage you to do so.

I have directed that repairs start at 9 p.m. tonight when ridership is lower. At that time, rail service will be suspended on both tracks between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle.

Rail service plans for the rest of today are as follows: (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

From WMATA:

“Blue/Orange: Limited train service being restored with single tracking btwn Foggy Bottom & Federal Center SW. Expect delays of 30-60 min.”

“Blue/Orange: Westbound trains will skip Smithsonian & Fed Triangle to reduce delays. Use eastbound trains or bus service from L’Enfant”

“Blue/Orange: Eastbound trains will skip Farragut West & McPherson Sq to reduce delays. Use westbound trains or bus service from Foggy Bottom”

“BL/OR/SV: Likely damage on 1 of 2 tracks requiring repairs. Best case will be single tracking this AM. Significant delays expected. #wmata”

“Approximately 18 shuttle buses are currently in operation for OR/SV/BL line service. #wmata”

“MTPD update re: McPherson Sq: Currently clearing residual smoke from earlier burning cable in tunnel. No trains in area, no injuries. #wmata”

via WMATA

From WMATA:

“At the direction of Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld, most Metro Transit Police Officers will soon be wearing brighter, more visible uniforms.

The neon yellow color block design with reflective trim will help Metro customers to more easily find MTPD officers on station platforms and trains. MTPD officers currently wear a dark navy blue uniform that can be hard to see in a crowd or in low-light conditions. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Metro GM/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld’s FY17 budget, which was approved today by the WMATA Board’s Finance Committee, will give customers something they have long requested: the ability to exit the same station they entered without being charged.

Responding to recommendations of the Riders’ Advisory Council and regular feedback from Metrorail customers, the new policy will permit riders who enter a station, particularly during a service disruption, to exit the same station within 15 minutes without being charged the base rail fare of $2.15 in the peak and $1.75 in the off-peak. The grace period program will begin July 1.

“This is all about refocusing on our customers and recognizing that everything we do should be focused on safety and service reliability,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “I am pleased that the Board supported this policy, which is directly responsive to customer feedback.”

A reader reports just after 8:30am:

“Flames and smoke on westbound orange line tracks between Ballston and East Falls Church. Crazy! I called 911 and they said that fire trucks were already on their way.”

Another reader writes:

“orange and silver trains holding due to “smoldering rail tie” between ballston and East falls church”