Posts by Matt Johnson — Editorial Board Alum
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Where the Metro riders are, and aren’t
How full are Metro’s trains at any point in the system? What routes do riders take when confronted with a choice between two transfers, or between a longer one-seat ride and a transfer? Last year, in discussing maps I created about the proposed Blue Line reroute, a reader asked about this, but Metro hasn’t collected the data. To answer this question, classmate and… Keep reading…
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Are Metro’s 1000 Series cars safe? Can Metro do anything about it?
With the tragic crash Monday of two Metro trains, WMATA has come under fire for the crashworthiness of its oldest railcars, the 1000 Series. These cars began arriving on site in 1975, and have been carrying passengers since opening day, more than 33 years ago. Metro plans to retire all 1000 Series cars by 2014. In the last three decades, the 1000 Series cars have been involved… Keep reading…
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A look at Metro’s safety systems
Monday’s Red Line crash is a horrible reminder that sometimes things go badly wrong. By all accounts, this collision should not have happened. Not only are safety features present, but the train operator should have been able to hit the emergency stop in case the system failed. Keep reading…
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Takoma tiles a success for Metro
For the past four months, riders on Metro’s Red Line have been able to notice a new kind of flooring at DC’s Takoma station. Installed as a part of a test to see how well the new material would hold up, the new, larger pre-cast concrete tiles are located at the far northern end of the platform, where they are exposed to the elements. Metro announced yesterday that the test has… Keep reading…
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Help us understand route decisions on Metro
Several months ago, I created some maps showing how Metro’s proposed Blue Line reroute would affect headways and travel times. Some commenters asked how the volume of riders compared to the current and proposed headways. Keep reading…
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TPB approves $230 million of stimulus project for Metro
This afternoon, the Transportation Planning Board unanimously approved the stimulus request from WMATA. These federal dollars should soon be boosting our transit system and economy. The repairs are badly needed, and while there are still unfunded needs, the $230 million from the feds will go a long way to supporting Metro. Keep reading…
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Change?
On November 4, I was out in the streets cheering when CNN called the election for Obama. Change was in the air. In a matter of months, a new era would start in America—an era of growing environmental consciousness, of reinvestment in our cities, of policies for the people—instead of for corporate executives. Keep reading…