Transit

Metro unveils Four new Van Gogh Limited Edition SmarTrip Cards

By Prince Of Petworth

van_gogh_fare_Cards

From WMATA:

“Four limited-edition Van Gogh Commemorative SmarTrip Cards are now available for purchase as Metro partners with The Phillips Collection to celebrate the Van Gogh Repetitions exhibit at The Phillips Collection through January 2014. The cards feature four prominent Van Gogh images: The Bedroom at Arles, The Road Menders, Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle, and The Postman Joseph Roulin.

Each reusable plastic card comes pre-loaded with $8 in stored fare value for a total price of $10. The cards are available for pre-order online at www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip and will be available in all Metrorail station dispensers by the end of October.

Metro riders can present their Van Gogh SmarTrip at The Phillips Collection for $3 off admission (normally $12), as well as up to 20% off purchases at the museum gift shop.”

This Weekend’s Street Closures for Taste of DC, IMF/World Bank Meeting and Law Enforcement 5K

By Prince Of Petworth

7253233990_b56e86f73d_z
Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From DDOT:

“The Metropolitan Police Department would like to advise the public and members of the media of the following street closures in connection with events scheduled this weekend including the Taste of DC, International Monetary Fund/World Bank Complex, and the National Law Enforcement Run to Remember 5K.

Taste of DC

The Taste of DC is a culinary and cultural event scheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2013 through Sunday, October 13, 2013 in the heart of Washington, D.C. This expansive festival hosts some of the area’s restaurants, libations, and lively entertainment.

The following street closures start on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 12:00 am, and will remain closed until Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 11:00 pm:

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW will be closed between 9th Street and 14th Street, NW
13th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
12th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
11th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
10th Street, NW between E Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW

For more information go to: http://thetasteofdc.org/

International Monetary Fund/World Bank Complex

Street closures for the IMF/World Bank Complex will begin on Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:00 pm, and will remain closed until Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

Emergency No Parking signs will be posted at the following locations from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm:

18th Street, NW and G Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
19th Street, NW and G Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
20th Street, NW and G Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
G Street, NW and 18th Street, NW to 20th Street, NW
H Street, NW (south side) and 18th Street, NW to 20th Street, NW
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (south side) from 18th and 20th Street, NW

National Law Enforcement Run to Remember 5K (more…)

This Weekend’s Metro Track Work – Multiple Stations Closed on Orange Line

By Prince Of Petworth

10007768576_360f24ba51_z
Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfkann

From WMATA:

“Columbus Day service information
On Columbus Day, Monday, October 14, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule on all lines with no track work in effect. Parking at all Metro-owned lots and garages is free on Columbus Day.

Red Line 10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 11 through closing Sun., Oct. 13
Trains every 8 to 16 minutes

Red Line trains will operate:

Between Shady Grove & Glenmont: Every 16 minutes (20 minutes late night).
Between Grosvenor & Silver Spring: Every 8 minutes 9AM-9PM

Work Performed: Between Twinbrook and Grosvenor, crews will improve track infrastructure, including installation of new wooden ties, fasteners, insulators and cover boards.

Orange Line 10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 11 through closing Sun., Oct. 13
Buses replace trains between New Carrollton & Stadium-Armory; normal service between Vienna & Stadium-Armory

Orange Line trains will operate:

Between Vienna & Stadium-Armory at regular weekend intervals

Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Stadium-Armory & New Carrollton.

Local buses will run between Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton, making stops at all intermediate stations. Please allow about 10 minutes of travel time for each station stop. For example, a rider traveling between Cheverly and Stadium-Armory should allow 30 minutes of travel time because the bus makes three stops.
Express buses will run between New Carrollton and Stadium-Armory with no intermediate stops. Please allow 30 minutes of travel time.

Stations Closed: New Carrollton, Landover, Cheverly, Deanwood, Minnesota Ave

Work Performed: Major platform reconstruction at Deanwood and Minnesota Ave stations, tie replacement, fastener renewal, structural repairs, tamping, ballast regulating and joint elimination

Blue Line Regular service; no track work
Yellow Line Regular service; no track work
Green Line Regular service; no track work”

Dear PoPville – What’s the Status on Credit Card Readers in Taxi Cabs? And What’s up with the New Signs?

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_0046

“Dear PoPville,

Does anyone know the status of the deadline for cabs to have credit card readers? I thought it was October 1. Was that extended? I have seen a lot of cabs without them. How about the new signs on top of the car?”

IMG_0081

From the DC Taxi Commission on Sept. 27th:

“Although no extension of the deadline was granted, DCTC did agree to review the specific hardship circumstances provided only through DC Drivers United for Equal Rights to determine if any relief would be warranted.

DCTC is projecting about 5,100 taxis will be equipped with MTS by October 1; which represents 80 percent of the active fleet.”

For those who’ve taken taxis recently – did yours have a credit car reader?

About the new signs up top from the DC Taxi Commission:

“All licensed DC taxicabs are required to have the new standardized dome light installed by November 1, 2013. Vehicles found not in compliance will be impounded. An owner whose vehicle is impounded for failure to have a dome light will be required to pay all fees and costs associated with impoundment. The new standardized dome light will display the Public Vehicle Identification Number (PVIN) which is a combination of one letter and three numbers. See below for the list of approved installation companies to order and schedule installation of the new standardized dome light and answers to several frequently asked questions regarding the PVIN as it relates to the new standardized dome light.”

Top 10 Metro Stations Where Most Crimes were Committed from Jan. – Aug. 2013

By Prince Of Petworth

top_10_dangerous_metro_stations_all
Top 10 Most Crime All Stations

Here are the result of the WMATA Quarterly Crime Report:

“The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) October Board Safety and Security Committee Report publicly communicates security-related information which occurred during January through August 2013.

The program identifies eight common Part I Crimes, murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, larceny-theft, and arson, and two additional crimes involving human trafficking
(commercial sex acts and involuntary servitude), to be considered indicators of the level of crime occurring in jurisdictions. Reports of Part I Crimes have been consistently reported to our customers for many years.

Overall Part I crimes against property increased by 6.8% in 2013 attributed to an increase in the thefts of cell phones and bicycles. ”

You can read the full report here.

top_10_dangerous_metro_stations_dc
Top 10 Most Crime DC Stations

Maryland and Virginia Stations after the jump. (more…)

Fatal overnight construction accident on the Red Line between Union Station and Judiciary Square

By Prince Of Petworth

Update from @wmata at 6:00pm:

“One of the two WMATA employees injured overnight has been released from hospital.”

From WMATA:

“The investigation into the cause of a fatal overnight construction accident on the Red Line is ongoing. The investigation team, led by Metro’s Chief Safety Officer, has authorized the release of the following facts and preliminary findings:

The incident occurred shortly after midnight, Sunday, October 6, 2013, in a work zone on the outbound (Glenmont direction) track between Union Station and Judiciary Square. The incident location is closer to Union Station, approximately 400 feet from the platform.

Contractors and WMATA employers were performing rail renewal, a process that involves removing old sections of rail, installing new sections of rail and related activity such as welding and grinding.

At approximately 12:03 a.m., there was a fire and loud noise that originated near heavy track equipment used to weld rail sections together into a continuous strip. (more…)

This Weekend’s Metro Track Work – Union Station, Judiciary Square, Farragut North Closed, Gallery Place only Yellow and Green, Metro Center only Blue and Orange

By Prince Of Petworth

7439450788_2acd69c36c_z
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From WMATA:

“Red Line 10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 4 through closing Sun., Oct. 6
Buses replace trains between Dupont Circle & NoMa-Gallaudet

Red Line trains will operate:

Between Shady Grove & Dupont Circle: Every 10 minutes 9AM-9PM and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
Between Glenmont & NoMa-Gallaudet: Every 10 minutes 9AM-9PM and at regular weekend intervals at other times.

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet to allow for third-rail infrastructure upgrades, rail fastener and tie replacement, rail welding, structural repairs, and security camera work. Within the work zone, shuttle buses will operate on two routes:

Limited stop buses will travel between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet stations with intermediate stops at Metro Center and Gallery Place only.
Local buses will travel between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet making all intermediate stops (Farragut North, Metro Center, Gallery Place, Judiciary Square and Union Station).

Estimated Bus Travel Times

Between Dupont Circle and Metro Center: 10 minutes
Between NoMa-Gallaudet and Gallery Place: 10 minutes
Between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet: 25 minutes
Between Farragut North and Dupont Circle: 5 minutes
Between Union Station and Dupont Circle: 34 minutes

Stations & Entrances Closed

Union Station, Judiciary Square, Farragut North stations will be closed
Gallery Place will be open for Yellow and Green line service only. The 9th & F street entrance will be closed. Use entrances at 7th & H or 7th & F streets to access the station.
Metro Center will be open for Blue and Orange line service only. The 13th & G and 11th & G street entrances will be closed. Use entrances at 12th & G or 12th & F to access the station.

Changes to Last Train Times

The last Red Line train of the night from Glenmont to NoMa-Gallaudet will depart 41 minutes earlier than normal to allow for shuttle bus connections. On Friday and Saturday nights, the last train will leave Glenmont at 1:56 a.m., and on Sunday, the last train will leave Glenmont at 10:56 p.m.

The last Red Line train of the night from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle will depart 30 minutes earlier than normal to allow for shuttle bus connections. On Friday and Saturday nights, the last train will leave Shady Grove at 2:00 a.m., and on Sunday, the last train will leave Shady Grove at 11:00 p.m.

Other lines after the jump. (more…)

DDOT asks Public to Prioritize Long Range Transportation Concerns

By Prince Of Petworth

ddot_transit_options
Photo by PoPville flickr user m01229

From DDOT:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) seeks the public’s input on moveDC, DDOT’s initiative to develop a coordinated, multimodal long range transportation plan for the District. DDOT is using a fun and interactive online tool to collect perspectives on future District-wide transportation strategies. Everyone who drives, walks, bikes, rides a bus, or takes a train in DC has a stake in how the transportation plan unfolds, and all are encouraged to lend their voices to this online conversation. The survey launches today and will run throughout October 2013. The survey link is available online at: http://movedc.metroquest.com/. (more…)

You Can Now Text Tips to Metro Transit Police

By Prince Of Petworth

10048295953_137d713a3f_z
Photo by PoPville flickr user NCinDC

From WMATA:

“Metro riders can now see something and text something. Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik today announced the launch of Metro’s “MyMTPD Text Tips” program, the newest way for riders to contact the transit agency’s police department.

Through this new service, Metro riders can now use their cell phones to text information about suspicious activity, unattended bags, panhandling and other non-emergencies. Riders can now simply text information to “MYMTPD” from a smartphone or to “696873” from a standard cell phone.

“Information from riders and employees, serving as the eyes and ears of the system, can help transit police respond quickly to suspicious activity or unattended items,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik. “MyMTPD Text Tips now gives riders a convenient way to provide us with information that can help keep the system safe.”

Pavlik emphasized that the system should not be used for crimes in progress or other emergencies. Emergency situations requiring a police response should still be called in to Transit Police at 202-962-2121 or 911. (more…)

View More Stories