Transit

First Modern Streetcar to Debut in the District May 5th

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of DDOT DC

Those who follow DDOTDC on twitter have eagerly been awaiting their “big streetcar news” that they said was coming this morning. Well here it is:

“District residents, workers and visitors will soon get their first opportunity to step aboard one of the District’s new modern streetcars. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host the DC Streetcar Showcase from Wednesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 8, 2010 at City Center DC, the site of the old convention center.

“We are getting closer and closer to putting streetcars back on the streets of the District, and we know there are a lot of people who are just as excited about their return as we are,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “This will be a great opportunity for them to see a modern streetcar up close, inside and out, and to learn more about how they will operate in the District.”

After a 50 year hiatus, streetcars will once again operate in the nation’s capital in 2012, and at the showcase next week Mayor Fenty and city officials are expected to make some significant announcements about the program and other transit services in the District. In addition to the Streetcar program, DDOT also operates the DC Circulator bus system and a bikesharing network.

Showcase Details

The District owns three streetcars, which are currently stored at Metro’s rail yard in Greenbelt, Maryland. For the showcase, DDOT will transport one of the vehicles downtown where it will be set on temporary tracks in Lot B of City Center DC. The public will be able to access the lot from the intersection of 9th and H Streets, NW, which is just north of the Gallery Place Metro station on the Green and Yellow lines.

Admittance to the Showcase is free. The event schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, May 5, 11am – 7pm
• Thursday, May 6, 11am – 7pm
• Friday, May 7, 11am – 7pm
• Saturday, May 8, 11am – 5pm

Continues after the jump. (more…)

More Metro Delays and Parking Restrictions This Weekend

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user lorigoldberg

From METRO:

Customers can expect lengthy delays of up to 40 minutes this weekend (April 23-25) as old track components are replaced on the Red, Blue and Orange lines, causing inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track on portions of the rail system.

Riders planning to take the Red, Blue and Orange lines to area sports events and activities this weekend should add up to 40 minutes to their travel times. The Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park on April 23, 24, and 25, the Washington Capitals play at the Verizon Center on April 23, and there is an Earth Day Climate Rally on the National Mall on April 25.


Photo from PoPville flickr user quigley_brown (Jim Hamann)

From DDOT:

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has provided the following information regarding street closures and parking restrictions for the Spring Meetings of the IMF/World Bank Board of Governors this weekend.

Street Closures

Beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday, April 23, 2010 until 5 pm on Sunday, April 25, 2010, the following streets surrounding the IMF/World Bank will be closed to vehicular traffic:

* 18th Street, NW from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
* 19th Street, NW from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
* 20th Street, NW from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
* G Street, NW from 18th Street to 20th Street
* H Street, NW (south side) from 18th Street to 20th Street

More Parking Restrictions after the jump. (more…)

Major Metro Delays This Weekend

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Wake Up The Giant

We’ve got some major delays this weekend. I recommend just walking… From a WMATA press release:

Trains will share one track on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines

Customers can expect lengthy delays of up to 40 minutes this weekend (April 16-18) as old track components are replaced on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines, causing inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track on portions of the rail system.

Riders planning to take the Red, Blue, Orange or Green lines to area sports events this weekend should add up to 40 minutes to their travel times. The Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park on April 16, 17, and 18, the Washington Capitals play at the Verizon Center on April 17, and the DC United play at RFK Stadium on April 17.

Green Line Rail Replacement

Metrorail customers traveling between the College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt Metrorail stations should expect delays this weekend and should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding new rail on the tracks in that area to replace an old stretch of track. Trains will share one track between these locations on Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Continues after the jump with Orange, Blue and Red Line info. (more…)

Dear PoP – Why No Right Turn?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

When traveling west over the Duke Ellington Bridge (towards Connecticut Ave) there is a sign right that says No Right Turns between 7:00 – 9:30 and 4:30 – 6:00 in reference to turning onto Woodley Pl. It seems odd, as Woodley Pl is a one way street (heading north) and there are no restrictions for making left turns onto Woodley. Any ideas?”

Hmm, that doesn’t make any sense at all. From looking at the photo my best guess is that the no right turn sign is actually in reference to Connecticut Ave. That section of Calvert that turns onto Connecticut has a designated right hand turn lane and signal that could back up traffic during rush hour. I think the folks in the comments have it right. Makes sense.

Can anyone confirm my suspicion?

Friday Question of the Day – Will DC’s Nightlife Suffer From Late Night Metro Service Cuts?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville Flickr user Jess J

Thanks to a reader for sending in a link to this story from WAMU radio:

“U Street, H Street, Adams Morgan,” he (Bill Duggan from Madams Organ) says. “All these areas are driven by the hospitality industry. That’s what gets the neighborhoods going and that’s the economic piston that’s driving this thing. And I think that they’ll grind the wheels to a halt.”

If that happens, the fallout wouldn’t be limited to Adams Morgan. The pain would be felt anywhere restaurants and bars are clustered near Metro stations, places like U Street, Chinatown, Dupont Circle–even some suburban areas like Clarendon and Bethesda. It’s a move that could be detrimental to many businesses, especially if it prompts the region’s night crawlers to spend their evenings at home.

What do you guys think – would bars and restaurants be severely affected by late night metro cuts? Do you think places would start to go out of business? And this might generate a biased result given the location of many readers but would you rather see late night cuts or the elimination of the Yellow Line north of Mt. Vernon Square?

Dear PoP – Wicked Car Accident Wed. Morning

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

This accident occurred this morning at 14th and Arkansas NW.
I was around the corner walking my dog, so I didn’t see it happen, but I heard it.
By the time I got there, the driver of the minivan was out and sitting on the sidewalk.

About 5 min later, the cavalry arrived…

Not quite sure how a minivan flips over, at what I’m assuming, was not a very high speed accident. Pretty amazing that everyone walked away…”

Dear PoP – Help Save the G2 Bus

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville Flickr User (and LOOK! Editor) Matt.Dunn

We’ve spoken about the importance of saving the Yellow Line but budget woes may also hurt certain bus lines. A reader writes:

“WMATA is proposing to cut service to the already infrequently running G2 bus from Howard University to Georgetown University. As someone who just moved to Bloomingdale neighborhood, I find the G2 bus service extremely useful, as its the only way for me to get to work. It is the best way – aside from walking – for us to get to a grocery store (whole foods) as there are no other full- grocery store options. G2 is also the only bus that not only goes to Georgetown but to Dupont circle as well.

The plan can be seen here.

Send to: [email protected] by April 6.”

Dear PoP – Metro recycling, fact or myth?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron

“Dear PoP,

I get off at L’Enfant Plaza every morning for work. Two mornings in a row I have watched metro employees take the newspaper recycling bins and dump them in the trash bins. Does anyone know if this a problem at other metro stations?”

I’ve always been skeptical of some recycling efforts ever since I saw a whole floor of recycling (at a previous place of employment) get thrown into a trash can. With Metro I think it is even more difficult because, for some reason, I’ve seen folks throw garbage in the recycling bin. So does that destroy the whole recycling effort of that particular bin (if trash is co-mingled?).

10th Street side of U St/African Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail station entrance temporarily closed

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron. I know it’s a different station but I love this photo…

From a press release:

“Metro has temporarily closed the 10th Street entrance of the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail station on the Green Line for emergency maintenance needed on the entrance escalators. The station remains open and customers can use the 13th and U Street entrance.

Metro officials closed the 10th Street entrance at 3:05 p.m. Metro’s Department of Elevators and Escalators is on scene and making the necessary repairs.”

Though it doesn’t say when this exit will reopen…

Update: The escalator has been fixed and the entrance has reopened. That was pretty fast!

Dear PoP – What Happened to the digital metro ads?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Bogotron

“Dear PoP,

Whatever happened with those internal digital metro ads between metro center and gallery place and union station? The screens are still there, but they don’t run them anymore. Any info?”

When I first noticed these ads I thought I was hallucinating. This is the first I’m hearing that they’ve come down. If I can get a response from WMATA I’ll be sure to update.

In the meantime I’m curious what you guys think – did you like these ads, find them annoying, or were indifferent to them?

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