Transit

“I will smack you so hard you’ll call your mama and when she comes down I’ll smack her for raising you like this”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

“Dear PoPville,

About 4:45 Friday afternoon I was riding the bus eastbound. At a stop in Mt. Pleasant about 10 Highschool kids (another person already on the bus later informed the officers who arrived later they went to Wilson but who knows) entered the bus from the back entrance (not paying) pushing passed people trying to get on. Their target was another student, a young lady, sitting with her friend in the back. It was clear from the body language and the egging on of the other students getting on that their plan was to jump this girl either on the bus, or ride it till she had to get off and do it then.

At this point two older women who were seated near the girl in the back jumped up to shield her and began loudly accosting the girls and boys who had got on – while the bus driver stopped the bus and went to flag down a nearby police car. While it took some minutes for the cops to arrive and kick the kids off, during this whole time these women stood up to the mob with various admonishments and threats of their own (such as “Why – I will smack you so hard you’ll call your mama and when she comes down Ill smack her for raising you like this.”) (more…)

“Crime on Metro plunges to lowest level in more than a decade”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Pablo Raw

From WMATA:

“Crime on Metro in 2017 plunged to its lowest level in a more than decade, the transit authority announced today.

Last year, there were a total of 1,282 Part I crimes on Metro, a 19 percent reduction from 2016 and a 43 percent drop from 2010 levels. Declines were reported in every category of crime:

Aggravated assaults were down 27 percent
Robbery was down 18 percent
Motor vehicle theft and attempted motor vehicle theft were down 45 percent and 39 percent, respectively
Snatch/pickpocket incidents were down 27 percent
Larceny was down 10 percent Rape was down 67 percent, with two incidents reported in 2017
There were no homicides, arsons, burglaries in 2017, compared to 5 homicides, 3 arsons, and 2 burglaries in 2016. (more…)

14th and U: “The police officer was YELLING at pedestrians not to cross, even when we had the light, so that she could let cars turn left”

By Prince Of Petworth


14th and U Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Wondering if you know what’s happening at 14th and U. We used to have a turn signal there. It was removed a while back.

Now there is regularly a police officer there directing traffic. Last Saturday, I was out running errands by foot. The police officer was YELLING at pedestrians not to cross, even when we had the light, so that she could let cars turn left. It wasn’t particularly backed up. It meant that a lot of people were confused about whether they could cross and would then try to run while she was letting people go. It was a hot mess.

This is a highly trafficked pedestrian area. Why is DDOT prioritizing car traffic there? If they want people to cross safely and drivers to turn left safely, this is not a good solution. Maybe we need that fancy intersection they have in Chinatown.” Ed. Note: There’s also a barnes dance crossing in Columbia Heights. Not a bad idea here!

Anyone Else Noticing an uptick in “intense road rage incidents”?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user blake martin

Marie asks:

“I’ve been noticing a crazy amount of intense roadrage incidents over the last few months in the H Street area, both driver vs. driver and bicycle vs. driver.

I honked my horn at a Toyota who cut me off. Another car pulled up next to me, opened his window, and attempted to punch my car for honking at him. I think he assumed I was honking at him – he called me a “dumbass.” I laughed, he got more angry. Anyway, I’ve had more weird/aggressive interactions with drivers in the last 3 months than I have my entire memory of driving and being a passenger in DC.

Anyone else?”

I Love How Routine the Response Is

By Prince Of Petworth

Sadly a reader reports:

“Saw these human feces an hour later after the 5pm post. The train had turned around at Reston and made it all the way too Farragut West. When she alerted the station manager, they weren’t aware of the issue. Why does it take that long (1+ Hour) to clean up after being properly notified? Apparently, WMATA still doesn’t have their shit together.”

Heads Up – Here are the Street Closures for Tomorrow’s State of the Union

By Prince Of Petworth

From the United States Capitol Police:

“State of the Union to be Held January 30, 2018
Information on Road Closures and Other Restrictions Impacting the Capitol Complex

Tuesday, January 30, 2018, President Donald J. Trump will deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the Chamber of the House of Representatives beginning at 9 p.m.

Given the high level of security surrounding the event, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) is responsible for a significant amount of preparation and coordination with its numerous law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, and Metropolitan Police Department.

The following is specific information for the Capitol Complex regarding street closures, parking restrictions, restricted access to the U.S. Capitol, and other details concerning the Joint Session. (more…)

Starting Tomorrow Morning If “delayed by 15 minutes or more, Metro will credit the customer’s SmarTrip card for future travel.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

From WMATA:

“Metro’s Board of Directors today approved the Rush Hour Promise program, a first-of-its-kind service guarantee for Metro customers. Beginning with tomorrow morning’s rush hour commute, on Friday, January 26, if a Metrorail or Metrobus customer using a registered SmarTrip® card is delayed by 15 minutes or more, Metro will credit the customer’s SmarTrip card for future travel.

The service guarantee comes at a time of improved reliability, demonstrating Metro’s progress getting “back to good.” Nearly 90 percent of customers now arrive at their destination on time as a result of Metro’s investment in new trains, enhanced maintenance programs and renewed track infrastructure. Trips exceeding the 15-minute delay threshold are extremely rare, accounting for less than one percent of trips on many days.

“Rush Hour Promise is our commitment to riders that we are accountable for providing reliable, on-time service,” said Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We want our customers to know that we value their time, and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them moving safely and efficiently.”

For rail customers, the program is automated — a first in the transit industry. During weekday rush hours, if a customer’s trip takes 15 minutes or longer than the expected travel time range, measured from the time the customer “taps in” to the system to the time they “tap out,” Metro will automatically issue a credit to the customer’s SmarTrip card. For customers paying with stored value or using SmartBenefits, the credit will cover the full value of the delayed trip.

Almost all common causes of delays are covered under the Rush Hour Promise, including mechanical issues, track problems, police activity and sick customers. Rail customers eligible for a credit will be notified by email the next business day and a credit will be issued to their SmarTrip card within 5 business days.

The Rush Hour Promise includes Metrobus service, as well, covering delays of 15 minutes or more caused by mechanical problems or “no show” buses. Because bus customers do not “tap out” at the end of their trip, a simple online form is provided where customers can request Rush Hour Promise credit. After confirming the delay, a credit will be applied to the customer’s registered SmarTrip card. To participate in Rush Hour Promise, all a customer needs is a registered SmarTrip card. Registration is free at wmata.com/SmarTrip and has the added benefit of protecting the value on the card in case of loss or theft.

There are a handful of circumstances where the Rush Hour Promise does not apply
: (more…)

Heads Up, Street Closures for Friday’s March for Life Activities

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Juven Jacob

From MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Transportation would like to inform the public of street closures in conjunction with the 2018 March for Life Activities scheduled for Friday, January 19, 2018.

The following streets will be closed from approximately 6:00 am to approximately 1:00 pm:

· F Street, NW, between 6th Street, NW, and 7th Street, NW

The following rolling street closures will be implemented from approximately 10:30 am to approximately 11:30 pm:

· 7th Street, NW, from F Street to Jefferson Drive, NW

The following rolling street closures will be implemented from approximately 1:15 pm to approximately 3:30 pm:

· Constitution Ave, NW, from 12th Street to 1st Street, NE

*All street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions.”

“one question I’ve had for years is why there are so many trains whose last stop is Mount Vernon Square?”

By Prince Of Petworth

An old magazine contains a Metrorail system map. The Blue Line doesn’t even show proposed stations going out to Largo, the Green line is unfinished, and the Yellow doesn’t extend to Ft. Totten.
I’m not sure if this was an official map, but it’s worth noting that the District and MD/VA county lines are not shown, as they are in the current map.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

I take the Green/Yellow lines from Gallery Place up to Petworth to come home from work everyday. And one question I’ve had for years is why there are so many trains whose last stop is Mount Vernon Square.

I’m sure there’s a reason — either the cars get stored there or they get turned around to go another direction or something. Maybe someone knows.

All I know is that it’s incredibly frustrating when there are multiple trains to amount Vernon Square in a row — which can leave you waiting up to 15 minutes for a train in the most extreme cases.

Anyone know why they stop at Mount Vernon Square?”

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