Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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Amtrak makes no little plans with Union Station vision
Yesterday, Amtrak released a master plan to guide Union Station’s growth over the next several decades. The ambitious proposal includes several key components that will make the station easier to use, increase its capacity, and ensure a strong foundation for the transportation center. It’s somewhat fitting that this ambitious plan is attached to Union Station. Keep reading…
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BART pilot will test bikes on rush hour trains
WMATA’s counterpart in the San Francisco Bay Area, BART, currently restricts bikes on their trains during rush hours. But they’ve decided to pilot letting cyclists bring their bikes on trains during the peak period. Keep reading…
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Having a Plan B saved me 90 minutes on Metro yesterday
Yesterday evening, a derailment snarled the Green Line. A colleague and I both commute from Silver Spring to Greenbelt. His trip took 2.5 hours, mine took 52 minutes. What was the difference? Part of the difference was simply luck, but most of the difference was due to having a Plan B. My colleague and I both work in Downtown Silver Spring and connect to a (different) bus at Greenbelt… Keep reading…
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Greenbelt bus riders need some shade
At the northern end of the Green Line, the Greenbelt station is a major bus transfer point. But passengers transferring between rail and bus face an unrelenting summer sun. In temperatures like those we saw this week, it can be a hellish wait for the bus. Keep reading…
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Better signs could speed trains through Fort Totten
Fort Totten is a convenient transfer point between Metro lines outside the core, but the station layout results in unnecessary crowding. Better signage could improve passenger flow and speed up trains, by helping users know where to stand on the platform. Though crowding at Fort Totten is not as severe as at Gallery Place, the crowding at Fort Totten does cause delays to southbound… Keep reading…
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What happens if Loudoun drops out of Metro?
Loudoun County might decide to drop out of the Silver Line project. If they do, Loudoun will lose out the most, but Fairfax residents will also be hurt if Loudoun neighbors can just drive to Fairfax stations and park. Virginia shouldn’t let Loudoun get something for nothing. Some Loudoun County board members are suddenly very concerned with fiscal austerity after regional… Keep reading…
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How will Rush Plus affect Blue Line commuters?
On Monday we discussed how Rush Plus would affect the Yellow Line. If you commute on the Blue Line, you’ll be in for some changes too. The primary reason for Rush Plus is to allow more Orange Line trains to go through Rosslyn, which is currently maxed out. This will also make way for the Silver Line to Tysons, whose trains will also need to go through Rosslyn. In essence, 3… Keep reading…
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How will Rush Plus affect the Yellow Line?
On Monday, June 18, Metro will make big changes to the rail system with Rush Plus. Under the Rush Plus service plan, the Yellow Line will have more potential destinations than it does today. While Metro has been installing new maps throughout the system and in railcars for several weeks, some riders have wondered about the effect on Yellow Line trains. Foremost among those questions:… Keep reading…
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Metrobus hits cyclist, WMATA brushes victim off
Metrobus drivers get a lot of training before they’re sent out on the streets of DC. To avoid crashes, WMATA needs to make sure this training includes how to interact with cyclists. And when collisions do happen, WMATA needs to take them seriously. Reader Karen was involved in a bicycle crash when a bus driver trapped her against parked cars. She isn’t at all happy with… Keep reading…
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How many railcars does it take to run Metro?
Every day dozens of Metro trains crisscross the region. How many cars does normal weekday service require? And where do those cars run? We asked the agency, and they were happy to provide the numbers. Metro currently needs 860 cars to run normal service during rush hours. These cars make up 129 peak period trains. Keep reading…