Saturday, April 6, 2013
Metro will spend $6.5 million to triple the number of surveillance cameras in rail cars as part of a new security system.
Metro plans to triple the number of surveillance cameras throughout the Metrorail system—increasing the number of cameras to about 6,000—and will install them inside Metro rail cars for the first time ever, according to The Washington Examiner. The expansion could cost an estimated $6.5 million, only some of which would come from federal grants, according to The Examiner. How do you feel about having more surveillance cameras on Metro? Do you have any concerns about privacy? Is it a good use of operating funds? Tell us in the comments. "We have no greater responsibility than protecting the safety of our customers, visitors and employees," Metro spokesman Philip Stewart told The Examiner. "To that end, we are in the process of deploying a …
Friday, April 5, 2013
No work is scheduled for Metrorail tracks and stations this weekend, and Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. on Sunday for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run.
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 occurs on four consecutive weekends. The remaining two weekends are April 6 to 7 and April 13 to 14. "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 type of system…
Monday, April 1, 2013
Metro says that system-wide capability is not possible until 2015, but the Congressional deadline is Sept. 30 of this year.
Metro got a break this week on its Congressional deadline to install cellphone service system-wide: A continuing resolution pushed the due date from March 30 to Sept. 30, The Washington Examiner reported. But don't get your hopes up, as Metro has said that system-wide service will not happen until December 2015. Among other requirements to continue receiving $150 million in federal funding each year, Metro is supposed to offer cell phone service throughout the transit system. Metro's 20 busiest stations were wired for Internet service in 2009, but many tunnels between stations and many stations still do not have cell phone or Internet service capabilities. Currently AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have mixed levels of service …
Friday, March 29, 2013
No work is scheduled for Metrorail tracks and stations this weekend.
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 occurs on four consecutive weekends. The remaining weekends are: March 30 to 31, April 6 to 7 and April 13 to 14. "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 …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Weekend track work on Metrorail will take a break for four consecutive weekends.
Metro takes a break from its rigorous weekend track work schedule during the cherry blossom season, according to a statement on Metro's website. This year, the break occurs on four consecutive weekends: March 23-24, March 30-31, Apr. 6-7, and Apr. 13-14. "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 type of system we …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Metro will likely see $8 million less in federal funding for capital projects, The Washington Post reports.
Improvements at Metro stations could be delayed because of a cut in federal funding for the transit system, The Washington Post reported. The $8 million cut in federal dollars for capital projects is a result of sequestration, according to the report. The cuts could also mean plans to upgrade Metro’s fare card system—which would allow Metro riders to pay for rides directly with a credit card—could be delayed or reduced in scope, The Post reported. It wasn't clear which station improvement plans could be delayed, or whether escalator improvement projects were among them. Stations on the list for escalator improvements include Bethesda, Friendship Heights, College Park, Glenmont, Medical Center and Shady Grove. A Metro spokesman didn’t …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Red Line customers traveling by shuttle bus through the work zone are advised to add 40 minutes to their trip times.
Red Line trains will single track in two zones this weekend, from 10 p.m. on Friday, March 15, through closing on Sunday, Metro's website reported. Three stations will be closed during this time: Rhode Island Avenue, Brookland and Fort Totten. Trains will run between Glenmont and Takoma, and between NoMa-Gallaudet and Shady Grove. They will operate every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and every 15 minutes at other times. Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between the NoMa-Gallaudet and Takoma stations so that work crews can perform ongoing platform reconstruction, track upgrades and bridge work, Metro reported. Metro advised customers using the shuttle buses between Takoma and NoMa-Gallaudet to add about 40 minutes to …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Metro made the announcement Friday at a Chamber of Commerce task force meeting.
Metro is eyeing the Bethesda station for a pilot program for future Metro design upgrades, Ginanne Italiano, CEO of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, said Friday. The pilot program has been dubbed the "Metro Station of the Future," Italiano said. Metro government relations officer Charles Scott made the announcement at a Friday morning meeting of the chamber's Metro Improvement Task Force, Italiano said. The announcement marks a victory for Bethesda leaders, who have pushed for years for improvements at the Metro station. "To us, it's huge," Italiano said. A Metro spokesman confirmed the announcement, but couldn't provide further details. "We can confirm that we are looking at Bethesda as a station to test future …
Friday, March 8, 2013
Delays expected in both directions.
Update (Friday, March 8, 7 p.m.): Red Line trains resumed two-track operations between Friendship Heights and Van Ness by 4:59 p.m., Metro reported. Customers were advised to expect residual delays for another half an hour. Original post (Friday, March 8, 4:30 p.m.): Red Line trains began single tracking between the Friendship Heights and Van Ness stations on Friday afternoon "due to a broken rail outside Tenleytown Station," according to a Metro statement. "Metro personnel are at the affected location and will work over the next several hours to replace the affected section with a new 39-foot piece of rail," Metro reported at 3 p.m. Friday. Metro advised both inbound and outbound Red Line passengers to allow for extra travel time until …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Metro is aiming to give two hours advance warning should bus service be suspended.
Metro is operating on a normal weekday schedule Wednesday as the Washington region braces for a potentially major snowstorm. MetroAccess service and certain Metro commuter bus routes have been canceled, however, and Ride On buses are experiencing delays. Metrorail customers are advised to plan extra time for their commute. “You may encounter minor delays due to snow and ice clearing efforts, as equipment that removes snow and ice from the third rail operates between regularly scheduled trains,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said in a statement. Some Metrobus routes may be detoured and bus service may be reduced or suspended as conditions deteriorate, Metro said. Metro is aiming to notify Metrobus riders two hours in …
Richard Hayes
10:38 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Why can't we leave well enough alone. Our metro system is one of the most attractive in the world and yet certain people are always proposing that we change the colors or lighting an other such changes. Leave metro alone and spend money on fixing things that need fixing in our city. more ›