Transit

Dear PoP – Metro wireless service by Oct 16th? Friday Question of the Day – Are You Looking Forward to Cell Service on the Metro?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’ve seen workers installing the wires and transmitters for the new wireless services in the Columbia Heights and a few other stations the last month, but wondering if anyone has details on whether WMATA is still on target to get the 20 Metro stations in the press release below connected by Oct 16th as promised?

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4014”

The reader sent in the photo above from the Crystal City Station. I was going to ask readers if they’ve noticed service in any stations yet, but being that the DC blogosphere can be very small world at times – DCist explored the same issue earlier on Thurs. They said they were able to get service at L’Enfant Plaza. Anyone else getting service at stations already?

I’ll be honest – I’m of the old school that sorta prefers the minimal times when I’m not connected. God help us when folks can use their cells on airplanes…

So what about you – do you even want cell phone service within the metro? I can appreciate being able to check email and the web but I’m kinda dreading dozens of phone conversations. Am I just being ornery or is cell service at metro stations and inevitably on the trains themselves a good thing?

Something Going on At Gallery Place/Metro Center Metro Stations?

By Prince Of Petworth

Anyone having problems here? A reader writes that they saw some sort of explosion at Gallery Place/Chinatown.< @dcfireems from twitter says: "Metro Ctr / Gallery Place smoke in tunnel and/or fire under train Metro Ctr being evac". @metroopensdoors says: "Red Line: Trains sharing same track btwn Judiciary Sq. & Farragut N. due to smoke on tracks at Metro Center. Delays in both directions." More as details become available.

Update: 9:50am: From a reader:

“I was actually at the station when it happened — a little before nine this morning, the red line train heading to metro center was slowly leaving when the station when it seemed to cause a series of loud cracking noises. Each was louder than the next — finally, a loud boom and the station filled with smoke. I was able to get a picture of he cloud coming through the station, but it doesn’t do it justice. Traffic stopped immediately; and, as I caught the orange line, I think I heard the fire alarm go off. What’s really curious about the whole incident is that the train was stopped for a few minutes before leaving, as if they knew something was wrong.”

Another witness:

“I was actually on the train. What happened was at Judiciary Square we had to let a sick passenger off the train. Then pulling out of Gallery Place, there was a mechanical malfunction, followed by stopping and starting of the train and then a series of explosions (with little fire and sparks everywhere) under the first car and the car I was on, and there was smoke in some of the cars. People were freaking out about it, but we got to metro center safely and offloaded and no one was hurt or pushed off the train. (I commend the train operator for keeping everyone calm!)

The other person is right, we did hold at Gallery Place for a few minutes while the train conductor told us that there was a malfunction but she couldn’t let us into the tunnel and we were going to make it to Metro Center and then offload. Shortly after this announcement were the other explosions including the one outside my car, followed by the people yelling to stop the train, be let off, hit the emergency button, etc.”

Update 10:40am  – Metro reports all’s back to normal:

“At 10:12 a.m., normal service has resumed on the Red Line after the removal of an outbound six-car train on the Red Line at Metro Center. The disabled train lost one of its collector shoes. Each train has four collector shoes which connect to the third rail.”

Circulator Service on Wisconsin Ave to Remain

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Fenty Administration Announces Wisconsin Avenue Circulator Route Will Remain in Service

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein announced today the DC Circulator route along Wisconsin Avenue will remain in service.

“After further review this administration has determined the route along Wisconsin Avenue is necessary to the residents, businesses and workers who rely on it as an economically reliable transportation choice.” said Mayor Fenty.

“The great outpouring of support from the DC Circulator ridership has once again ensured the continued service of this vital transportation option along the Wisconsin Avenue corridor,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans. “I salute Mayor Fenty for his continued support of the residents of Ward 2 and throughout the city. “

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced on September 21st the DC Circulator would undergo several service changes coinciding with the beginning of the FY10 District budget including a discontinuation of the Wisconsin Avenue route north of M Street.

“It is never easy to make any cuts in service, and we did not take this particular cut lightly,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “We are pleased that Mayor Fenty and Councilmember Evans are supportive of transit and its importance to the city and that they support keeping this portion of the route open.”

For more information about all of the Circulator routes, please visit www.dccirculator.com or call (202) 962-1423.”

Brother of Jogger Hit by Bus Seeks Witnesses to Accident at Corner of Connecticut and Florida, Sept. 3

By Prince Of Petworth


View Larger Map

“Dear PoP,

I’m the brother of Amanda Mahnke, who was jogging on Connecticut at Florida on September 3 when she was hit by a Metrobus. She is recovering from serious injuries. I’m very grateful to the people who came to my sister’s aid that morning, and I would like to talk to anyone who was there. If you could post something encouraging people who were there, or who know someone who was there, to e-mail me (rm2159570 at gmail dot com), I would be appreciative. Since WTOP created some confusion on the point, I’d also like to mention there is no basis for the notion that Amanda was wearing earbuds that morning. Not that it should make a difference — joggers who are wearing earbuds should be safe from buses, too.”

If anyone saw something please email Robert at rm215570 (at) Gmail (dot) com. For those that missed the Post article – the driver of the metro bus has been fired.

Dear PoP – Is there a Train Near Adams Morgan/Woodley Park?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user cacophony76

“Dear PoP,

Any ideas on why a train can sometimes be heard near Adams Morgam/Woodley? Where is this train??”

I asked a similar question back in May ’07. At that time I inquired about hearing a train from my home in Petworth. I was told that I was “hearing trains on the track that runs along the Red Line metro track parallel to North Capitol and then along Blair to Silver Spring.”

Anyone know what train you can hear from Adams Morgan/Woodley Park? Is it the same one?

Dear PoP – Anyone Use Zip Car?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I have a car but can walk to work and have been thinking about getting rid of it. My husband (who also has a car) thinks I should keep my car because it’s paid for, has low miles and gives me no trouble.

We got a notice at work about our company getting a discounted rate for the ZipCar sign up fee. I’m thinking about joining. I figure that if I *needed* a car I could use one of those, but save on the auto ownership costs and the daily parking hassle.

Moving on to the point: Do you or any of your readers have any experience with zipcar and if so, how have they found it? Convenient? Easy to use? Cars available when they need them? Overly expensive?”

What do you guys recommend?  I recently sold my car and couldn’t be happier.  Though I haven’t signed up for Zip Car so I’m interested to hear what folks have to say as well.

Pedestrian Struck at Columbia Heights Metro

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by cacophony76

From @dcfireems on twitter:

“ped struck Col Hgts Metro 14th & Columbia NW DC F&EMS enroute”

Will update as more info becomes available. While it is not yet known if it is a suicide, here is our discussion on that topic from last week.

From WMATA:

“Disruption at Columbia Heights. Trains are sharing the same track between Georgia Avenue and Shaw-Howard University due to a person struck by a train at Columbia Heights station. Expect delays in both directions.”

From @Metroopensdoors:

“Columbia Heights station has reopened. Trains are sharing the same track between Georgia Avenue and Shaw-HU. Expect delays”

Full WMATA Press Release:

“A person was struck by a six-car Yellow Line train as it pulled into the Columbia Heights Metrorail station today at 1:55 p.m. The train was headed downtown.

The preliminary indication leads investigators to believe that the individual intentionally placed himself/herself (gender not yet confirmed) in the path of the train.

Columbia Heights Metrorail station is open. It was closed from 1:55 to 2:40 p.m. while emergency crews responded to the scene. Currently Green Line trains are single tracking (sharing one track) between the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail station to the Shaw-Howard Metrorail station. All Yellow Line trains are now operating only between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail stations, which is the usual Yellow Line route during rush hours. There is no Yellow Line service between Mt. Vernon Square and Fort Totten Metrorail stations.

Shuttle buses also have been requested to assist customers who want to get around the incident.”

@dcfireems updates:

“teenage male removed from under train green/yellow line inbound near center platform- pri 1 life-threatening injuries”.

From the Files of the Ridiculous

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Columbia Heights Climber

From the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire:

“Protesters who attended Saturday’s Tea Party rally in Washington found a new reason to be upset: Apparently they are unhappy with the level of service provided by the subway system.

Rep. Kevin Brady asked for an explanation of why the government-run subway system didn’t, in his view, adequately prepare for this past weekend’s rally to protest government spending and government services.”

Or does anyone think this is a valid complaint?

View More Stories