@kiblerchris tweets us just before 6pm:
“Gallery Place literally shoulder to shoulder for the entire length of the platform”
METRO
Photo by PoPville flickr user John Cochran
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Earlier today, the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) released a Safety Management Inspection Report on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). In response to the report, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the following statement:
“The FTA’s safety audit confirms my belief that WMATA is in need of a management restructuring and organizational turn-around. I will continue to work with the District’s appointees to the Board of Directors and our regional partners to demand accountability.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
“Dear PoPville,
What’s been going on with the red line the last couple weeks? And before the barage of comments about how much the red line sucks, it seems to be REALLY bad right now. I know they were single tracking last week, but I think that stopped, and trains are still sardine-packed at rush hour. Again, I know that it’s always packed, but it has been extra packed lately, with fewer trains. Did they reduce the number of trains or something?”
I wonder if it’s related to the door troubles on the 4000 series cars getting fixed?
Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe Flood
From WMATA:
“This past weekend, Metro’s railcar maintenance and engineering staff completed inspections of door operations and components on all 100 4000-series cars. The inspections revealed no evidence of a systemic or emergent safety hazard. However, some of the door components were found to be at a low level of acceptable tolerance in terms of meeting Metro standards, and mechanics will need to make adjustments to the door equipment to keep all components in good working order. This work will help enhance safety, ensure the reliability of door operations and reduce offloads.
The door maintenance work will require more time with the cars than is available during overnight hours and includes adjusting tension on the doors, switches, and checking all screw mechanisms, as well as a more robust inspection of all components.
Over the next month, Metro will gradually return 4000-series cars to passenger service as the maintenance work is completed. This means that mostly 6-car trains will continue to operate in the coming days but will gradually be expanded as more 4000-series cars return to service.
Metro greatly appreciates our riders’ patience and understanding as this necessary work is undertaken to ensure safe and reliable train operations.”
Thanks to a reader for sending:
“Metro Center now has a touch screen information display, pretty cool. 13 & G exit”
Yesterday Metro issued a press release about them:
“Today, Metro along with OUTFRONT Media launched a digital advertising pilot program with the debut of large, interactive touchscreens at 8 Metrorail stations.
A first for Metro, the 72” digital flat-panel screens will be wall mounted and feature an interactive HD display. The divided screen will show eight-second advertisements and provide real-time customer information, including train arrival/departure times, station maps and area maps with dynamic navigational guides.
“We are thrilled to be working with WMATA to install these displays,” said Jeremy Male, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OUTFRONT Media. “Digital displays enhance the customers’ journey through way-finding and real-time information, and provide enhanced revenue opportunity for WMATA. Relevant and changeable ad messaging based on criteria such as time of day, weather, and other sales triggers is extremely appealing to advertisers.”
Digital advertising displays are being piloted at the following locations: (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of June 12-14 with service adjustments on the Orange and Green lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday. On the Red Line during daytime hours, five stations from Shady Grove to Grosvenor have service every 12 minutes, rather than every 6 minutes.
Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate on their regular weekend schedules.
Due to scheduled rebuilding, Orange line trains will operate every 18 minutes, rather than every 12-15 minutes. Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals between College Park and Branch Avenue stations; buses will replace trains at Greenbelt Station.”
A reader writes in:
“Rode my first 7000 series car today on the red line to shady grove. Amazing to be able to hear the announcements although in an electronic voice reminiscent of airport trams. Smoother ride too. Didn’t mean that we didn’t stop randomly in tunnels, as always…”
For others who’ve ridden – have you noticed a smoother ride too?
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Photo tweeted to @PoPville by @loritodd
From Metro Transit Police:
“MTPD & medics o/s at Ft Totten w/wheelchair customer who fell off platform after telling witness he felt dizzy. Conscious, breathing”
“Fort Totten add’l: Subject is male adult. Injury appears non-life-threatening. Being tx by medics now. Single tracking in area.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of June 5-7 with service adjustments on the Orange and Green lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday. On the Red Line during daytime hours, five stations from Shady Grove to Grosvenor have service every 12 minutes, rather than every 6 minutes.
Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate on their regular weekend schedules with Yellow Line trains running between Huntington & Mt. Vernon Square only.
Due to scheduled rebuilding, Orange Line trains will operate every 16 minutes, rather than every 12-15 minutes. Green Line trains will operate every 20 minutes.”
Also of note from WTOP:
“Members of Congress from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia say they’ll try to restore $50 million in funding for safety improvements to the Metro subway system that was cut by the House.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Claire
A reader writes: “Don’t know if you saw this, but Washington Post is reporting that Metro has banned issue ads through the end of the year. Can’t we just talk about shoes?”
From the Washington Post:
“The sudden advocacy-ad ban comes as an anti-Muslim group planned to put a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad in transit system ads.
A Metro official said the agency feared the ad would make buses and subway stations “terrorists targets.”
From WMATA:
“Reconstruction of the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of May 29-31 with service adjustments on five of six rail lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday.
This weekend, Yellow Line trains will operate regular weekend service between Huntington & Fort Totten. Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals between College Park and Branch Avenue stations; buses will replace trains at Greenbelt Station. Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 26 minutes and Red Line trains will operate every 10-20 minutes.”
and @wmata tweets:
“Next 7000-series #newtrain will enter service June 8 at 7 a.m. on the Red Line. First trip will start at Shady Grove.”
Photo via WMATA
From WMATA:
“Metro Transit Police (MTPD) detectives today arrested Jerez Nehemiah Stone-Coleman (aka Kidd Cole) on charges of making terroristic threats against Metro stations, buses and trains in the Washington, D.C., area.
Stone-Coleman was arrested by MTPD officers and detectives this morning at his residence in the 1600 block of Fort Davis Place, SE, in Washington, D.C.
According to the Criminal Complaint in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Stone-Coleman is alleged to have “knowingly [conveyed] false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to engage in terrorist attacks or other violence against mass transportation systems,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § (a)(9).
Between December 12, 2014, and May 12, 2015, the Metro Transit Police Communications Division received eleven telephone calls via the 911 emergency system reporting bomb threats and/or hostage situations at or directed against Metro stations, trains and buses. In each instance, the caller conveyed specific threat information concerning destructive devices and intended acts of violence. Each report prompted an emergency response by Metro Transit Police and in some cases other law enforcement agencies. The threat information provided in each of the 911 calls turned out to be “wholly false,” according to the Complaint.
Investigators allege that Stone-Coleman made false threats on approximately eleven occasions, each resulting in an emergency response and some resulting in disruptions to transit service. Among the false threats:
On January 20, 2015, the caller claimed that people “from France” told him that they planned to ambush the President’s motorcade and assassinate him that night. The caller went on to say that the same people had placed bombs around the Potomac Avenue Metro station, and also planned to kill a police officer. As a result of these threats, the entire Potomac Avenue Metro station was shut down and sweeps were conducted to check for the reported bombs or other destructive devices.
On January 22, 2015, the caller stated that he and his friends were planning to take hostages on Metrobus 6149 and that they would kill the hostages if they were not paid a $15 million ransom.
On February 22, 2015, MTPD received a bomb threat against Metrobus 7130 from a caller who advised that an individual wearing “all black clothing” and glasses had threatened to blow up the bus and was brandishing an AS-50 sniper rifle. The caller advised that the bus was near the Capitol.
On May 12, 2015, the caller claimed that someone had approached his nephew and told him that he/she was planning to blow up the Metro station.
In another 911 hoax call, a violent threat was conveyed against a Metrobus in the District of Columbia. The bus was stopped, evacuated and an innocent citizen who matched the lookout given by the caller was detained, questioned and frisked.
On April 14, 2015, the caller told a 911 dispatcher that a bomb had been placed at the McPherson Square Metro station, and that there was a bomb at the White House.
On May 5, 2015, the caller claimed that he had received information that certain individuals were planning to blow up a bus at the Potomac Avenue Metro station.
Metro Transit Police detectives used cellular phone records, digital video surveillance from stations and buses, and telephone audio to identify Stone-Coleman. A warrant for his arrest was issued on May 26, 2015.
“We have no greater responsibility than protecting Metro’s customers and employees,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik. “This case demonstrates the seriousness with which we take all threats and the lengths to which we will go to bring those responsible to justice.”
in May 2014, Stone-Coleman appeared as “Kidd Cole” in an episode of the MTV reality show “Catfish,” a show that documents people who – according to the show’s website – “pretend to be someone [they’re] not by posting false information, such as someone else’s pictures, on social media sites usually with the intention of getting someone to fall in love with you.”