Transit

Photo by PoPville flickr user jiconoclast

From WMATA:

10 things to know about taking Metro on July 4

1. Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight.

2. Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule for most of the day, ramping up to rush-hour service levels before and after the fireworks display. There is no scheduled track work on July 4.

3. Parking is free at all Metro-operated lots and garages.

4. Off-peak rail fares will be in effect all day. To avoid lines, load enough value on your SmarTrip or paper farecard for your entire round trip.

5. Each trip taken with a paper farecard costs $1 more than those taken with a SmarTrip card. SmarTrip cards are available at all Metrorail stations, as well as local CVS, Giant and Safeway stores and Metro sales offices.

6. We recommend planning your trip to a station on the same line as your starting point to avoid congestion at transfer stations. All Metrorail lines have stations within a short walk of the National Mall. Walk back to the same station at the end of the event.

7. Use stations other than Smithsonian or Federal Triangle. These two stations often see the heaviest ridership (and largest crowds) for National Mall events. Also note that Smithsonian Station will be “entry-only” at the conclusion of the fireworks display.

8. See something? Say something! While there are no specific or credible threats against Metro at this time, Metro Transit Police reminds riders to report any unattended items or suspicious activity to the nearest uniformed employee, or call Metro Transit Police at (202) 962-2121.

9. Metrobus service will operate on a Sunday schedule. Buses that travel near the National Mall may be subject to detours. Check wmata.com/alerts/bus for details.

10. No bicycles or large coolers on Metrorail. For safety reasons–and to make room for everyone–we restrict these large items on July 4. Collapsable bicycles are permitted.

Weekend track work after the jump. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user caroline.angelo

From DDOT:

“In preparation for Independence Day, The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising participants to please take notice of the following advisories that will impact travel in the city on Thursday, July 4, 2013.

Due to the extremely heavy pedestrian crowds anticipated for these events, motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution when traveling in these areas. In addition, those wishing to attend these events are encouraged to use public transportation.

Road Closures

The Metropolitan Police Department provided the following information about road closures for the Independence Day festivities that will take place in the District on Thursday, July 4, 2013. In conjunction with these events, there will be numerous street closures and parking restrictions that motorists should take into consideration” (more…)

Metro Center

@wowindc sends the photo above at 5:30pm.

@DCPoliceDept tweets:

“Red Line service is experiencing delays due to a power issue affecting one of two tracks in the vicinity of Fort Totten. Passengers will experience delays 20-30 minutes on the RedLine”

@WMATA tweets:

“Red Line trains continue single tracking Fort Totten-Takoma due to a 3rd rail power problem. Expect delays of 30 minutes. #wmata 5:20p”

Photo by PoPville flickr user J Sonder

From WMATA:

“There is no scheduled work this weekend on the Blue, Yellow or Green lines. Trains on these lines will operate at normal weekend intervals, with Yellow Line trains operating to/from Fort Totten.

Red Line 10 p.m. Fri., June 21 through closing Sun., June 23
Buses replace trains between Forest Glen & Rhode Island Ave

Red Line trains will operate as follows:

Between Shady Grove & Rhode Island Ave – Every 10 minutes 9AM-9PM and regular weekend intervals (every 15-20 minutes) at other times
Between Forest Glen & Glenmont – Every 10 minutes 9AM-9PM and regular weekend intervals (every 15-20 minutes) at other times

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Rhode Island Ave & Forest Glen to allow for ongoing platform reconstruction, tie replacement, drainage improvements, communication system upgrades and track maintenance.

Stations closed: Brookland, Takoma & Silver Spring. (Fort Totten open for Green & Yellow only.)

Shuttle buses will operate continuously between Forest Glen & Rhode Island Ave on two routes:

Limited-stop buses will operate between Forest Glen and Rhode Island Ave stations, with one stop at Silver Spring. Add up to 40 minutes of travel time.
Local buses will operate between Forest Glen & Rhode Island Ave, with intermediate stops at Silver Spring, Takoma, Fort Totten and Brookland stations. Add 10 minutes of travel time for each station stop. For example, if traveling from Brookland to Rhode Island Avenue, add 10 minutes for one stop. If traveling from Fort Totten to Forest Glen should add 30 minutes because the bus makes three stops.”

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From WMATA:

“Metro riders may notice an increased police presence at selected stations during the Friday evening commute, as Metro Transit Police, together with other agencies in the Washington Metropolitan area, take part in Blue TIDE, a joint show-of-force security effort aimed at increasing partnership among law-enforcement agencies and deterring crime and potential terrorist activity.

Blue TIDE (Terrorism Identification and Deterrence Effort) is a high-visibility initiative of the Metro Transit Police with a primary goal of deterring terrorist activity in the Metro system. Blue TIDE will include a number of security sweeps at Metrorail stations, with officers spreading out throughout the stations and boarding trains to check for suspicious activity. The effort also serves to raise awareness and remind the public to remain observant while riding Metro and to report any suspicious behavior to the Metro Transit Police.

More than 50 officers from multiple agencies will participate in the effort, providing a visible reminder to riders and the public that Metro remains vigilant against terrorist activity and works to ensure their safe and secure travel. Officers also will distribute crime prevention information at the stations, providing tips to riders on how to protect themselves and their property while traveling.

Tomorrow’s Blue TIDE effort is not in response to any specific or credible threat to the system.

Metro Transit Police reminds riders:

Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
Report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity or unattended items to a uniformed Metro employee or call Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121. If you see something, say something.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Bill Herndon

From WMATA:

“Metro’s multi-year rebuilding effort will continue over the weekend of June 14-16 with service adjustments beginning at 10 p.m. Friday night and continuing through system closing on Sunday.

Metro is investing $5.5 billion to install new rail, ties, platforms, escalators, signals, lighting, communication systems, and more. It represents the largest capital investment — and work effort — since the system’s original construction in the early 1970s.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Fri., June 14 through closing Sun., June 16

•Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Rhode Island Avenue and Forest Glen to allow for ongoing platform reconstruction, tie replacement, drainage improvements, communication system upgrades and track maintenance.
•Four stations will be closed: Brookland, Fort Totten, Takoma and Silver Spring.
•Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Rhode Island and between Forest Glen and Glenmont every 10 minutes during daytime hours, and at regular weekend intervals (every 15-20 minutes) at other times.

•Shuttle buses will operate between Forest Glen and Rhode Island Avenue on two routes: Limited-stop buses will operate between Forest Glen and Rhode Island stations, with a single intermediate stop at Silver Spring. Passengers using limited-stop buses should add up to 40 minutes to their travel time. Local buses will operate between Forest Glen and Rhode Island Avenue, with intermediate stops at Silver Spring, Takoma, Fort Totten and Brookland stations. Passengers should add 10 minutes of travel time for each station stop. For example, a rider traveling from Brookland to Rhode Island Avenue should add 10 minutes for one stop. A rider traveling from Fort Totten to Forest Glen should add 30 minutes because the bus makes three stops.

•On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, the last train from Glenmont to Forest Glen will depart 53 minutes earlier than normal to allow for shuttle bus connections. The last train will depart Glenmont at 1:44 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and at 10:44 p.m. on Sunday.
Orange, Blue, Yellow & Green lines – 10 p.m. Fri., June 14 through closing Sun., June 16

Trains on all other lines (Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green) will operate every 20 minutes throughout the weekend to allow for rebuilding work in several work zones:

•Between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road for repairs to the floating concrete slabs beneath the rails;
•Between Cheverly and New Carrollton for rail, tie and insulator replacement and renewal; and
•Between Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza for fiber optic cable repair and rail fastener replacement.

Note: Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square this weekend. Passengers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.”