METRO

Photo by PoPville flickr user vpickering

From WMATA:

“Red Line
Trains every 10-15 minutes

Red Line trains will operate as follows from 10 p.m. Friday through closing Sunday:

Between Shady Grove & Glenmont: Every 15 minutes throughout the weekend
Between Van Ness & NoMa-Gallaudet: Every 8-10 minutes from 9AM-9PM only

Work Performed: Rail fastener and insulator renewal between Van Ness and Friendship Heights; fence and light pole replacement between NoMa-Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue.

Orange Line
Buses replace trains between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly

Orange Line trains will operate as follows from 10 p.m. Friday through closing Sunday:

Between Vienna & Stadium-Armory: Every 15 minutes throughout the weekend
Between New Carrollton & Cheverly: Every 15 minutes throughout the weekend

Stations Closed: Minnesota Ave and Deanwood

Free shuttle buses will replace Orange Line trains between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly. Shuttle buses will operate on two routes:

Express Buses will operate non-stop between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly. Add 25 minutes of travel time.
Local Buses will operate between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly, making intermediate stops at Minnesota Ave and Deanwood. Please allow 10 minutes of travel time for each station stop.

Work Performed: Crews will continue tunnel rehabilitation at Stadium-Armory, platform renewal at Minnesota Ave, and improvements to track infrastructure including rail joint elimination along with rail tie, fastener, grout pad and insulator renewal.

Last Train Time Change: The last Orange Line train of the night from New Carrollton to Cheverly will depart 27 minutes earlier than normal to allow for shuttle bus connections. On Friday and Saturday nights, the last train will leave New Carrollton at 2:09 a.m., and on Sunday, the last train will leave New Carrollton at 11:09 p.m. (more…)

Thanks to a reader for sending at 6:20pm.

@metrorailinfo tweets:

“Orange Line: Expect residual delays to Vienna due to an earlier train malfunction at Farragut West.”

“Dear PoPville,

Metro has been working on an escalator in the Columbia Heights station for a while, and I finally read the sign they put up. This escalator is between the train platform and the next level up. It is 100% underground, which makes the sign pretty confusing. Does Metro really plan to put a glass canopy over an underground escalator to protect it from the elements, or did they think they needed to put up a sign to inform riders of what they’re doing, without pausing to check whether the sign provides accurate information?

Here’s the text of the sign:

Many Metro escalators are exposed to harsh elements that they weren’t designed for. That’s why we’ve covered them with glass canopies.

These canopies provide shelter for the equipment. And more importantly, for you.
Some stations still need them, and as we replace escalators, we’ll install a canopy to put on a much-needed finishing touch.”

Hahaha they put the same sign on an underground escalator they are working on at the Petworth metro too. My guess is they just ran out of signs explaining the work they were doing and had extras of these and said ‘screw it, this’ll work…’

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“The Metro Board of Directors today approved an FY15 operating budget that includes modest fare changes for Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess starting in July. The budget advances the Metro’s strategic plan and includes funding to provide safer, better, and more service, all while continuing safety improvements, the rebuilding of the Metro system, increasing capacity, and improving the effectiveness of the current rail and bus networks.

Here is a summary of fare changes that will take effect July 1, 2014:

Metrorail

Fares will increase an average of 3% (about 10 cents per trip). Short trips of 3 miles or less will increase from $1.70 to $1.75 during off-peak and from $2.10 to $2.15 during rush hour.
The maximum rail fare will increase to $5.90, from $5.75 today.
A $1 surcharge will continue to be applied for trips taken with a paper farecard.
Passes will increase to the following prices:
Unlimited one-day pass $14.50
Unlimited 7-day pass $59.25
Unlimited 28-day pass $237.00
7-day “short trip” pass $36.00

Metrobus

Regular bus fares will become $1.75, regardless of whether using cash or SmarTrip. Today, fares are $1.60 for SmarTrip and $1.80 cash. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From WMATA:

“This year’s break will take place over four consecutive weekends, beginning Saturday, March 22, and continuing through Sunday, April 13. Trains will run at regular weekend intervals on all lines. During daytime hours, normal weekend intervals are every 6 to 12 minutes. (The only planned weekend work during this time will take place late Sunday evenings, after 10 p.m., when ridership is light.)

In addition, Metro will run more 8-car trains than normal to provide additional capacity. Eight-car trains are the longest possible on the Metrorail system.

Sarles encouraged riders to load value onto their SmarTrip card in advance – especially through Auto Reload, the online feature that automatically replenishes a low balance. In addition, riders traveling to the Tidal Basin are encouraged to use stations other than Smithsonian, which is frequently crowded during the spring season.

On average, Metro ridership increases by more than 15 percent during Cherry Blossom season, and weekend ridership can double to near-weekday levels if the weather is nice.

Metro is at the halfway point of a six-year, $5.5 billion program to improve safety and reliability through the reconstruction of major components of the rail system. It represents the largest capital investment — and work effort — since Metrorail’s original construction in the early 1970s.”