Transit

Friday Question of the Day – Metro, Movies, Retail and Books

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user jsmjr

A WMATA press release says:

Metro riders looking to pick up a movie on their way home will not have to go very far as the video store is coming to a Metrorail station as early as this fall.

Metro’s Board of Directors today (June 24) approved a license agreement with NCR/Blockbuster and Movie Solution to place DVD rental machines in stations and to allow Old Town Trolley Tours to sell tickets for its familiar green and orange trolley buses that provide sightseeing tours of Washington’s monuments and other points of interest.

In exchange for use of the Metrorail system for the rental of movies and sale of tour tickets, Metro will receive an estimated $928,000 over an eight-year period with guaranteed revenue of $116,000 in the first year.

NCR/Blockbuster will have DVD rental machines at three stations: the Gallery Pl-Chinatown (Verizon Center entrance), Metro Center and Pentagon City Metrorail stations. Movie Solution will have DVD rental machines located at 10 stations: the Farragut North (K Street entrance), Farragut West (17th Street entrance), Foggy Bottom, L’Enfant Plaza, Metro Center, Union Station (1st Street entrance), Bethesda, New Carrollton, Shady Grove and Rosslyn Metrorail stations. Old Town Trolley Tours will place ticket sales and information booths at both entrances of the Smithsonian Metrorail station.

“Retail services in stations will be good for riders and Metro, especially right now in this economy,” said Jim Graham, Chairperson of Metro’s Board Joint Development and Real Estate Committee.

Do you think the ability to rent movies at metro stations is a good idea?  For those looking for good movie rentals, we spoke about our favorites here. What other retail options do you think should be available in metro stations?


Photo by PoPville Flickr user D©Bloom

And completely unrelated – I’m looking for a good fun fiction book for next weekend if anyone has any recommendations. We spoke about favorite books back in Sept. ’08 but I’m looking for some current recommendations, if you have any good ones.

Dear PoP – “Why oh why does the yellow line mock me?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user cacophony76

“Dear PoP,

Why does the yellow line stop service at Mt Vernon Sq during rush hour? It would be so much more efficient if it just traveled 4 minutes further to U St or 6 minutes further to Columbia Heights. I am tried of getting of the yellow line only to have the green line show up completely full. I don’t accept the excuse about the yellow line trains not being able to service Huntington effectively if it travels 2, 4 or 6 minutes further into the District. Those 4 minutes are better spent moving people from Mt Vernon Sq home!

Who can make this change? Do you think the readers of PoP petition enough pressure on those individuals to make this change?

It would really be better for more people. Utilitarian principles should run the metro!”

Sadly, I think this comes down to a budget issue. Given WMATA’s well known budget woes and safety issues I’m fairly certain extending the yellow line will have very little priority. I believe it was even in jeopardy of being cut completely. When the Metro system becomes a bit healthier (literally and financially) I def. agree that this is an issue worth pursuing. But at the moment I think a petition – even with 50,000 signatures – will not make much of a difference.

Do you guys think the yellow line will ever be extended north to Ft. Totten?

MetroPerforms! Auditions will take place Saturday, June 19

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron

What stations have folks seen performers at?  Anyone ever see dancers or poets? I wanna say there were some at Farragut North?  From a press release:

Metro’s Art in Transit program and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are seeking District of Columbia-based performers to audition for MetroPerforms! Auditions will take place Saturday, June 19, at Metro headquarters in northwest Washington, D.C.

MetroPerforms! invites local performers of all genres—singers, dancers, musicians, poets and more—to showcase their talents at select Metrorail station entrances. Metro and the DC Arts Commission will select artists to perform at Metro station entrances from June through September.

Metro developed MetroPerforms! in 2007 in conjunction with local arts councils in the Metro area. The participating arts councils worked with Metro to develop performance criteria, conduct auditions to select performers and to provide them a stipend from the arts councils.

Auditions will take place on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC. Auditions are conducted first-come, first-served. The selected artists will perform at 10 stations throughout the District of Columbia.

“We were very pleased with how popular the program has become with area artists and Metro travelers,” said Michael McBride, Metro’s Art in Transit program manager. “We look forward to working with the Arts Commission and with local artists to present another season of exciting performances.”

Performances will take place at designated Metro station entrances at a distance far enough away from station stairs and escalators to ensure clear access for people heading into or out of stations. In addition, selected performers must pass a background check and will not be permitted to sell merchandise or solicit in any way while performing.

Gang Fight Temporarily Closes Union Station

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

WMATA says:

” Union Station Metrorail station was closed for approximately 30 minutes from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. today (June 6 4) while Metro Transit Police investigated a shooting that took place in the station.

Police remain on the scene and continue their investigation.”

And thanks to a reader for sending in the WUSA9 report:

“A Metro spokesman tells 9NEWS NOW a fight broke out at Union Station between about 15 juveniles. During the fight, a handgun was observed. He cannot confirm that any type of shooting took place. DC Police and Metro police are investigating.”

WMATA Update 2:41pm:

“The preliminary investigation indicates that the incident began when a large group of individuals were involved in an altercation on the platform. One minor was injured in the fight. He is believed to be a victim of a robbery. He was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The incident was initially reported to be a shooting, however police do not believe that a shooting took place.

Transit Police continue to investigate the incident.”

Orange Line Metro Work Again This Weekend

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user DCin3MP

From WMATA:

“Orange Line riders in Northern Virginia should add 30 minutes to their travel plans this weekend (June 5-6) as the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project continues major construction activities between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations resulting in the tracks being closed between those two stations.

There will be no train service between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations on June 5, and 6 as the Dulles Corridor Metrorail continues major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. Regular service on the Orange Line between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station will resume when the Metrorail system opens on Monday morning, June 7.”

Friday Question of the Day – Will Metro Fare Increases Affect Your Commute?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr users ericandkatherine

WMATA releases word on what is looking like the inevitable, a substantial fare increase:

Metro’s Board of Directors provided guidance to Metro staff today, May 27, to begin to work on a number of fare adjustments in the transit agency’s FY2011 operating budget, subject to final Board approval on June 24. The fare changes are expected to be enacted system wide on June 27. The new fares will generate $108.7 million to help close a $189 million shortfall and build a sound budget for the new fiscal year.

During the public comment period on the budget, the overwhelming majority of riders said that they preferred fare increases instead of service reductions and no service reductions are planned.

Beginning June 27, Metrorail fares will increase 18 percent, with the peak period boarding charge increasing from $1.65 to $1.95. The maximum peak period Metrorail fare will increase from $4.50 to $5 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $4.50 to $5.25 for customers who pay with cash.

Metrobus fares will increase 20 percent, from $1.25 to $1.50 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $1.35 to $1.70 for customers who pay with cash. The price of a Metrobus ride remains lower than bus fares in most major Metropolitan areas. New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle each charge $2 or more for a bus ride.

In addition to Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess fare changes, the following changes also will take effect June 27:
• The Metrorail-to-Metrobus and Metrobus-to-Metrorail transfer period will decrease from three to two hours;
• Reserved parking fees will increase from $55 to $65. All other parking fees will remain unchanged; and
• The annual fee for renting a bicycle locker at Metrorail stations will increase from $70 to $200. It is the first increase in locker fees since the inception of the program in 1978. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle is only 55 cents a day.

The Board of Directors is expected to vote on the final FY2011 budget at its June 24 meeting.

Will this affect your decision to use metro or metrobus to commute to work? With the increase will anyone consider driving instead of taking metro? Do you still support the fare increase over service cuts?

Credit where Credit is Due: Recognizing Metro Transit PD Bravery

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user julianne’s

From a WMATA press release:

Five Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officers were recognized by the Metro Board of Directors and General Manager today (May 27) for their bravery and heroism. Officers Christopher Fulda, Anthony Reefer, Jaime Lopera, Cleaton Battle and Reginald Russell rescued people from a burning building near the Naylor Road Metrorail station on April 9.

MTPD Officer Fulda was on duty at the Naylor Road Metrorail Station when he heard a loud explosion around 9 p.m. A short time later he heard a second explosion and saw a set of balcony doors on the fourth floor of a nearby condominium blown out by flames.

After notifying MTPD communications of the incident, Officer Fulda heard a woman screaming for help and saw another woman yelling for help from the fifth floor of the condominium. Officer Fulda rushed to the building and kicked in the front door, which was blocked, enabling residents to exit. He climbed to the fifth floor and found an elderly woman on the floor of a smoke-filled apartment. He picked her up and carried her down the stairs and outdoors to safety.

As he re-entered the building, MTPD Officers Reefer, Lopera, Battle and Russell arrived on the scene. The five officers worked their way through the building, knocking on each door to alert the residents of the fire and assisting residents as they evacuated. On the fifth floor, Officers Lopera and Fulda rescued a resident in a wheelchair, carrying her down the stairs to safety. The officers remained on scene to assist even after the fire department arrived.

“Although these officers will tell you that they were just doing their jobs, we thank them for their heroism,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael A. Taborn.

WP: Funding restored for D.C. streetcars

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

The Washington Post’s Nikita Stewart is reporting:

“D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray said he has worked with the office of the Chief Financial Officer to come up with money that would allow the city to restore funding for streetcars.

Gray spokeswoman Doxie McCoy said $10 million would be made available immediately to purchase street cars in fiscal 2011. Another $37 million would be place in reserve pending an operations and funding proposal from Mayor Adrian Fenty. The council would then have to approve the proposal.”

Council Chairman Vince Gray Comments on the Budget and Streetcars

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From a Vince Gray for Mayor press release:

“I strongly support streetcar development, and remain committed to seeing it become a reality here in the District of Columbia. I’ve visited Portland, Oregon, twice in recent years, seen first-hand the positive economic impact and transportation impact on communities, and I am firmly committed to a new streetcar system in the District which brings about similar benefits to our city.

But we owe it to ourselves to have a well thought out planning process. We can’t afford the Mayor’s approach of “build now and plan later,” which only results in poor outcomes and much higher costs in the end. There needs to be proper planning, comprehensive transportation and engineering work, which is why we allocated $5 million to complete the planning process. Streetcars aren’t scheduled for completion until 2030, and over the next year, we’ll do the kind of planning that’s necessary to give us the most efficient use of our dollars.

I have full intention to move forward with streetcars, however, while we do the planning over the next year, we can take some of the dollars for desperately needed and more immediate capital projects, like renovation of middle schools, while our dollars are dwindling. This approach, which passed Council by a vote of 11-2, will allow for better collaboration and cooperation with residents, business owners, and other stakeholders, and result in a much stronger streetcar system in the end.”

GGW Reports: Streetcars Could be Cut

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Thanks to all who sent links to the below report:

Greater Greater Washington is rallying the troops:

Last night, Council supporters and DDOT officials went to sleep with the understanding that the final budget negotiations had preserved the streetcar.

The line had been approved by the Committee on Public Works and Transportation last week, but the final proposed Budget Support Act removes it and returns funding to some of the Great Streets streetscapes which DDOT said they could backfill with federal funds.

Gray’s office is saying that the program isn’t “cut” because the budget hasn’t been voted on. It’s true that this proposal is a substitute amendment to the budget, which has to be approved by Council, but since Gray is the chairman, it’s essentially the baseline that they’ll be using to modify today, and unless the Council overrides this part to reinstate streetcars, they’re cut.

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