Transit

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From WMATA:

Metro today announced that it is increasing the amount of fare value that can be transferred from a paper farecard to SmarTrip® to encourage customers to transition to SmarTrip® cards in advance of July 1 fare changes. Beginning July 1, customers using paper farecards will be charged an additional $1 per trip. Customers can avoid the surcharge by using a SmarTrip® card instead.

Starting today, customers can transfer up to $20 from a paper farecard to their SmarTrip® card at any Fare & Passes vending machine at their Metrorail station. Previously, the maximum allowable transfer was $7.

SmarTrip® cards cost $5, and can be purchased in advance at selected stations, CVS, Giant Food, Metro Sales offices, regional transit stores or on the web at smartrip.com. Metro will install SmarTrip® card vending machines in all rail stations by September. The installation process has already begun, and the top 10 stations where paper farecards are sold, including Foggy Bottom, Union Station, Smithsonian and Rosslyn will have SmarTrip® dispensers by July 1.

Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia

Sciascia writes:

“I was minding my own business on the yellow line when all of a sudden, as we crossed the potomac, a wedding broke out. these are my new favorite people ever. but if I knew I’d have been going to a wedding, I wouldn’t have worn flipflops.”

Awesome! Congrats to the newlyweds!

Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia

Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassettPhotography

From WMATA:

The massive effort to rebuild Metrorail will continue over the weekend of June 8-10 on the Orange, Blue, Red and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

Orange Line

Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with the Silver Line Metrorail extension. Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: between Vienna and West Falls Church at regular weekend intervals, and between East Falls Church and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals. Customers using shuttle bus service should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Blue Line

Trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road to allow for repairs to the “floating concrete slabs” beneath the rails. Blue Line trains will depart Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield every 20 minutes. Customers should allow about 15 minutes of additional travel time.

Red Line

Trains will single track between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation. Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 20 minutes throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and New York Ave stations, providing service every 10 minutes on the western side of the Red Line.

Green Line

Green Line trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt to allow for tie renewal. Trains will operate at normal weekend intervals. Every other train will begin/end service at College Park, rather than Greenbelt. Customers traveling to/from Greenbelt Station should allow up to 15 minutes of additional travel time.

There is no scheduled track work this weekend on the Yellow Line.

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From WMATA:

The massive effort to rebuild Metrorail will continue over the weekend of June 1-3 on the Orange, Blue, Red, Green and Yellow lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

Orange Line

Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with the Silver Line Metrorail extension. Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: Between Vienna and West Falls Church at regular weekend intervals, and East Falls Church and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals. Customers using shuttle bus service should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Blue Line

Trains will single track in two work zones switches: between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road to allow for repairs to the “floating concrete slabs” beneath the rails, and between Van Dorn Street and Braddock Road for bridge work. Blue Line trains will depart Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield every 20 minutes. Customers should allow about 15 minutes of additional travel time.

Red Line

Trains will single track through two work areas: Between Forest Glen and Takoma to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation, and between Van Ness and Friendship Heights to allow for rail and fastener renewal and joint elimination for a smoother ride. Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core.

Green Line

Green Line trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt to allow for tie renewal. Trains will operate at normal weekend intervals. Every other train will begin/end service at College Park, rather than Greenbelt. Customers traveling to/from Greenbelt Station should allow up to 15 minutes of additional travel time.

Yellow Line

Yellow Line trains will single track between Braddock Road and Huntington to allow bridge work. Yellow Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square throughout the weekend. Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip. Green Line trains will operate every 16 minutes throughout the weekend.

Metro is advancing Metro Forward, a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, Metro Forward includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. Customers are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts (wmata.com/metroalerts) to receive service information via email or text message.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From WMATA:

The massive effort to rebuild Metrorail will continue over the holiday weekend of May 25-28 on the Red and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Monday (Memorial Day).

Green Line: Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, May 25, and continuing through system closing on Monday, May 28, buses will replace Green Line trains between Greenbelt and Fort Totten to allow for installation of new “Guarded #8” switches, fulfilling an NTSB recommendation. Customers using shuttle bus service should allow extra travel time. Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only. Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip; Green Line trains will operate normally between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue.

Red Line: Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, May 25, and continuing through system closing on Monday, May 28, trains will single track between Forest Glen and Takoma to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation. Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Glenmont and Shady Grove throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and New York Avenue stations, providing service every 10 minutes.

There is no work scheduled this weekend on the Blue, Orange or Yellow lines, except for the minor service adjustment to the Yellow Line noted above.

Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassettPhotography

From WMATA:

The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

Orange Line

Buses will replace Orange Line trains between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations for testing associated with the Silver Line Metrorail extension. Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate in two segments: between Vienna and West Falls Church station every 20 minutes, and between East falls Church and New Carrollton station at regular weekend intervals. Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time. View Advisory

Red Line

Red Line trains will single track between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation, and between Van Ness and Friendship Heights to allow for rail and fastener renewal and joint elimination for a smoother ride. Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core. View Advisory

Green Line

Green Line trains will single track between Greenbelt and Prince George’s Plaza stations to allow for tie renewal work. Green Line trains will operate every 16 minutes throughout the weekend. Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only. Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip. Please allow 10-15 minutes of additional travel time. View Advisory

There is no work scheduled this weekend on the Blue or Yellow lines, except for the minor service adjustment to the Yellow Line noted above.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From WMATA:

The massive effort to rebuild Metrorail will continue over the weekend of May 11-13 on the Red, Orange and Blue lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

Red Line: Trains will single track between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation, and between Van Ness and Dupont Circle to allow for rail and fastener renewal and joint elimination for a smoother ride. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time. On Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., additional trains will operate between Farragut North and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core. Customers on the eastern side of the Red Line may wish to consider using Green or Yellow line service as an alternate travel option. Both Green and Yellow line trains will operate on a regular weekend schedule.

Orange Line: Trains will single track between Eastern Market and Cheverly stations to allow for structural repairs, station dome rehabilitation, reconstruction of the Potomac Avenue station platform, tunnel leak repairs and other work. Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will depart Vienna and New Carrollton every 30 minutes. Orange Line customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time this weekend.

Blue Line: Trains will single track between Eastern Market and Addison Road stations to allow for structural repairs, station dome rehabilitation, reconstruction of the Potomac Avenue station platform, tunnel leak repairs and other work. Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will depart Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center every 30 minutes. Blue Line customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time this weekend.

There is no work scheduled this weekend on the Green or Yellow lines.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Sandra Sitar

From WMATA:

Metro’s latest performance report shows several key indicators moving in the right direction as the system advances its multi-year Metro Forward rebuilding effort.

The latest Vital Signs Scorecard will be presented this Thursday to the Metro Board of Directors Customer Service and Operations Committee.

Among the highlights:

• Compared to the same quarter last year, Metro on-time performance remained steady or improved. Despite more planned track work and rebuilding, Metrorail on-time performance rose 0.5 percent to 89.8 percent in the first quarter. Metrobus on-time performance remained steady in the first quarter, with three out of every four buses arriving on time, and MetroAccess posted a 2.4 percent improvement, rising to 92.5 percent in the first quarter.

• Escalator availability outperformed 2011 as a result of improved preventive maintenance practices and faster response time for repairs. Escalator availability rose to 89.1 percent for the quarter, up from 87.4 percent during the same period last year.

• Safety continues to improve with fewer customer injuries (1.74 per million trips) and fewer employee injuries (5 per 200,000 hours).

• Parking crime was down 53 percent for the three-month period of December 2011 through February 2012, and hit an unprecedented low in February with a rate of .78 crimes per million riders.
• Due in large part to on-the-spot arrests by plain-clothes MTPD officers targeting individuals who snatch electronic devices, Metrorail’s crime rate increased to 7.69 crimes per million passengers. Between December and February, MTPD made 128 arrests for snatch theft and pickpocketing, up from 14 similar arrests during the same period last year.

While the report shows improvement in many categories, it also identifies areas where additional focus is needed. In particular, persistent door problems have hampered rail fleet reliability. Metro is advancing installation of new door relays in the 2000-, 3000- and 6000-car fleets, a step that is expected to improve door reliability. Meanwhile, testing continues on door control mechanism for a long-term solution to address door problems.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From WMATA:

The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday, May 4 and continue through system closing on Sunday, May 6.

Green Line: Free shuttle buses will replace Green Line trains between Greenbelt and Fort Totten to allow for NTSB-recommended switch replacement. The following 4 stations will be closed: Greenbelt, College Park, Prince George’s Plaza, West Hyattsville. Green Line trains will operate normally between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue. Customers using shuttle bus service should add about 20 minutes to their travel time.

Yellow Line: Due to Green Line track work, Yellow Line trains will operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Huntington only.

Red Line: Trains will single track through two work areas: between Forest Glen and Takoma to allow for platform reconstruction at Takoma and Fort Totten stations, as well as fiber optic cable installation, and between Van Ness and Dupont Circle to allow for rail and fastener renewal, as well as joint elimination for a smoother ride. Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Farragut North and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core.

Orange Line: Trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory to allow for track maintenance, insulator renewal, station dome repairs, platform tile replacement and aerial structure repairs, and between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with future Silver Line service. Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate every 20 minutes. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time. Note: Blue Line trains will operate 2 minutes before or after each Orange Line train.

Blue Line: Trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory to allow for track maintenance, insulator renewal, station dome repairs, platform tile replacement and aerial structure repairs. Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time. Note: Orange Line trains will operate 2 minutes before or after each Blue Line train.

Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassettPhotography

From WMATA:

Metro’s massive rebuilding effort will continue over the weekend of April 27-29 on the Red and Blue lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday, April 27, and continue through system closing on Sunday, April 29.

Here is a summary of the work:

Red Line: Single tracking in two work zones to allow for platform reconstruction at Takoma and Fort Totten, rail fastener renewal, tunnel leak repairs and track bed cleaning. Trains will operate every 24 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont. On Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., trains will operate every 12 minutes between Farragut North and New York Avenue only.

Blue Line: Buses replace trains between Pentagon and Rosslyn stations to allow for replacement of wooden rail ties. Arlington Cemetery will be closed. Blue Line trains will operate in two sections: between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square (via the Yellow Line bridge), and between Foggy Bottom and Largo Town Center.

Orange Line: No track work. Regular weekend schedule.
Green Line: No track work. Regular weekend schedule.
Yellow Line: No track work. Regular weekend schedule.