bus driver props
Photo by PoPville flickr user Nikoo Yahyazadeh

Got a lot of emails about this yesterday – thanks to all who sent from the Washington Post:

“A Metrobus driver came to the aid of a 61-year-old visually impaired woman who was swarmed by a group of teen girls and robbed of her purse Monday — and he recovered the woman’s bag, the transit agency said Tuesday.

According to Metro, the teenagers surrounded the woman after she and the youths got off a Metrobus near L’Enfant Plaza. But the bus driver saw what was happening and came to her aid. He tussled with the teenagers and recovered the purse.”

The article notes that three girls ages 15-16 were arrested.


metrobus_indiana

A PoPville operative reports:

“Spotted this Sunday near Angola, IN. If you’re wondering why you have to wait so long for a bus to show up, it may be because your bus is in northern Indiana.”

Anyone ever listen to the This American Life episode with a feature on “a New York bus driver who snapped one day, left his regular route, and drove his municipal bus down to Florida.”?

Update: We’ve another sighting in near Cranberry, PA:

“This one, #2865, is in Driver Training”

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IMG_1769

Thanks to a reader for sending word. Metro bus also tweets:

“Due a gas leak on P St NW btwn 1st & 2nd, buses may experience delays in both directions.”


metro
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of February 19-21 with service adjustments on all six lines. Trains will operate as follows:

Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green Line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
Silver Line trains will operate every 10 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston only.
Red Line trains will operate every 12-24 minutes.”

and

“Metro is advising customers on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines of important track work beginning at 8 p.m. next week on Monday and Tuesday nights that will improve safety and reliability.

Metro is planning to replace nearly 400 feet of rail through a sharp curve in the area of Smithsonian Station. Due to the labor-intensive nature of the work, crews will need more time than is available during the overnight hours when the system is closed. As a result, Metro will begin the work at 8 p.m. for two consecutive evenings.

In addition to replacing rail, crews will use the time to replace more than 100 third-rail insulators and approximately 2,000 fasteners that hold the rails in place. Leak mitigation, drain cleaning and general debris clean up will also occur.

Customers on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines are advised:

On Monday, Feb. 22, and Tuesday, Feb. 23, beginning at 8 p.m. each night, Metro will conduct track work between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW stations.
• Orange and Blue line trains will single track through this area, resulting in delays of approximately 15 minutes in each direction.
• After 8 p.m., Silver Line trains will run between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East stations only. Riders traveling to Silver Line stations in Virginia should take an Orange Line train to Ballston, and then transfer to a Silver Line train on the same platform.”


Gondolarendering
Georgetown-Rosslyn gondola rendering by the Georgetown BID

From the Georgetown BID:

“The Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) and its partners issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) to commence a feasibility study for a Georgetown-Rosslyn Aerial Gondola Lift, linking the two communities and extending the Metro system with an new high-speed transit connection. The study is being conducted by a partnership that includes the District of Columbia, Arlington County, the Rosslyn BID, Georgetown University, Gould Property Company, JBG Companies, Inc., Penzance, and the Georgetown BID. (more…)


metro
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

From Metro Transit Police yesterday:

“Metro Transit Police today arrested two juveniles, one male and one female, on felony charges stemming from a February 5 assault of another juvenile aboard a Green Line train.

According to the complaint, the two respondents were traveling with a group of other juveniles when they surrounded the victim. The two respondents, who were known to the victim, began punching and kicking her as the train traveled between Gallery Place and Shaw-Howard stations. At Shaw-Howard, the victim exited the train where she was met by responding Transit Police officers, offered medical assistance, and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The two respondents, both 15 years old, were taken into police custody today following the issuance yesterday of a juvenile custody order by D.C. Superior Court. Their names are being withheld due to their age.”

It seems like every week I’m getting one (or more) reports of some sort of assault on metro. But I’ve personally never witnessed anything like this. I know in previous discussions folks have mentioned problems at Gallery Place Chinatown when schools let out. So I want to put a poll up today to get better understanding of the reality. In reality – do you feel safe on metro (not from metro muck ups but from other passengers…)? Have you been threatened or seen someone else threatened or harassed aboard metro? Let’s include buses and trains.



steetcar

Holy crow he got the divorce after all. Hope you watched that video

From the Mayor:

“Big news, DC! Streetcar to start passenger service next Saturday! Visit http://www.dcstreetcar.com for more info.”

From DDOT:

“After more than a decade of planning, construction and testing, Mayor Muriel Bowser and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif A. Dormsjo announced today that the DC Streetcar will open for full passenger service on Saturday, February 27 at 10:00 a.m., following a brief ceremony.

“I’m proud to announce that Streetcar is ready for passenger service,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I want to thank the residents of the H Street and Benning Road communities for their patience during the construction and testing of the system. As a way of saying ‘thank you,’ fares will be free on the system for an initial period of time.”

The opening ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 27 on 13th Street, NE between H Street, NE and Wylie Street, NE (intersection of 13th/H). Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the DC Streetcar standard hours of operation will be:

Monday-Thursday: 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Friday: 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Holidays: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
No Sunday service (more…)


thinkerhoff
photo by @thinkerhoff used with permission

Just came across this scary scene on Facebook. @thinkerhoff tweeted:

“group of 4 teens on the train toward G.mont just set off the fire extinguisher and smoke bombs @ RI”

“Happened around 8:40 at RI heading towards Glenmont. 4 teens who boarded at Gallery Place.”

“Dude had an asthma attack.”

“We were all choking”

We were all stuck and coughing. They ran off at Rhode Island station


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