Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Three stations will be closed along the Green Line in Prince George's County the weekend of May 17-19, according to WMATA.
If you were hoping to avoid some of the traffic along Route 1 this weekend, when thousands of University of Maryland students and their families will be on campus for commencement, take note that three Metro stations will be closed along the Green Line. According to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, College Park metro station will be closed this weekend along with the Greenbelt and Prince George's Plaza stations while crews perform track upgrades—"including tie and insulator renewal, interlocking maintenance and work associated with construction of a new test track for 7000-series railcars." The stations will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and will reopen Monday morning. However, if you must use metro to …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Silver Line appears on new map, but when might the Purple Line appear?
The Maryland Transit Authority has scheduled a series of five open houses to update citizens on the status of the much-discussed Purple Line, according to a Washington Post story. The Purple Line is a proposed light rail extension of the current Metro system and would run for 16 miles between Bethesda and New Carrollton, and connect with the existing Red, Orange and Green Lines. Among issues that have been discussed is how the line’s construction would be funded. A February Post article stated that for Maryland to receive federal funding, the state must demonstrate that it can pay its half ($2.15 billion) of the costs. The gas tax and public-private partnerships have been talked about as possible sources of funding, but no decisions have…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The meeting, hosted by M-NCPPC, will start at 7 p.m.
Want to know what area transit will look like in the future? Have feedback on College Park's metro station or area transit now? Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission will be hosting a meeting tonight to discuss an update on the 1997 College Park-Riverdale Transit District Development Plan. The planning staff will be available to hear residents' ideas and give updates on the future plans for area transit. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m in College Park City Hall at 4500 Knox Road, College Park, MD 20740.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Metrorail to go to OT if Caps do.
Metrorail, which has a station near Verizon Center (Gallery Place/Chinatown), will stay open an hour later if any Washington Capitals hockey playoff games run late or go into overtime, according to The Washington Post. The Capitals open their quest for the Stanley Cup against the New York Rangers on at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Last year, Game 3 of the Capitals’ playoff series against the Rangers went to triple overtime, ending well after midnight—when Metro typically closes on weekdays. The Post reports that an announcement will be made inside the Verizon Center by 11 p.m. Metro riders will be able to exit the transit system at any station, but will only be able to enter at Gallery Place (all entrances), Judiciary Square (only on F Street) and …
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…
Friday, March 29, 2013
The work will cause a 10 minute delay between the Greenbelt and College Park stations.
Although no track work is scheduled for this weekend on the Green Line, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said that starting Sunday night there would be late night repairs that could affect some commuters in Prince George's County. According to WMATA's website, Metro riders should expect a 10-minute delay between the Greenbelt and College Park stations starting at 10 p.m. until closing every day Sunday, March 31 to Thursday, April 4. Tell Us: Does weekend track work affect your plans?
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 Metro's website. This year, the break takes place on four consecutive weekends: March 23 to 24, March 30 to 31, Apr. 6 and 7, and Apr. 13 and 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. "The spring break will give people an opportunity to experience the type of system we are working …
Thursday, March 21, 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 reports. 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 reports. 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 8, 2013
New Metrorail line will connect Largo with Reston when opened later this year.
The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority will be hosting three open houses across the DC region, including one in Prince George's County, next week to share information about Metrorail's soon-to-open Silver Line. When it opens later this year, the new Metro line will initially provide commuters with a transfer-free link between Largo Town Center Metro station and the new Wiehle Reston East Metro station in Reston Va. Phase 1 of the Silver Line using 11 miles of new track to reach up Virginia's Route 267 corridor, passing through Tysons Corner before reaching Reston. Eventually, the line will go all the way to Dulles Airport. Once completed, Riverdale Park and University Park area residents will be able to make it to Dulles Airport, …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Requests state to address funding issues to avoid missed opportunity.
The Riverdale Park mayor and council voted unanimously Monday to send a letter to the Maryland State Legislature in support of the continued funding and eventual construction of the Purple Line in and around Riverdale Park. Mayor Vernon Archer said the Purple Line could provide important public transit opportunities for the eastern part of Riverdale Park, where two stations are proposed. "Providing another mass transit alternative to the M Square area is all the more important as that continues to grow and develop,” he added. A total of three stations are proposed in the vacinity of Riverdale Park—the Riverdale Park Station at Kenilworth Avenue and Route 410, the Beacon Heights Station at Riverdale Road and Route 410, and the M Square …
Pachacutec
2:31 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
OK, Metro has to do their work, but really - who at Metro figured that closing the College Park station on the same weekend that commencement activities were due to take place was a good idea? I mean, it's not like this doesn't happen every year around the same time, right? Nobody at Metro - nobody? - said "hey, maybe we should check on this" before scheduling the work? Unbelievable. Or maybe … more ›