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Friday, May 17, 2013

Metro Delays, Track Work Scheduled for May 17-19

Work will impact riders on the Red, Orange and Green lines starting at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing Sunday night.

Traveling on Metro this weekend? Stay informed about delays. Metro will perform system rebuilding work on all but one line in the system for the weekend of May 17-19. This weekend's rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange and Green lines. Blue or Yellow line riders may breathe easy, as there is no scheduled track work on either line this weekend. MAP: Click on your nearest station on the map to see when the next train arrives and to learn about any alerts. Weekend track work will result in service changes on three lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. According to a Metro news release: Red Line - 10 p.m. Fri., May 17 through closing Sun., May 19 Orange Line - 10 p.m. Fri., May 17 through closing Sun., May 19 Green …

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Metro Updates: Adding Silver and Purple to the Mix

The Silver Line appears on a new map, but when might the Purple Line appear?

The Maryland Transit Authority has scheduled a series of five open houses to give updates on the status of the much-discussed Purple Line, according to a Washington Post story. The Purple Line is a proposed light rail extension of the current Metro system and would run for 16 miles between Bethesda and New Carrollton, connecting with the existing Red, Orange and Green Lines. Among issues that have been discussed is how the line’s construction would be funded. A February Post article stated that for Maryland to receive federal funding, the state must demonstrate that it can pay its half ($2.15 billion) of the costs. The gas tax and public-private partnerships have been talked about as possible sources of funding, but no decisions have been …

NotMyRealName

10:11 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Purple Line is not Metro   more ›

Friday, May 10, 2013

Metro Delays, Track Work Scheduled for May 10-12

Work will impact riders on the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines starting at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

Metro will perform system rebuilding work on all but one line in the system for the weekend of May 10 through 12. This weekend's rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines. Green Line trains will operate normally between Greenbelt and Branch Avenue. Additionally, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m.—two hours early—on Sunday to accommodate the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. According to Metro, race participants traveling to the starting line should use the following stations:     • Metro Center (Red/Blue/Orange lines)     • Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange lines)     • Smithsonian (Blue/Orange lines) MAP: Click on your nearest station on the map to see when the next train arrives and to learn about …

Friday, May 3, 2013

Metro Delays, Track Work Scheduled for May 3-5

Work will impact riders on the Blue, Orange, Red and Green lines starting at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

Metro will perform system rebuilding work on all but one line in the system for the weekend of May 3 through 5. This weekend's rebuilding work will result in service changes on the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines. Yellow Line trains will operate normally between Huntington and Fort Totten. MAP: Click on your nearest station on the map to see when the next train arrives and to learn about any alerts. The track work will result in service changes on all lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. According to a Metro news release: Red Line: 10 p.m. Friday, May 3, through closing Sunday, May 5 Orange Line: 10 p.m. Friday, May 3, through closing Sunday, May 5 Blue Line: 10 p.m. Friday, May 3, through closing Sunday, May 5 Green Line: 10 p.m. Friday, …

Friday, April 26, 2013

Shuttle Buses Replace Trains on Red Line Segment This Weekend

Metro will open at 5 a.m. on Sunday for the Nike Women Half Marathon.

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains this weekend between the NoMa-Gallaudet and Takoma stations, according to a Metro news statement. The service changes will allow for bridge work at New York Avenue Station, and for tie replacement, insulator renewal and communication system upgrades. Starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and continuing through closing on Sunday, two stations will be closed: Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland. Also, the Fort Totten Station will be open for Green and Yellow Line service only. Trains will operate between Glenmont and Takoma and between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times. Free shuttle buses will operate on two …

Friday, April 19, 2013

Metro's 'Spring Break' Over, Track Work Resumes

The weekend track work schedule picks up again this weekend.

Metro's track work-free weekends of cherry blossom time are over. This weekend—from 10 p.m. on Friday, April 19, through closing on Sunday, April 21—Red Line trains will be replaced by free shuttle buses between Gallery Place and Union Station "as workers install 600 feet of new lighting fixtures between the tracks at Judiciary Square Station. ... Rail service must be suspended because the light fixtures are located within inches of both third rails," Metro reported on its website. The Judiciary Square Station will be closed all weekend, and trains will run between Glenmont and Union Station every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times. Between Shady Grove and Farragut North, trains will run every …

Monday, April 15, 2013

New Rail Cars Coming to Metro by 2021

Metro decided against the overhaul of the old cars for the purchase of new ones.

The Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently announced that it will spend $215 million over the next five years to replace some 4000-series rail cars made by Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie with brand-new 7000-series cars from Kawasaki, according to The Washington Post. The new rail cars will not have the ubiquitous orange and brown color scheme, and will add additional signs, brighter lights and more handholds. WMATA ordered a total of 428 of the new cars, at a total cost of $886 million, according to the report. The 4000-series cars have caused WMATA problems since they were first brought into the system in the early 1990s, but they have not been the only cars with issues. The Post has detailed that part of the braking …

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Report: 'Much Brighter' Bethesda Metro Station Could Happen by Mid-2015

The Washington Post reports on Metro's $10 million plan to test future design concepts at the Bethesda station.

New prototype design concepts at the Bethesda Metro will cost $10 million, and the "much brighter" station could happen by mid-2015, The Washington Post reported. Patch broke the news last month that Bethesda has been selected for the "Model Station of the Future" pilot project. The concepts tested at Bethesda may be used system-wide in the future, according to a Metro statement. Metro General Manager Richard Sarles told The Washington Post that the design changes would update elements of Metro's "outdated ’70s brown look" in favor of an "updated, 21st-century look.” The new look at Bethesda, which was chosen because of its pending escalator replacement project and design elements that make the station difficult to illuminate, could …

Friday, April 12, 2013

Metro Unveils Video Simulation of Bethesda 'Model Station of the Future'

On Thursday, Metro revealed details about its plan to test design concepts at Bethesda that could be used system-wide.

Metro on Thursday unveiled a video simulation and new details surrounding its plan to use the Bethesda station to pilot new design concepts as a part of its strategic plan, "Momentum." Patch broke the news last month that Bethesda has been selected for the "Model Station of the Future" pilot project. The concepts tested at Bethesda may be used system-wide in the future, according to a Metro statement. The pilot program will bring "improved lighting, better information and improved customer convenience" to the station. According to Metro, some of the new concepts being considered include: “The National Capital Region is growing at an accelerated rate,” Metro General Manager Richard Sarles said in the statement. “It is imperative that we do …

Last Weekend to Enjoy Metro's 'Spring Break'

Have you enjoyed Metro's track work-free weekends these past few weeks? This weekend will be the last one for a while.

Metro takes a break from its rigorous weekend track work schedule during the cherry blossom season, according to a Metro news statement. This year, the break has occurred on four consecutive weekends. This weekend—April 13 and 14—is the last weekend for the "spring break." "The only planned weekend work during that time will take place late Sunday evenings, when ridership is light," Metro reported. "While the work we do almost every weekend is necessary to get the system back to a steady state of safety and reliability, we are in a position where we can take a short break to let everyone enjoy the season," Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles said in the statement. "The spring break will give people an opportunity to experience the…

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