Updated Forecast: In Excess of 8" of Snow, Plus Wind
And Now, 10-20 Inches
Federal Govt. Closed Tuesday
Snowmaggedon 1.0 in Time Lapse
WMATA announced this afternoon that it intends to make the holiday weekend travel plans of people who will be flying in and out of National Airport a lot more difficult.
Planned weekend track work between Friday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 7 will close Pentagon City, Crystal City and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations, Metro says. The three stations will be closed from 9:30 p.m. Friday to closing (midnight) on Monday so that Metro can replace the entire rail interlocking (which consists of four switches) at the Pentagon City station, in addition to replacing rail and rail ties, and performing concrete and deck joint repairs along the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station aerial structure.
We're certain this work needs to be completed, but deciding to shut down public transit access to a major airport during one of the biggest holiday weekend travel periods of the year isn't likely to earn Metro many new fans.
Full press release, with many, many details about how customers will be able to get around the closings, after the jump.
Weekend track work will close three Blue and Yellow Line Metrorail stations in Northern Virginia throughout the Labor Day weekend.The Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Ronald Regan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations will be closed from 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, to closing, (midnight) Monday, Sept. 7. These stations will reopen at 5 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Metrorail riders in Virginia who are planning to ride the Blue or Yellow lines will need to transfer to a free shuttle bus if they want to pass through Pentagon City, Crystal City or the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations from 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, through closing (midnight), Monday, Sept. 7. Because Metro officials will be conducting track work between the Pentagon and Braddock Road Metrorail stations throughout the holiday weekend. Regular service will resume when the Metrorail system opens on Tuesday morning, Sept. 8.
This weekend, Metro will replace the entire rail interlocking (four switches) at the Pentagon City Metrorail station, replace 2,000 feet of rail, 735 ties, perform concrete and deck joint repairs along the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station aerial structure, and conduct fire line maintenance from 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, to closing, Monday, Sept. 7.
Blue/Yellow Line Weekend Service
The Blue Line will operate between the Largo Town Center and Pentagon Metrorail stations, and between the Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road Metrorail stations.
The Yellow Line will operate between the Greenbelt and Pentagon Metrorail stations and between the Huntington and Braddock Road Metrorail stations.
All Blue Line trains will operate every 12 minutes during the day on Saturday, Sept. 5, and every 15 minutes during the day on Sunday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sep. 7. All Yellow Line trains will operate every 16 minutes during the day on from Saturday, Sept. 5, to Monday, Sept. 7. All Green Line, trains will operate every 12 minutes during the day on Saturday, Sept. 5, and every 16 minutes during the day on Sunday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sept. 7. After 9 p.m., from Friday, Sept. 4, to Monday, Sept. 7, all Blue, Yellow and Green Line trains will operate every 15 to 20 minutes.
At the Pentagon Metrorail station from 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4., to closing (midnight) on Monday, Sept. 7., all Blue Line trains from the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will operate into the upper level of the station and all Yellow Line trains from the Greenbelt Metrorail station will operate into the lower level of the station.
From Friday, Sept. 4, to Monday, Sept. 7, the last Blue and Yellow Line trains departing the Franconia-Springfield and Huntington Metrorail stations for the Braddock Road Metrorail station will leave 30 minutes earlier than usual. This will allow for customers to connect to the free shuttle buses and to the last trains departing the Pentagon Metrorail station to the Largo Town Center and Greenbelt Metrorail stations.
On Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5, the last Blue Line train will depart Franconia-Springfield at 1:59 a.m., Van Dorn Street at 2:05 a.m., King Street at 2:10 a.m., and arrive at Braddock Road at 2:12 a.m. On Sunday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sept. 7, the last Blue Line train will depart Franconia-Springfield at 10:59 p.m., Van Dorn Street at 11:05 p.m., King Street at 11:10 p.m., and arrive at Braddock Road at 11:12 p.m.
On Friday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Sept. 5, the last Yellow Line train will depart Huntington at 2:04 a.m., Eisenhower Ave at 2:05 a.m., King Street at 2:07 a.m. and arrive at Braddock Road at 2:09 a.m. On Sunday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sept. 7, the last Yellow Line train will depart Huntington at 11:04 p.m., Eisenhower Ave., at 11:05 p.m., King Street at 11:07 p.m. and arrive at Braddock Road at 11:09 p.m.
Labor Day Weekend Shuttle Bus Service
From 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, to closing (midnight) on Monday, Sept. 7, Metro will operate free shuttle bus service from the Pentagon Transit Center to the following Metrorail stations:
*Braddock Road Metrorail station. This shuttle bus will depart from the Pentagon Transit Center lower level bus bay #6 and make one stop on Jefferson Davis Highway at 23rd Street in Crystal City. The shuttle bus stop at the Braddock Road Metrorail station is bus bay B.
*Franconia Springfield Metrorail station. This shuttle bus will depart from the Pentagon Transit Center lower level bus bay #7 and operate express via I-395. The shuttle bus stop at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station is bus bay D.
*Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station. This shuttle bus will depart from the Pentagon Transit Center lower level bus bay #8. The shuttle bus stop for the Airport station is located on the west side of the rail station between the station and the parking garage.
*Pentagon City and Crystal City Metrorail stations. This shuttle bus will depart from the Pentagon Transit Center lower level bus bay #9. The shuttle bus stop at the Pentagon City Metrorail station will be at the eastern side of South Hayes Street (across from the Pentagon City Fashion Centre) at 12th Street South. The shuttle bus stop at the Crystal City Metrorail station is on Bell St., north of 18th St.Customer Assistance
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, to Monday, Sept. 7, Metro administrative employees will be located between the Pentagon and Franconia-Springfield/Huntington Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the track work.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will distribute a free brochure, place notices on station kiosks, and will make train and system announcements.
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Sheer bloody genius on WMATA's part, n'est-ce pas?
EPIC FAIL.
They CANNOT be serious.
Nice McEnroe timing - what with the US Open and all
Seriously?! SERIOUSLY?!!!
I effing hate these lunatics. HATE.
Great. How much is cab fare from the airport to downtown Silver Spring, again?
If I were you, I'd probably still take the Yellow Line to Pentagon and then either try to catch a cab from there or get on the free Shuttle Bus. But I'm a cheapskate. I'd definitely go ahead and take a cab home, though, or at least to another Metro station on the Yellow Line inside the District.
About $52,000
Oh wow....I just did this on Sunday since my flight got in too late to catch the lone Yellow line train they were running. If you're trying to get near downtown Silver Spring, whatever you do BE SURE the driver knows how to get into the district. Apparently, mine did not, and was going to drive up the GW Parkway to the beltway (an extra 10+ miles) rather than heading downtown and picking up 16th street (As was my explicit instruction)
Total cost: $45
To be fair, it would've been less had he not gotten lost driving around the Lincoln Memorial....probably about $30 with a real cabbie.
FAIL. just fail. people RELY ON THIS SYSTEM. tourists have specifically picked their hotels during labor day weekend to be close to the airport, or arlington cemetery, or whatever. they won't be able to get where they want to go. they will be confused. they will get in my way. this is an overall no-win situation. metro, you are a poor excuse for a transit system.
I really want to know what idiot was allowed to even utter such an increadibly dumb idea in the presence of other human beings... I mean really?! Did they get the idea from a chimpanzee on crack?! I'm sure glad I don't need to travel that way, or that I don't live in Alexandria or something... even still, what a DUMB DUMB DUMB idea! Surely there was a better weekend they could have done this? Oh you know what, like maybe in October when the feds have Monday the 12th off for "Columbous Day" which would at least keep the disruptions to a minimum and not affect major traveling plans...
MY VOTE: BIG STEAMING PILE OF 5H1T HANDS DOWN FOR METRO!
"Did they get the idea from a chimpanzee on crack?!"
Oh, I see you've already met Mr. Catoe...
Retarded Monkey reference?
Haven't seen one in ages.
Molly!
Get back in the 1000-series car, Liz.
I take it you are travelling out Friday night after 9:30 that you are this upset? Seriously, add 15-300 minutes to your travel plans and you'll be just fine. You're flying on somewhat busy weekend, 30 mins in the scheme of things is not a big deal.
As for tourists? Who cares? They'll deal. They'll call it an adventure.
I'd hate to see how upset you get when something of actual consequence happens.
add 15-300 minutes
Best. Typo. Ever.
it's true!
its true. in the grand scheme of life, this is not the worst possibly thing that's ever happened. however, there are better ways to do this. metro is paid to figure it out.
ouch. luckily i fly out early on fri. but monday will suck.
If this is something that has been part of their "long term" plan (which I don't believe they actually have)....maybe they could have released information about it a little sooner than three days before the holiday weekend?
And just think about all those Labor Day sales at Pentagon City people won't be able to participate in because the PC metro station is closed. Way less of an impact obviously than the airport station being closed, but an impact nonetheless...and during this economy!
I love a good Labor Day joke. Oh...
This is insane! I'm flying out of National this weekend. If they gave more notice, I could have flown out of BWI instead, for a lot less $$. Why did Metro only give a few days' notice if this was "long-planned" track work? Also, why the bleep is the Red Line STILL delayed at Fort Totten? The accident was ages ago - they could have built all new tracks along that stretch by now. It's time for Catoe to step down!!
I agree that Metro could have done a better job providing advance notice regarding the upcoming track work. Besides that, I really don't understand why people are so upset. What is so outrageous about the fact that the Metro system requires maintenance? A holiday weekend is actually the best time to perform this type of work because average ridership on a workday is much higher than a holiday.
Well no shit that there are more people ride the Metro on workdays. The point is that Labor Day is the busiest holiday travel weekend. Add on top of that Labor Day is really D.C.'s last big holiday of the summer travel season, CLOSING entire portions of the Metro is a very stupid idea.
So unless these tracks are about to fall apart, WMATA could have waited a month to do this maintenance (probably over Columbus Day, as other commentators have mentioned).
Actually these switch replacements should have been done a long time ago. Furthermore, you don't know that metro could have done the work on columbus day weekend.
Really, Labor Day is the busiest holiday travel weekend? Really? Here I would have thought that honor might belong to, um, I don't know, maybe Christmas/New Years, Thanksgiving, July 4th, Memorial Day... The fact of the matter is that most kids have already started school by Labor Day. Therefore, not many families take serious trips. Labor Day weekend is a weekend for going to the beach, grilling, and block parties. Yes, it does suck that WMATA is doing this over a holiday weekend. I just hope that there's a reason for the urgency and that this isn't routine maintenance.
Wow. My sympathy goes out to all of those who got shafted by this. I'm sure the work needs to be done and all, and with the way things have been going for metro this summer I don't blame them for trying to do repair and preventative maintenance but seriously. 3 days Notice? WTF. Why wasn't this on their repair schedule?
I think the biggest blunder here was not giving more advance notice. Big mistake.
But why is it everyone here automatically assumes this will require a $45 cab ride to Silver Spring or wherever? The rest of Metro is still operating this weekend. Just take a $5 cab to the nearest open station. Or use the free shuttle bus Metro will run (assuming it actually runs fairly regularly). That's still an easier ride than to BWI.
Dunno about other people, but my flight lands at 11pm on Monday and I know I'll want to get home sometime before ass o'clock.
"Just take a $5 cab to the nearest open station. Or use the free shuttle bus Metro will run."
Yeah, that free shuttle bus worked out great when Fort Totten was closed.
Something that is not perhaps clear to you, is that the idea of adding some unknown amount of travel time ON THE WAY TO CATCH A PLANE, on a busy holiday weekend, is really, really something most people are not interested in doing.
Thanks for the tip! I think I can swing that. Yikes, I can't believe anyone in their right mind would take the Beltway all the way around the District.
C'mon people -- read the details before you freak out. There's a free shuttle bus. It's a nuisance and will slow you down 10 to 20 minutes, but it's not a disaster.
And... since they aren't starting until late on Friday, only inbound tourists will be impacted at the airport, not outbound locals. On the way back... so what. Holiday travel is usually concentrated before the holiday and spread out after, so it won't be a big deal. I bet the free shuttle buses will be nearly empty on Monday, because most people will flip out and take a cab instead.
The Post has a quote of adding up to 45 minutes to your travel, which is a hell of a lot more than 20 minutes. And for those of us with a lot of business travel, flying back on Friday nights is a regular occurance (it's not just inbound tourists on Friday nights.)
A word to Yellow and Blue line riders from your old pals on the Red Line (specifically Medical Center and Grosvenor): expect even more delays and closures for Metro to fix whatever they screw up trying to fix this weekend. This will not be a one-time fix (even if it is advertised as such) and it will likely make the reliability there worse.
Enjoy!
This is bullshit.
Maybe they should do this work the following weekend just to piss off all the protesters coming to town for those planned pro- and anti-health care marches.
I live in Pentagon City, don't drive, and regularly visit friends in Alexandria, so basically I'm effed this weekend. To play devil's advocate though, Metro did mention it in a press release about track maintenance on August 5th:
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3999
There are buses that pass thru Pentagon City and proceed to Alexandria. 10A comes to mind, and there's one that goes down Rt1 (9?).
I routinely travel between Alexandria and Arlington by bus, and it's usually more convenient to most places, particularly Old Town since the buses drop u on Washington Street and not way down on the far end of King by the Metro.
Yeah I
*Yeah I
I give up.
I'm only upset about not getting notice. They should have informedt the public a month in advance. Luckily I can take the bus to Pentagon but I really feel for those people who have to get the airport. You are taking a gamble with those shuttles sometimes.
And mentioning it in a press release is not the same as having signs up!
Ah, good to know we have an expert on track switch replacement among the commentariat. Given Metro's piss-poor maintenance record, I don't trust that anything they do will be done properly or on time. If this is the only weekend WMATA could have done this work, we wouldn't be hearing about it a few days beforehand.
And you're right... replacements have been needed for a very long time; we should with everyone at WMATA.
maybe they know the public views them as incompetent, and this is just a way to remind us they still lord power over our daily lives. "we may be dumb and really bad at managing an important piece of infrastructure, and we know you know that, but we're still important. so suck on this." that type of thing.
What happened to single tracking? People already dread the transportation problems they experience during Labor Day, but adding this frustration on to those who are flying is just insane. WMATA, stop passing on the weed and think!
This weekend, Metro will replace the entire rail interlocking (four switches) at the Pentagon City Metrorail station, replace 2,000 feet of rail, 735 ties, perform concrete and deck joint repairs along the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station aerial structure
I'm no expert, but that sounds like a repair job where single tracking isn't feasible.
Use this link to send in a customer contact form and tell WMATA what you think! We need to be vocal about this stuff.
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/contact_us/ridercomment.cfm
This form is indicative of what is wrong with Metro. Look at the first four required sections: Type, Category, Topic, and Incident Type. It doesn't get any more bureaucratic than that.
At least the college kids with cars can have their friends without cars drop him or her off at the airport, then drop the car back on campus instead of being knee high in Metro dung and missing their flights.
Holy overreaction, Batman!
1. There's a free shuttle.
2. Metro did a press release about this four weeks ago.
3. This work needs to be done, and doing it over a long weekend is the best among many even more painful or expensive options.
It sucks, but it won't be that bad.
4. At least they didn't schedule it on my Birthday Weekend!
29 again, Liz?
I just started a facebook group dedicated to firing John Catoe. I've had way more then enough.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125549420204&ref=nf
Ooh, can I have his job? I'm really smart and deal with emergencies well... and I'd probably make a lot of money...
But then again why would I want to inherit a sh@t system? Nevermind...
The charitable explanation: the project takes 3 days and improves safety, so it was scheduled for the nearest holiday weekend so as not to mess up people's commutes.
The uncharitable explanation: by doing this on a holiday weekend, the workers will be paid extra. A victory for the unions! Happy labor day!
Sorry guys, I love bitching as much as the next person but I'd choose a safer metro rail system over a a little inconvenience any day.
Why is this city and WMATA run by fucktards?
Watch it commenters, fucktard is MY phrase - don't be using it,
Unless you're using to describe the pseudo-hipsters who keep on buying up my damn my distilled water from Whole Foods before I get there.
WMATA must stand for We Monkeys Are 'Tarded Assholes.
I have no problem with this statement and heartily endorse it.
Would more notice really have changed things? Unlikely. You would have just started bitching sooner.
So budget an extra $20 into your travel plans. No biggie
In response to some of the other comments:
1) Yes, with earlier/better notice I (and surely others) would have flown out of BWI to our destinations, and paid less for our tickets in fact. I paid more to fly out of DCA because taking Metro there is so fast and convenient.
2) It's not a choice between a safer Metro system, and a little inconvenience; it can in fact be safe and convenient at the same time. If they did the work in stages, single-tracked around it, picked a non-holiday weekend to do it, did it only at night, or even just gave more notice, people would be much happier. I don't accept the excuse that the technical details of the repair require 3 straight days to accomplish. How about triple the work crew and do it in one day? I'll bet the ancient Roman engineers, or the SeaBees would come up with a workaround!
Metro has a track record of unfortunately-timed closures, long, slow repair times (see: the average Metro escalator repair, Red Line repairs) and piss-poor communication with the public, from garbled announcements, cut-off messages on Twitter, incomprehensible train drivers, and so on. It's time for Catoe to go. The GM and other top WMATA leadership should ride Metro every day to experience what we daily users experience. Bring back Dan Tangherlini!
If they did the work in stages, single-tracked around it, picked a non-holiday weekend to do it, did it only at night, or even just gave more notice, people would be much happier. I don't accept the excuse that the technical details of the repair require 3 straight days to accomplish.
Single tracking can never be done when a switch like the one at Pentagon City needs replacing. The rails there are too close together to allow for major work like switch replacement on one, and trans passing on the other. Metro always shuts down part of a line when one like these needs replacing.
For example, upper Red Line users will recall all the switch work done around Bethesda earlier this year and last. Single tracking was no problem up there, but nonetheless a headache, since the rails are so far apart. Yet, in past years around this time they've outright shut down at Takoma and Rhode Island Ave for a 3 day weekend because the rails are too close to do single tracking.
Switch replacement is a pain in the ass step-by-step process, where throwing more people at it doesn't exactly mean it would go much faster.
Super late notice, but as a reminder in the Post today:
"Members of the public can make their views known [regarding Metro service] at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at a regularly scheduled Riders' Advisory Council meeting at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth St. NW, first floor. The closest Metro stop is the Red Line's Judiciary Square Station."
That's today, Wednesday September 2.