dc_metro_track_work
Photo by PoPville flickr user washingtonydc

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of January 16-18, 2015 with service adjustments on all lines.

This weekend, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains will operate every 20 minutes. Red Line trains will run every 12-22 minutes.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day service information
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. There is no scheduled track work on any line. Due to the holiday, trains will operate at Saturday intervals (every 12 minutes from endpoint terminals). Parking at all Metro-owned lots and garages is free. (more…)


From WMATA:

“Metro Transit Police are cataloging and securing all personal belongings that were left behind by riders during Monday’s evacuation at L’Enfant Plaza.

To reclaim their property, riders should call Metro Customer Service at (202) 637-7000 anytime from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekends.

Starting late afternoon, riders’ property will be available at Metro Headquarters, located at 600 Fifth St NW, Washington, DC, where Metro Transit Police will assist riders with reclaiming their belongings.

Metro will make alternate arrangements to return property to any rider for whom traveling to Downtown DC poses a hardship.”


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@JackieMarks tweeted us around 8:15am:

“How is this the line to get into the Takoma Metro?”

“one working turnstile. Finally got a second one operational but it created quite the backup.”


From WMATA:

“The following is a statement from Metro Board Chair Tom Downs to Metro customers:

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and all Metro employees, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the passenger who died yesterday following the incident on the Yellow Line. To those who were injured or frightened, and to the thousands who have been inconvenienced by this major service disruption, I offer a heartfelt apology. Please also know that Metro is working to restore full service as soon as possible.

“Metro is actively cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board investigation that is now underway. This will be a thorough process that often takes time, and we understand that passengers want answers quickly. Please know that once the cause of this incident is understood, we are prepared to take the actions needed to prevent this from happening again. The safety of each and every Metro rider and employee remains our absolute highest priority.”


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Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

From WMATA:

“As of 5 a.m., normal Green Line service has been restored in both directions.

During the Tuesday morning commute, trains will operate as follows:
• Green Line: Regular service, every 6 minutes, between Branch Ave & Greenbelt
• Orange Line: Trains every 8 minutes between Vienna & New Carrollton
• Silver Line: Trains every 12 minutes between Wiehe-Reston East & Largo, with 8-car trains to provide additional capacity
• Blue Line: Trains every 12 minutes at Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street, every 6 minutes at all other stations
Yellow Line: Service is replaced by additional Blue Line trains running between Huntington & Largo every 12 minutes

All Metrorail stations are open.”

From the Mayor’s office last night:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the following statement regarding the Metrorail fatality during this afternoon’s commute:

“We are all saddened by today’s fatality aboard the Metrorail, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the passenger who passed away. I want to thank our brave first responders who assisted passengers during the evacuation and with treatment at the scene. I have been in contact with the WMATA leadership, and we will continue to keep the District’s resources available in the aftermath of the incident.”


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Gallery place crowds forming at 350pm

Reports are l’enfant plaza is closed. Updates when more info is available and I get to a computer.

Mass casualty event declared by dcfd. Hope all are ok. Updates soon.

Update from Metro PD:

“Metro Transit Police and fire department personnel are on scene at L’Enfant Plaza for smoke in the station.

The source of the smoke has not been determined. The station has been evacuated and is temporarily closed at this time.

Metro has activated tunnel fans to ventilate the area.

Service Information:
• Green Line service is SUSPENDED between Navy Yard and Mt Vernon Square.
• Yellow Line service is SUSPENDED between Pentagon City and Mt Vernon Square.
• Blue/Orange/Silver line trains are BYPASSING L’Enfant Plaza (passing through the station without stopping).
• L’Enfant Plaza is closed.
• Riders should consider alternate travel options. To view bus options, use Metro’s trip planner and select the “bus only” option. Expect significant delays.”

Update from @IAFF36:

“Mass Casualty” is a term utilized when additional resources are potentially necessary on large scale incidents”

Update from @metrorailinfo:

“Shuttle buses are enroute to L’Enfant Plaza & Navy Yard. 4:16p”

Update from @dcfireems:

“Metro Box Alarm Update – Passengers are being removed from disable train inside of tunnel. No injuries have been reported.”

Update from @Metrobusinfo:

“23A,25A,25C: Due to traffic congestion, buses are delayed up to 15 minutes in both directions.

32,34,36,39: Due to traffic congestion downtown, buses are delayed up to 20 minutes in both directions.”

Update 4:40pm from @Metrorailinfo:

Board Green Line shuttle buses at the following locations – Navy Yard: @ M St & NJ Ave; L’Enfant Plaza: @ 7th & C St

Update – you can see photos from the smoke filled trains and tunnel here.

Update 4:50pm from @Metrorailinfo:

“Green/Yellow lines: Rail service SUSPENDED btwn Navy Yard/Pentagon City & Mt Vernon Sq. Seek alternate travel options.

L’Enfant Plaza remains closed. FD on scene. Source of smoke remains undetermined. All evacuations completed.”

Update 5:30pm from @dcfireems:

“Update: Metro Box Alarm – 1 pt. transported with serious injuries and 5 pt. transported with minor injuries to area hospitals.”

Update 5:50pm from @DDOTDC:

“Closures: Indep Ave SW btw 7th & 10th St in both directions, 10th street from Indep Ave to D St. SW, D st btw 7th st & 10th St. 7th St DSt.”

From @Metrorailinfo:

“Green/Yellow update: Trains now servicing Gallery Pl for service to/from Greenbelt. Service remains suspended btwn Gallery Pl & Navy Yard”

Update 6pm from ‏@Metrobusinfo:

“H1,H2,H3,H4,H8: Due to traffic congestion near Columbia Rd & 13th St NW, buses are delayed in both directions.”

@Metrorailinfo:

“Green/Yellow lines: Rail service SUSPENDED between Navy Yard/Pentagon & Mt Vernon Sq. Seek alternate travel options. 6:05p”

Update 7:45pm from @dcfireems:

“Metro Box Alarm Update: 84pts. transported to area hospitals with various injuries. Over 200 people evaluated.1 firefighter injured. Update: Injured firefighter was transported to local hospital w/ serious but non-life threatening injuries.”

Washington Post reports:

“One dead, two in critical condition, with many others taken to hospitals.”

@Metrorailinfo:

“L’Enfant Plaza Station remains closed; Green/Yellow service suspended between Gallery Place and Navy Yard & Pentagon City. 7:40p”

@MetroTransitPD:

“Advised @NTSB is launching an investigation into L’Enfant incident. As a result, all info related to investigation will come from NTSB.”

Update 8:14pm from @Metrorailinfo:

L’Enfant Plaza Station has re-opened for Orange/Silver/Blue line service ONLY. Enter using the 7th & Maryland Av or 7th & D St entrances.

Green/Yellow line service will REMAIN SUSPENDED through end of service day btwn Gallery Place & Navy Yard/Pentagon.”


no_pants_dc_metro
Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering

The loved/hated no pants metro ride was yesterday. The annual event is hosted by Capitol Improv:

“We do understand that is is hard to avoid dancing when you have No Pants, but we do encourage participants to maintain the original spirit of the event, and act as if your missing pants had nothing to do with No Pants day, such as simply forgetting your pants at home, no pants is a new fashion trend, or our personal favorite, “My dog ate my pants”.

Make sure you have a place to keep your pants on your person and hidden, like a bag or backpack.

Also – if any figure of authority tells you to put your pants back on, do as they say. Unfortunately, indecency laws are entirely subjective and while we haven’t had any major problems in the past, we’d like to keep on DC Metro’s good side so the event can continue for another year. Let’s make our 8th No Pants year the best for DC!”

Ed. Note: Those who wish to equate taking photos of this event with the creepy guy who takes photos of the underpants of unsuspecting women and teens and then posts them to a porn site – don’t – it’s completely different.


dc_metro_weekend_track_work
Photo by PoPville flickr user L. Shanley

It was nice while it lasted…

From WMATA:

“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of January 2-4, 2015 with service adjustments on three of six rail lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.

This weekend, Red, Yellow and Green line trains will operate on a normal schedule. Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 24 minutes. (more…)


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