Transit

Union Station Air Chilling Broken Due to a Leaking Pipe on Amtrak Property.

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user washingtonydc

“Dear PoPville,

Any news about the broken air conditioning at the Union Station metro? It’s been months. One of these days someone is going to faint on the platform.”

I inquired with WMATA’s spokesman who tells me:

“There is a leak in the pipe that feeds chilled water to the system. (As background, Metro’s underground stations are not “air conditioned” in the traditional sense, but use what is called a chiller system that relies on circulating water to knock down the temperature 6-10 degrees below ambient outdoor air temps.) The leaking pipe is off Metro property, in an area of the station controlled by Amtrak, so we need their approval in order to fix the issue. On June 12, we submitted plans to Amtrak and asked for their approval to do the work, which should only take a few days. We are awaiting their response, and have followed up as recently as today.”

STAY TUNED.

“Norton Asks Capitol Police to Permit Electric Scooters on Capitol Grounds”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab

From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter she sent to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund today urging the Capitol Police to amend their policies to permit electric scooters on Capitol Grounds, while adopting narrowly tailored regulations to protect public safety. Currently, scooters are prohibited on Capitol Grounds despite their widespread use by staffers, District of Columbia residents, and tourists.

In her letter, Norton writes that electric scooters “are an affordable, environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transportation relied upon by increasing numbers of Hill staffers, D.C. residents and visitors to our nation’s capital. As such, electric scooters should be treated like motorized bicycles, mopeds, segways, and the other low-speed vehicles,” which are already permitted on Capitol Grounds.”

The full text of the letter can be read below: (more…)

Foul, Foul, Foul!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Cleo Panda

Dude. Seriously?

Congratulations, you’ve made the metro riders hall of shame!! You lack an ounce of common courtesy. Well done.

Cleo writes, correctly:

“No! (shoe wearer settled in & happily shifted feet around, constantly touching the rider who attempted to move away for most of ride.)

Council Member Mary Cheh “introduced legislation to create new rules for electronic scooter/bike operators”

By Prince Of Petworth

From CM Cheh’s twitter thread last night:

“Today, I introduced legislation to create new rules for electronic scooter/bike operators, users, and @DDOTDC. The first tweets on the bill focused on one particular provision, while the legislation is actually a rather broad bill with many components. (This is a long thread)

Electric scooters and bicycles produce multiple benefits for the District: reducing congestion and our carbon footprint, plus they’re fun for users. However, with these benefits have come significant challenges. (more…)

“Starting August 1, parking will be removed for 12 weeks to create curbFlow loading zones for commercial activities at nine locations across the city.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

From DDOT:

“Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the next phase of the curbside pickup-dropoff (PUDO) program will focus on commercial activity. DDOT has partnered with curbFlow, a mobility company that coordinates commercial operator pickup & drop-off activity to available curb space in real time. As part of the project, curbFlow will research and analyze the demand at nine locations throughout the District where commercial loading and PUDO activities for delivery services often leads to double parking and other dangerous behavior. (more…)

“EVERYONE in DC needs to see.” Council members call for investigation “The violent and dangerous escalation here by WMATA Transit Police is terrifying”

By Prince Of Petworth

Update from Metro Transit Police:

“Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik has asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to independently review the evidence in the U Street use-of-force arrest.”

Ally’Sansa Criner Brown writes:

“EVERYONE in DC needs to see. Yes this happens here in DC too Skip to about 40 seconds if you don’t have the time” (more…)

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