Posts by Stephen Repetski — Editorial Board Alum
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Human error to blame for a close call between track workers and oncoming train, a Metro report says
Newly-published Metro safety investigation reports name human error and failures to follow protocol as common threads leading to close calls, injuries, and trains being sent down the wrong tracks. Keep reading…
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WMATA officials hope “normal” Metro service will resume in spring 2021 — but nobody really knows
Metro bus and rail service might not return to normal until next spring, according to a plan released by the agency on Monday. Trains will continue running every 20-30 minutes “likely for the rest of the year” while the region responds to the coronavirus pandemic. Metro staff plan to present the plan to the agency’s board of directors on Thursday. Keep reading…
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Virginia plans to expand the Long Bridge connection with another crossing
The state of Virginia plans to add another crossing to supplement the capacity of the 115-year-old Long Bridge and expand service throughout the region. Addressing the Long Bridge bottleneck is vital to Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express’s (VRE) ability to run more frequent trains and prepare for expected growth in ridership. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: All doors on an Orange Line train were open when it was moving, a report says
All doors on an eight-car Orange Line train were open back in May when it left the Dunn Loring station, a Metro report submitted to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) says. Metro engineers traced the issue back to a broken cable, and they’re actively working to replace hardware in all similar cars. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: VRE plans to revamp the Alexandria station without a new pedestrian tunnel
The tunnel which would have connected the Alexandria Virginia Railway Express station with the King Street Metrorail station has been put on hold, according to Virginia Railway Express and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority documents. VRE still plans to make several improvements to the station. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: Where did the Yellow and Green lines’ eight-car trains go?
The number of eight-car trains on the Yellow and Green lines has fallen in recent months, according to data from Metro analyzed by MetroHero. Both lines are budgeted for 100% eight-car trains, according to the agency’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget, but have been below that since the start of the Platform Improvement Project shutdown. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: After 15 years, Arlington moves ahead with plans for a second entrance at Ballston
Arlington County staff have been given the ‘go-ahead’ to move forward on planning for the eventual construction of a second entrance at the Ballston Metro station, according to project manager Bee Buergler. The project, over 15 years in the planning, has until recently been held up due to delays in the redevelopment of the building at 4420 Fairfax Drive. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: More trains bring more riders to the Red Line
More people began riding the Red Line after Metro eliminated the Grosvenor turnback and doubled service at White Flint, Twinbrook, Rockville, and Shady Grove Metrorail stations. That’s according to a Metro staff presentation set to be presented on Thursday, where the agency will ask the Board to reaffirm the turnback’s elimination. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: JBG Smith wants to build a new Crystal City station entrance
A plan submitted by developer JGB Smith to Arlington County could see the company put in charge of building the second Crystal City Metro station entrance, a long-sought-after project that would increase access to the station. If approved, the new entrance would be built along Crystal Drive near 18th street, providing riders a quicker connection to the proposed new VRE Crystal City station, offices, and residences in the area. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: How are the Blue & Yellow Line shuttles handling shutdown crowds?
Metro’s shuttle buses are handling crowds well during the Yellow and Blue Line shutdown, upbeat Metro staff said when they briefed the agency’s Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC) last Wednesday. After an initial ridership surge, staff say the shuttles have ‘settled down’ to carrying 125,000 trips per week. Keep reading…