Transit

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From a WMATA press release:

Over the three-day Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Metro will advance major track work on the Blue and Orange lines, along with single tracking on the Red Line. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday night and continue through system closing on Monday, January 16.

Blue/Orange Lines
Beginning shortly before 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Monday, free shuttle buses will replace Blue and Orange line trains between L’Enfant Plaza and Eastern Market, making intermediate stops at Federal Center SW and Capitol South stations.
Two stations — Federal Center SW and Capitol South — will be closed.
Blue Line trains will operate every 16 minutes in two segments: between Franconia-Springfield and L’Enfant Plaza, and between Eastern Market and Largo Town Center.
Orange Line trains will operate every 16 minutes in two segments: between Vienna and L’Enfant Plaza, and between Eastern Market and New Carrollton.
At stations served by both Blue and Orange line, trains will operate every eight minutes in each direction.

Red Line
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Monday, Red Line trains will single track in two areas: between Dupont Circle and Van Ness-UDC to allow for NTSB-recommended track circuit replacement, as well as rail and fastener renewal, and between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 24 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, additional trains will operate between Fort Totten and Farragut North. Customers should allow additional travel time.

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

The Washington Post shares details of a proposed 5 percent increase:

Riders who use paper Farecards would face the biggest change. Whether going two stops or 10, they would pay one-way flat fares: $6 during rush hour, $4 in off-peak times.

The proposed budget would increase rail fares in rush-hour periods by an average of less than 5 percent for those using Smar­Trip cards, according to Metro. The maximum peak fare would rise from $5 to $5.75.

Rail riders would also see changes in off-peak fares. The base fare would increase to $1.70, from $1.60, a trip. The maximum off-peak fare would be $3.50.

Bus fares would increase by a dime, from $1.50 to $1.60. Cash payments would be rounded to the nearest dollar for buses.

Most rate changes would go into effect July 1.

Does anyone still use paper cards? If so, will the greater increase on paper cards encourage you to use a smarttrip card?

Photo by PoPville flickr user available_photons

If preparing for your no pants ride this Sunday – plan for some extra time.

From WMATA:

Metro will continue to advance rebuilding efforts over the weekend of January 6-8, 2012, with trains sharing the same track along portions of the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Red Line trains will single track in two areas: between Dupont Circle and Friendship Heights to allow for track circuit replacement, and rail and fastener renewal, and between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 30 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Fort Totten and Farragut North.

Blue/Orange Lines
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Blue and Orange line trains will single track between Smithsonian and Eastern Market to allow for rail fastener improvements. Orange and Blue line trains will depart endpoint terminals every 26 minutes, resulting in trains every 13 minutes at stations served by both lines.

Green Line
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Green Line trains will share one track in two areas: between Georgia Ave-Petworth and Fort Totten to allow for rail maintenance and between Naylor Road and Branch Ave to allow for fastener renewal. Green Line trains will operate every 15 minutes.

Yellow Line trains will operate every 15 minutes to align schedules with Green Line trains.

Metro is advancing 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, the CIP 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.

Always a good time. The event is organized by Capitol Improv and takes place this Sunday from 2-5pm:

Remember to try and keep undergarments PG-13 or “safer.” Indecency laws are purely subjective so as long as we avoid making people say *gasp, I’m offended* we should be ok.

Also remember this is NOT a nudism event or group, nor is it affiliated with any nudism event or group. The point of the day is not to “protest pants” it is to enjoy the hilarity that ensues when 400 people one day just… forget their pants!

Also remember to comply with any and all instruction given by anyone of authority. This is supposed to be a fun event for everyone so we aren’t out to protest or break any laws.

The afterparty this year will be held at Nellie’s Sports Bar near the U street metro exit. The event page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/342198655793527/

Hope to see lots of bare legs on the 8th!

If you’re on metro at the time and spot some intrepid travelers be sure to upload some shots to the PoPville flickr pool or send them in an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

From WMATA:

Blue and Orange line customers should expect delays in both directions this afternoon and evening (Thursday, Jan. 5) due to a track problem outside Stadium-Armory Station.

Metro is working to address the problem and estimates that repairs will take until 7 p.m.

Customers are advised of the following:

• Blue and Orange line trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium Armory until repairs are made
• Repairs are expected to continue through the evening commute (estimated time of repair is currently 7 p.m.)
• During the rush hour, trains are expected to experience 20-30 minute delays through the affected area
• Stations and trains may be subject to crowding conditions

Metro is deploying additional personnel to assist customers and provide information.

Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

From a WMATA Press Release:

This morning, Metro conducted a post-incident review of yesterday’s incident that caused the emergency evacuation of riders and prompted an investigation of a mechanical failure on one of its 5000-series rail cars.

“I want to thank the D.C. Fire Department for its leadership and recognize the outstanding job they did, both on incident command and on the safe evacuation of our passengers,” General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles said. “Our review this morning concluded that the methodical and deliberate plan that was developed with the highest safety precautions possible, combined with the exemplary work of fire, transit police and safety officials resulted in a safe and orderly evacuation in a reasonable time frame.”

While the root cause of the loss of the friction ring from Blue Line train #406 has not yet been determined, Metro officials have further identified that the loss of the friction ring is related to a potential hub failure — a part of the brake assembly that holds the friction ring in place. The cause of the possible hub failure remains under review. Metro has identified 34 hubs from the same batch on sixteen 5000-series rail cars. Those sixteen cars have been removed from service while inspections continue.

The review also identified two areas where Metro will be focused on after-action improvements. The first is improving customer communications to passengers aboard standing trains and to others before they arrive at the impacted stations, as well as those traveling throughout the system. The second area is radio communications that are challenging in certain underground locations. Signal boosting technology continues to be tested in several locations, and is being conducted today to identify possible solutions to improve radio performance.

From an email:

The weather outside may be frightening, but that doesn’t mean the roads need to be.

If you partake in a bit too much mulled wine, “mystery punch” or adult eggnog over the Holiday season, stay safe and call SoberRide this holiday season!

Together with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) SoberRide initiative, AT&T once again is proud to provide free taxi rides (up to $30) to anyone over 21 in the greater Washington, DC area nightly from 10pm until 6am through New Years Day.

AT&T customers can call #TAXI to get a safe, free ride home, while others can dial 800-200-TAXI.