Posts Tagged ‘Transportation’
DDOT Confirms End of Upper Georgetown Circulator
Yesterday City Desk reported on how the upper Wisconsin Avenue portion of the D.C. Circulator's bus route was on the chopping block. The Department of Transportation has since confirmed: It will in fact be chopped.
According to DDOT spokesman John Lisle, this “difficult decision” stems from budget constraints: Although the upper leg carries 2 percent of the Georgetown Circulator’s riders, it is responsible for 15 percent of the overall cost.
After the service is discontinued, Lisle says, Georgetown residents should make use of Metrobus' “enhanced and improved” 30 lines, which have “eliminated the need to layer additional Circulator service.” The DDOT is also looking into extending the 31 route downtown. The bus currently runs down Wisconsin Avenue but stops short at Foggy Bottom.
The Citizens Association of Georgetown is having a hard time seeing any "enhancement" about it; the group's members have argued that eliminating the upper Wisconsin Circulator route will leave only two buses, the 32 and the 36—half the number available two years ago when the 34 and the Circulator were also running. CAG also says that the two schools now served by the route (Hardy Middle School and the British School) require a transportation link, and traffic will increase after the opening of the newly renovated Safeway supermarket at 1855 Wisconsin Ave. The market's renovations include abolishing the "congested" parking lot, likely increasing the need for public transportation.
More potholes ahead...
Neighborhood Watch: How Far Should the Georgetown Circulator Circulate?
The Issue: The DC Circulator route up Wisconsin Avenue may soon be no more. The $1 red bus currently runs from Union Station through downtown to M Street, then eventually up Wisconsin. DDOT has proposed cutting the last leg of the service, leaving only two regular city buses to run to upper Georgetown. Despite a big Metrobus route overhaul last year, during which Mayor Adrian Fenty dubbed the Circulator a "great solution," it looks like the bus faces a bumpy ride.
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Taking a DMV Driver Test? Prepare to Bring Your Own Car
The District government's belt-tightening has now extended into its vehicular policies.
In an memo issued June 23, Attorney General Peter Nickles addressed two issues: the use of city-owned cars in Department of Motor Vehicles driver tests, and the use of city employees' own private cars while on government business.
Regarding the former, the memo [PDF] notes that as of Aug. 1, DMV "will no longer use government vehicles for its driver's tests." That, Nickles writes, is due to "weak indemnification language" in the waivers the test-takers have to sign---those require the driver to take responsibility for any damage to the cars, unless they are "not financially capable of doing so." Such a policy, Nickles writes, "makes it virtually impossible for the District to successfully obtain reimbursement" in the case of an accident.
This, of course, poses the question: How are unlicensed drivers supposed to find a car to take their test in? And, even if they can, how are they supposed to get the car to the test site?
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Pennsylvania Avenue Sinkhole!
Fresh from DDOT:
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising motorists that the 2600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW is closed to eastbound traffic because of a sinkhole. A square hole, approximately 4 feet by 4 feet, and 5 feet deep, has developed in the roadway near the bridge over Rock Creek (see attached photo).
DDOT crews are on the scene to make repairs. They are also working with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to try and reopen a lane for eastbound traffic, but delays are likely and motorists are advised to take alternate routes if possible
Any readers got pics?
UPDATE, 5:35 P.M.: WUSA-TV has a photo.
1000-Series Metro Cars: How to Avoid Them, If You So Choose
Hey, Metro rider!
By now, in the wake of Monday's collision, you've heard plenty about the different types of Metro cars---specifically how the oldest '1000-series' cars were judged by the NTSB years ago to offer substandard levels of protection in a crash.
So maybe you're thinking that you should avoid these cars. But how?
Very simple: At the front and back of each car, underneath the operator's window, there is a plate with a four-digit figure. That would be your car number. If the digit starts with a '1,' that's a 1000-series car.
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Seven Metro Crash Victims Identified
WaPo's Dr. Gridlock blogged the identities of seven of the nine who died in yesterday's Red Line crash:
- Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield (train operator)
- Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., former commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia National Guard, and his wife Ann, both 62
- Lavonda King, 23
- Dennis Hawkins, 64
- Mary Doolittle, 59
- Anna Fernandez, 40
Per Cherkis, per WTOP, as well, with more on where they lived and one alternate spelling (Lavanda King).
Councilmember Phil Mendelson put out a statement about the Wherleys:
WaPo Slow to Train Crash
At this moment, Dr. Gridlock is in the vanguard of Washington Post coverage of this afternoon's train mishap in Northeast D.C. The item credits WJLA-TV and CNN for key facts on the accident.
Here's one commenter from the washingtonpost.com on the matter:
How is the Washington Post being scooped about a potentially serious metro rail collision? This happened about 45 minutes ago, and it's still in little print at the bottom of the Post web page. Come on guys. Surely you haven't all taken the buy out?
Red Line Trains Collide Near Fort Totten: Deadliest Crash In Metro History
Comes this dispatch, via Dr. Gridlock:
A Red Line Metrorail train derailed at 5:10 p.m. approaching Fort Totten in the Shady Grove-bound side. Trains are turning back at Brookland and Takoma....Metro says that shuttle bus service has been requested to bridge the gap between Takoma and Brookland.
There are reports of injuries. Developing.
UPDATE, 5:35 P.M.: This seems quite a bit worse than a minor derailment. WJLA-TV reports:
Metro confirms two trains have collided on the Red Line between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations. It happened close to the Fort Totten station, a Metro spokesperson said.
D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter said one train was on top of the other train.
This is "developing into a mass casualty event," Etter said. "We're expecting a number of injuries. We're not aware of any fatalities at this point."
Update, 5:46 p.m.: ABC News/News Channel 8 is reporting one fatality. Reporter Brad Bell saw the fatality being taken from the accident scene. At least nine people injured. The fatality appears to be a male. Many passengers still stuck inside metro cars. Fire Department spokesman Alan Etter confirms one dead on WTOP.
Here is the official Metro alert:
"Metro reports that 2 train collided and one train is on top of the other train. Metro reports massive injuries at this time. The green line and the red line are affected. Further information to follow."
It looks like the accident ocurred just beyond the Fort Totten stop.
Read More "Red Line Trains Collide Near Fort Totten: Deadliest Crash In Metro History" »
