Transit

“Each escalator will require approximately 40 weeks for site preparation, demolition, construction, installation and testing”

By Prince Of Petworth

Van Ness- UDC 0421115-3698
Photo via WMATA

From WMATA:

“On May 4, Metro will begin a major capital project which will close the west entrance to Van Ness and install four new entrance escalators, one at the west entrance and three longer units into the station.

The project will replace the current escalators, which are almost 35 years old and have exceeded their useful life, with brand new escalators that are more durable and reliable. Metro’s contractor, KONE, will install the new escalators one at a time: completing each of the three longer units from the landing to the mezzanine first then finishing up with replacing the final shorter entrance unit to landing.

Two landing to mezzanine escalators along with the elevator and newly replaced east side entrance escalators will remain available for customer use.

At 270 feet long, the Van Ness escalators transport riders 56 feet from the station mezzanine to the entrance landing. They will be replaced with more reliable units as part of Metro’s contract with KONE to replace 128 escalators across the Metrorail system.

How long will the project take?
Each escalator will require approximately 40 weeks for site preparation, demolition, construction, installation and testing. Replacing all four escalators in succession will take a total of about 3 years. Metro engineers will work closely with the project contractor, KONE, to ensure the work is done as safely and efficiently as possible.

Why will it take so long? (more…)

“Are you aware of the Fare Increase at Car2Go?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

car2go just released a “Membership Update” email that quietly and sneakily introduced a fare increase. Through the veil of lowering deductibles for drivers, they will charge a “Driver Protection Fee” in the amount of a flat $1 per ride. They snuck the fee increase into an email they probably know most people won’t read and then describe it as a benefit. It goes into effect on June 1, so most probably have not notice yet, but twitter and other social media has already started catching on and bashing it. $1 might not seem that bad, but for short rides less then 10 minutes (which is what I use it for most) it is a 25% rate increase. Even for a 20 minute ride that is a 12% jump.”

Updates to Member Agreements (more…)

“Give me $20. I just added $20 to your card.”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

About 4 PM I stopped by the Columbia Heights metro to add value to my smart card. There were the usual machines out of order or flashing messages like NO BILLS or NO CHANGE but I spotted one that looked like it was working okay. So I touched my card to the machine and started to put in a $20 bill when a man standing on my right said “Don’t put that bill in.” As I turned to him he slipped a metro card into the machine and I saw my total value jump $20 as the man said “Touch your card again.” I did so and the value was added to my card. This was all a bit confusing until the man said “Give me $20. I just added $20 to your card.”

That seemed undeniable and I did have $20 in my hand but being suspicious I asked the man if he was with Metro. He said he was and asked me if I wanted to add more value to my card. That’s when I saw he had several paper Metro cards in his hand. I gave him the money but decided not to add any more to my card. Instead I went over to the station manager’s booth and asked if there was something wrong with the fare card machines. When they said “No” I told them what had happened and asked them to check the value on my card. The $20 was there. Another metro employee in the booth said I was lucky and asked if the man I talked to was wearing a metro uniform. (He wasn’t).

So maybe he had real metro cards he was trying to sell or maybe they were faked or stolen cards.

Anyway just a new one on me and I wonder if anyone else has had this experience.”

Heads Up “Full Closure of Military Road, NW, under the 16th Street Bridge Set for Friday, May 1 to Monday, May 4”

By Prince Of Petworth

16th St Bridge
Photo via DDOT

From DDOT:

“Commuters should expect significant traffic delays in the area

As a part of the 16th Street Bridge over Military Road, NW, replacement project in Ward 4, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will completely close all lanes at Military Road under the 16th Street Bridge, NW, beginning Friday, May 1 at 7 pm. Military Road will reopen on Monday, May 4 at 5 am. This weekend-long closure will assist crews with work on the 16th Street Bridge.

Signs will be in place to detour all traffic from Military Road, NW, onto the ramps to cross 16th Street.

Commuters and residents should prepare for major traffic delays on 16th Street and Military Road and adjacent roads during construction. Commuters are advised to find alternative routes to their destinations.

The 16th Street Bridge over Military Road, NW, project is needed to replace the 16th Street Bridge, and to make median barrier and street light improvements on Military Road.”

This Weekend’s Metro Track Work

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user justinbc

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of April 24-26 with service adjustments on three of six rail lines.

This weekend, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate at regular intervals. Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals between College Park and Branch Avenue stations; buses will replace trains at Greenbelt Station. Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes with additional trains between Friendship Heights and NoMa-Gallaudet between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Orange Line trains will operate every 18 minutes.”

14 Year Old Arrested for allegedly attacking a bus driver with a Taser

By Prince Of Petworth

From WMATA on Tuesday:

“This evening, Metro Transit Police arrested a 14-year-old District male on charges of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon for allegedly attacking a Metrobus operator with a Taser in January.

The assault occurred Friday, January 30, 2015, at 5:17 p.m. aboard an E4 bus en route to Fort Totten Station. The bus was at Nicholson St and 6th St, NE, at the time of the attack.

The juvenile, whose identify is being withheld due to his age, allegedly Tased the bus operator on her right arm without provocation. The bus operator was transported to a hospital following the incident.

“Assaulting a bus operator is an act that puts at risk every passenger aboard the bus,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik. “We will continue to do whatever it takes to protect our employees and customers.”

MTPD detectives used video evidence from aboard the bus to help identify the suspect.”

Holy Sinkhole

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader reports:

“6 ft deep sinkhole on 19th in Mt P. Between Kilbourne and Lamont. Appeared over night. Water service off on 19th st. It’s a deep hole!”

Another reader tweets us:

“Water main break on 19th at Lamont in Mount Pleasant. No running water in nearby homes – understandably. @PoPville”

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This Weekend’s Metro Trackwork also “Metro advice to Earth Day concertgoers: Avoid Smithsonian Station”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of April 17-19 with schedule adjustments on two of six rail lines.

This weekend, Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate at regular intervals. On Saturday, Greenbelt Station will be closed; however, Green Line trains will operate at regular intervals between College Park and Branch Avenue stations. Green Line trains will operate at regular intervals on Sunday. Red Line trains will operate every 15 minutes with additional trains between Grosvenor and Silver Spring during daytime hours.”

and

“Tomorrow (Saturday, April 18), a major concert will be held on the National Mall that could draw a large number of attendees.

Due to the potential for crowding, Metro is encouraging concertgoers to use stations other than Smithsonian. Suggested Metrorail stations near the National Mall include:
• L’Enfant Plaza
• Metro Center
• Federal Triangle
• Archives
• Federal Center SW

Metro is advising customers that selected trains may bypass Smithsonian station if the station becomes crowded.”

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