DC and Baltimore Area Mass Transit/Transportation

[skylinefan]

Man, everytime I turn around there is yet another proposal to expand metro. The only problem is metro needs desparately to have a steady stream of funds in order to continue with maintenance and expansion. The trains are aging, Metro ridership is way up, maintenance is barely keeping up. Without more funding I'm afraid our system is going to collapse.

[Archon]

They do need to do some major upgrades with the MARC trains. Keep us posted.

One of the longstanding problems with the MARC is that the State rents slots on those tracks at bargain basement prices. Not only is expansion limited but when things get off schedule, MARC is low on the food chain and last to get back on schedule. Like the rest of the system, it is always one step from dysfunction

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Here is a better map of the extension to Dulles.

http://www.dullesmetro.com/pdfs/route_map_large_mar06.pdf

Oh heck, why not just extend the Silver Line all the way to Leesburg for good measure?

[urbanvb]

Tunnel Back On Table for Dulles Rail

Cost Dispute Threatens To Delay Metro Project

A proposal to build a tunnel under Tysons Corner for the Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport has regained momentum but has created a major rift among the partners that threatens to delay the $4 billion project.

story

[urbanvb]

D.C. Is First to Officially Dedicate Cash to Metro

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams approved a measure yesterday dedicating city tax dollars to the Metro transit system, and regional leaders used the signing ceremony to lobby Maryland and Virginia representatives to follow the District's example. The D.C. Council this year voted to dedicate 0.5 percent of city sales tax revenue to Metro -- but only if Maryland and Virginia do the same and if Congress matches the money.

story

[urbanvb]

Fairfax gives OK to Columbia Pike streetcar

Fairfax County has thrown its support behind a plan to build a streetcar line along Columbia Pike.

Arlington County has already approved the proposal, and both jurisdictions will start a study on how to pay for the $120 million project, which would build a streetcar line on a 4.7-mile stretch of Columbia Pike.

story

[tombarnes]

Metro Expolres Retail Options

Though we won't be seeing any sort of restaurants or food of any kind in Metro stations in the near future, it is possible that newsstands, dry-cleaning outlets or other shops sprouting in some Metro stations. While I bvelieve that this must be handled with caution, I'm fully aware of the need for Metro to raise cash. This could be a good thing if it's done correctly.

Washington Post

[urbanvb]

Metro Considers Pulling The Rug From Under Riders

Next time you ride the Metro, consider what lies beneath: The cushion on which you sit costs $17 to $35 and is made by Virginia prisoners; the wool carpet under your feet comes from Taiwan and costs $5,200 per rail car.

Metro's new interim general manager wonders if it isn't time to rethink the comfort of your feet and, maybe, your tush.

Does it make sense, Dan Tangherlini wants to know, to spend money on carpets and cushions? Could that money be better used to make sure the system "goes where and when people want it to go"? Is there some other material cheaper and easier to maintain?

story

[urbanvb]

State Defends Dulles Toll Road Deal

RICHMOND, May 3 -- The Kaine administration on Wednesday defended its decision to hand over control of the Dulles Toll Road to the regional airports authority, saying the deal will guarantee that Metrorail service is extended to Dulles International Airport.

story

[krazeeboi]

Metro Considers Pulling The Rug From Under Riders

story

Interesting. I wasn't noticing any of that when I rode, I was just enjoying the ride.

[tombarnes]

Rather sad news involving the Metro today...

The Washington Post

[tombarnes]

Brighter News From the Metro

DC Metro stations may be getting brighter in the future. Still, at $108.00 per bulb for the new fixtures, it may be an expensive project. Other alternatives are being explored as well.

The Washington Post

[Cotuit]

Maryland Deploying Explosives Detecting Ticket Vending Machines [Mass Transit Magazine]

[urbanvb]

I found a story in today's Post of the dedication of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. Be sure to click on the link for the pano and if you have quicktime installed it gives you a great pano around. The Discovery Channel had a great piece awhile back on the construction of the new span which was made in Florida and shipped via a barge up the coast line.

============================================================

Here is a related article with a pic as well.

[urbanvb]

Beltway's Outer Loop Is the Place Not to Be

Bridge Work Likely to Create Long Delays

Crews at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge began work last night on the lane shifts that are likely to cause traffic backups all weekend long on northbound Interstate 95 but will result in the opening of the bridge's first new span.

story

[urbanvb]

Wilson Bridge Span Open Early; Now to Do It All Over Again

All three northbound lanes across the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge opened early yesterday morning, and liberated cars sailed smoothly across them, marking a weekend free of the apocalyptic traffic scenarios that some had feared for the bridge's debut.

story

Panel Discusses Tysons Segment

Engineering Group Has Closed-Door Meeting on Tunnel Issue

A panel of engineers started meeting behind closed doors yesterday to come up with recommendations for the state as it tries to decide whether to build the Tysons Corner portion of the Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport below or above ground.

The American Society of Civil Engineers convened the panel at the request of Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer, who will decide whether to go with a tunnel or an elevated track at Tysons.

story

[tombarnes]

Taxis- Zone System May Be Replaced With Meters- What Do You Think?

A recent proposal to eradicate the zone system in favor of the more conventional taxi meter may find its way into law. Hearings will be conducted this summer. The zone system can be capricious and unfair at times, but I'm not entirely sure I would welcome meters.

The Washington Post

l

[urbanvb]

Lots of transporation postings lately.

Rail Car Problems Delay Metro Relief

Metro's plan to expand its rail car fleet and ease crowding on the trains has been slowed significantly by problems in repairing older cars and bringing new ones into service, transit officials say, increasing the likelihood that the system will be unable to cope with its growing ridership later this year.

The structural and mechanical problems affect more than one-third of the cars in the fleet or in production and have pushed back the planned expansion by at least four months. Instead of having 100 new cars ready for service by the end of the year, Metro estimates it will have half that.

story

[urbanvb]

Metro as Underground Music Scene?

Board Considers a Proposal to Lift Its Ban on Performers

Somewhere in the bowels of New York's subway there are bongo players and mariachi bands. The tunnels of the Paris Metro are filled with musicians playing nearly every kind of instrument. In button-down Washington? People waiting in sci-fi silence.

That might be about to change. Under a proposal to be presented today, managers are asking the Metro board to entertain the idea of entertainment in stations, which has been banned since Metrorail opened 30 years ago.

story

[sugoiben]

Funny, I guess the guy I passed this morning, singing and strumming his guitar wasn't aware of the ban.

There are people performing every other day seems like at the Courthouse stop.

[skylinefan]

Funny, I guess the guy I passed this morning, singing and strumming his guitar wasn't aware of the ban.

There are people performing every other day seems like at the Courthouse stop.

Are they inside the station or just outside?

[sugoiben]

Are they inside the station or just outside?

Have seen both.

There was the guy this morning with his guitar in Courthouse metro. And there is often times a guy playing an erhu in the afternoons.

Last week saw a couple warming up their flute and cello, right *outside* the East Falls Church metro.

I really enjoy when the musicians when they are there. The ban ought to be lifted.

Edited June 21, 2006 by sugoiben

[krazeeboi]

Hopefully something will become of this. Tyson's Corner is a mess as is, but if a plan can materialize to get the Metro extended out that way, I think it will do wonders for the area.

[lexington87]

Hopefully something will become of this. Tyson's Corner is a mess as is, but if a plan can materialize to get the Metro extended out that way, I think it will do wonders for the area.

It would also do wonders for Northern Prince Georges County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County if they extend the Green Line Subway to the BWI-Marshall Airport.

[urbanvb]

Federal Officials Begin Audit of Dulles Rail Extension Project

Monitoring Effort Adds to Scrutiny Of $4 Billion Project

The U.S. Department of Transportation's inspector general is launching an audit of Virginia's proposed extension of Metrorail to Dulles International Airport, further heightening the already close scrutiny of the $4 billion project.

story