June 13, 2008
Dupont Circle Metro Station Closed Due to Power Outage
WMATA has officially closed the Dupont Circle Metro station as a result of the power outage. The station was closed at 9:25 a.m. because there wasn't enough electricity to power the station’s lengthy escalators.
While trains can serve the Red Line station, the escalators are extremely long, and customers were experiencing difficulty exiting, so officials closed the station for safety reasons. Trains will pass through Dupont Circle and not stop there.It does sound a little silly that they had to close the station because of the escalators, but keep in mind, the escalators at Connecticut Avenue and Q Streets NW are 188 feet long.Free shuttle buses will be operating from Woodley Park to Farragut North to get people around the problem.
Photo by plαdys
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Everything seemed to be going smoothly though.. people just got on the metrobus (didn't even wait for shuttles) and got off at Farragut. There were a ton of firetrucks around Farragut North. Farragut West didn't have power, but other than it being a little dark it was just fine (and I didn't have to pay!)
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This is an Anti-Pride conspiracy, I'm sure.
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Maybe the station should only be closed to people who are out of shape.
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BOO HOO, in my great great grampa's day, he had to walk up the escaltor to get in and out of the Dupont station, in the heat, with 5 ft of snow and barefoot.
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They shouldn't have closed the station, just warn everyone on incoming trains they'd have a hike getting out, and could go on to the next staion if they chose. Personally, I'd walk up the escalators in the shade, as opposed to walking over the Taft Bridge from Woodley Park in the heat of the sun, with cars whizzing by.
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All Metro needs to do is go to REI, install some rock climbing foot/toeholds and rapelling gear, and CHARGE people to climb up the tunnel.
Also, flood the center section with barbecue sauce, give people a flattenned out refrigerator box, and let commuters slip-n-slide down the tunnel.
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So part of the problem was a fire on the tracks in the station? Some dipshit throw a gum wrapper on the third rail or something?
Metro needs to get Singapore metro style on these tourists' asses.
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Easy solution - pneumatic tubes to shoot people out of the station. Although fat people would not be allowed on.
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Well, if you're gonna run WMATA Singapore style, you're gonna have to leave your durians at the faregates.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanhooveld/517423837/
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I walked across the Taft Bridge, and it wasn't that bad, but I agree they should have at least given people the option to walk up the escalator if they wanted to. I've had to walk up it a couple of times in the past when all 3 weren't working, and they didn't close the whole station just for that.
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Okay so people were basically dying, from the washpost.com article:
An hour earlier, officials shut down the Dupont Circle station, after medics treated a dozen people for shortness of breath after the trudged up that stations particularly steep escalators. The station has the longest climb in the city, and the ascent left many winded. One man was taken to the hospital after his internal defibrillator triggered.
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Remember that it's a Code Orange air quality day. I suffer from asthma, and it can make a huge difference to my lung capacity and ability to be active. Dupont escalators are pretty epic. I mean, I've climbed them in the past, but rarely when it felt like I was breathing soup.
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There have definitely been days when all the escalators at Dupont were not working and people puffing wind as they walked up and down. Maybe today is different because it's combined with a lack of elevator options?
Anyway, it's open once again, as of 10:50am, according to the WMATA press release.
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But Dupont South has a much shorter escalator. Why couldn't they have just left that one open?
Jesus this whole day seems like it was scripted by Tom Colburn.
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Yeah, I'da hoofed it.