Transit

Image courtesy of DDOT

Forgot to mention this from Friday. From DDOT:

Building off the existing Georgetown Metro Connection route (also known as the “Blue Bus”),which already boasts nearly 40,000 riders a month, the Dupont Circle – Georgetown – Rosslyn Circulator line will begin service on Sunday, August 29. The new DC Circulator line will operate from 7 am to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 am to 2 am Friday and Saturday.

“The ridership and demand for this route is already here and we already subsidize it, so it made sense to make it part of the Circulator system,” said Director Klein. We are looking at multiple locations throughout the city for expanding the system and look forward to launching additional routes in 2011.”

“The Rosslyn Metro Station has the highest number of entries and exits in Northern Virginia per day at over 36,000 on average and is among the top 10 stations in the Metrorail System,” said Board Chair Fisette. “Since the ‘Blue Bus’ started, more than four million riders have used the service connecting Arlington with Washington. The Circulator’s takeover of the route is a testament to the successful partnership formed in 2001 between the Rosslyn and Georgetown Business Improvement Districts and the DC and Arlington Government to launch the route.”

DDOT is currently conducting a comprehensive study to guide the expansion of the Circulator system over the next five to ten years. That includes an ongoing collaboration with neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River to determine the best route for a new line in this location. This planning effort will be completed this fall.

Other Circulator Service Changes after the jump. (more…)

Perhaps someone put something in my coffee but the video above has blown my mind.

Another reader would like to know what app you guys recommend for your iphone:

“Dear PoP,

I’m the proud new owner of an iPhone. One of the functions which pushed me from “that’s neat” to “I so need that” was access to real-time bus and metro information. Now I’m a little flummoxed about which of the many DC transit apps are the best, and am curious about which are your readers’ favorites. Important functionalities to me are real time arrival info, and being able to look at stops/routes on a Google map (especially for bus, since as far as I’ve ever been able to tell that type of information is provided nowhere else by WMATA).”

From a WMATA Press release:

Metrorail customers can now get real-time next train arrival information by phone, in addition to online and via web-enabled mobile devices.

Customers may simply call Metro’s Customer Information phone number, 202-637-7000, and say “Next Train.” They then will be prompted to say a station name or enter the first four letters of the station name to hear when the next trains will arrive at the selected station within a 20-minute window.

For stations that serve more than two Metrorail lines, such as Gallery Pl-Chinatown, L’Enfant Plaza and Metro Center Metrorail stations, customers will be prompted to say or enter the Metrorail line color they are traveling on such as “Red Line” or “Green Line.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From a WMATA press release:

Metro has begun to install new cameras on its fleet of 1,500 buses to assist with improving Metrobus safety by documenting incidents and assisting operators to develop safer, more efficient driving habits.

As part of a five-year contract, DriveCam will install cameras on all operational Metrobuses; review and analyze video footage; and provide feedback on operator driving habits.

Metro currently has security cameras on many of its buses that are primarily used to document customer-related incidents. DriveCam’s main focus is to help the Metrobus staff reduce incidents, and improve safe driving habits.

The DriveCam system will capture video and audio inside and outside of Metrobuses, detect when an operator makes a defensive move to avoid an accident, brakes or accelerates suddenly, turns sharply, or is involved in an incident.

DriveCam will analyze the data from such events and that analysis will be provided to management, supervisors, trainers and operators. The information will be used to encourage good driving habits, correct poor habits, and help in investigations.

“We believe DriveCam’s expertise will help us provide our customers with even safer bus service,” said Jack Requa, Metro Assistant General Manager of Bus Services. “But many others will benefit from this partnership with DriveCam, including operators, pedestrians and other drivers on the roads.”

Installation of the system began in mid-August and is expected to be completed and fully operational by January 2011. Metrobus officials are integrating the system into the bus fleet in phases, which includes equipment installation, operator and supervisor training, and policy education throughout all nine Metrobus divisions.

Metro Chief Safety Officer James Dougherty said DriveCam will help Metrobus operations by “identifying risky behavior” before the behavior results in an incident. “This is another tool that we will have to train our personnel to focus on safety,” he said.

Deployment of the system on Metrobuses, which cost $3 million to install and monitor during the next two years, resulted from an extensive analysis of the DriveCam services by Metro officials. The system is already in use on MetroAccess vehicles.

Think this’ll work?

Peak of the peak fare increase after the jump. (more…)

Photo by Flickr user thisisbossi

“Dear PoP,

As I discovered by accident this morning, the G2 has closed down the stops on 17th & P and 18th & P, NW. Instead of the normal run along P St, the bus turns onto 17th, then Massachusetts. There is no make up stop for 17th St, but the 18th St. stop is now at Mass and Dupont Circle. WMATA is relying on the drivers to inform passengers — no signage whatsoever on the buses. Anyway, wanted to pass along to save other folks the hassle.”

Thanks to the reader for giving the heads up!

And for those who are looking for something fun to read – if you missed Eric Nuzum’s guest post, The likelihood of unusual things happening on a bus is far greater than it is on a subway, well it is awesome.

Ed. Note: There is frequent cursing in this video.

“Dear PoP,

Circulator rage on K St during evening rush hour. Jackass complains of music that nobody else could hear causing driver to radio the police and stop the bus, meanwhile vocal woman calls him out for being a d*** stranding folks who just want to go home!”

This is a painful video to watch on many levels. Perhaps all the parties involved were having a really bad day. But this leads me to one of the most important bits of advice ever given to me – pick your battles wisely. Even if there was music being played too loudly, I’m not sure rush hour afternoon is the best time to make this stand on principle. Having said that, I can understand being pushed over the edge. Maybe this was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for this guy?

What do you guys think – is it important to make a stand when rules are violated no matter how small those rules may seem?

DDOT posted this awesome story on Facebook from Huffington Post this morning:

China may have found an environmentally friendly way to save money while easing congestion on city roads, Engadget reports.

Instead of spending millions to widen roads, the Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment company is developing a “3D Express Coach” (also called a “three-dimensional fast bus”) that will allow cars less than 2 meters high to travel underneath the upper level carrying passengers.

China kicking up public transport a notch. I don’t know if this is realistic or not but I’m digging it.