Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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Labor Day work to close 5 Metro stations
Metro trackwork next weekend will close 5 stations on the Red Line. Friday night and all day Saturday, Sunday, and Monday September 3-6 Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Fort Totten only. Free shuttle buses will connect passengers to Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont, which will be closed. The closure will begin at approximately… Keep reading…
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Mapping Metro’s escalators
Lately, one of the big criticisms of Metro revolves around its escalators. Why the transit authority has so many problems is anyone’s guess. But one reason people see so many problems is because of the sheer number of escalators. Metro has 588 escalators systemwide, more than any other transit system in the western hemisphere. In fact, initial plans for Metro called… Keep reading…
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DDOT to clarify where to wait for New Hampshire bike signal
Last week, DDOT opened new contra-flow lanes on New Hampshire Avenue for cyclists. But several bikers have reported not knowing where to wait at the intersection with 16th Street in order to trip the bike signal. Cyclists are supposed to wait on the chevrons immediately behind the stop line, but there is no information telling them to do so. DDOT has plans to make this clear. The… Keep reading…
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Modify next train displays to improve communication
Metro’s next train (PIDS) signs are a great attribute of the system. But there’s still room for improvement. In this budget climate, it’s certainly easier for Metro to focus on incremental changes. One low cost change that could be implemented quickly and with no disruption to passengers would be a revision in the way information is displayed on the PIDS signs. The… Keep reading…
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Breakfast Links: Before and after
Bye-bye GEORGE; Free State out of free space for roads; If you build it…; …Get private industry to pay for it; Maybe if Oklahoma had a rail system…; …Coburn would still block safety. Keep reading…
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MWAA considers moving Dulles Airport Metro stop
The Washington Post reported today that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is building the Silver Line, is considering moving the proposed Metro station at Dulles Airport away from the terminal. While there are not yet any detailed plans, the move would allow the station to be built above-ground. This could shave quite a bit off the project’s cost. Keep reading…
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Join GGW for a happy hour on August 19
It’s time for another GGW Happy Hour. And you’re invited! Keep reading…
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Metro by the numbers, part 2
Yesterday, I compared Metro to other heavy rail systems on ridership and fares. Those are just a few of the ways to compare Metro to other heavy rail systems around the country. Service Span: There’s probably not a person under 30 in Washington who hasn’t complained about the lack of super-late service on the Metro. I’ve certainly been there. But Metro runs… Keep reading…