Archive: April 2008
Despite Comeback, Rail Plan Still Faces Hurdles
The Dulles rail project, a central artery in Northern Virginia's transportation plans, came back from the dead today, but remains in intensive care. The Federal Transit Administration signaled that the program to build the Metrorail line through Tysons Corner can now advance, despite the FTA's lingering concerns with the management and financing of the project. "We have sent the required 10-day notification to Congress that we intend to move the project into the Final Design stage of FTA's New Starts Process," FTA Administrator James Simpson said in a statement. "FTA will commit $158.7 million to use toward completion of a financial plan, construction plans, detailed engineering specifications and cost estimates, and other technical requirements." Here's a list of what changed since January on the FTA's scorecard. Here's the list of "buts": The FTA says it won't commit any money for construction until a set of issues are resolved. The Metropolitan...
By | April 30, 2008; 4:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Train Doors Open in Tunnel Again
Again this morning, the doors on an eight-car Metro train opened while a train car was still in the tunnel outside Rosslyn Station. No one was injured, but alarming as it is for this to happen once, it now has happened twice in two weeks. Dear Dr. Gridlock: The incident on an eight-car Orange Line train at Rosslyn, in which the doors of the last car were opened into the tunnel, reported on your blog on April 21 happened again this morning. By dumb luck, my partner and I have been present for both incidents on our commute into the city from Court House. Today, at 8:19 a.m., the incident repeated itself identically. An eight-car train, which had successfully made it all the way onto the Court House platform where we boarded, pulled into Rosslyn, but the last car failed to make it into the station. The operator then opened...
By | April 30, 2008; 1:46 PM ET | Comments (0)
Free Ride Today on Va. Buses
Get to know a Northern Virginia bus today. It's free. This one-day free ride on any route in Northern Virginia was scheduled by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission to remind commuters that the free bus option will be there again this summer, whenever a bad air day is forecast. These Code Red air quality alerts don't come very often anymore, and an alert doesn't mean that we've actually violated our air quality standards. In fact, we've done a good job avoiding that in recent summers. Still, the regional Council of Governments predicts we could have one to five alerts this summer. One way to reduce ozone pollution is to get people out of their cars and on transit. Virginia jurisdictions subsidize the free bus rides, using funds from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program. Of course, the sponsors hope that you'll be enticed by the free ride and...
By | April 30, 2008; 5:37 AM ET | Comments (0)
Ball Game Shuttle Working Well
A month into the baseball season, fans and commuters seem to be having a relatively easy time dealing with the new stadium on South Capitol Street. Take the shuttle from the shuttle. The e-cruzer picks people up on south side of Nats Express bus stop.(Thomson) After a few weeks of wandering around the outside of the stadium to view the traffic and transit concerns raised by readers, I went to one of the Nationals-Mets games last week. We drove to Lot 8 on the south side of RFK Stadium, parked for free and took the free Nationals Express shuttle to Nationals Park. This was a breeze. From Lot 8 to the stadium turnstyle took 19 minutes, or about half the time it took to get a hot dog during the game. The trip back to Lot 8 after the game was similarly easy. Couple of things along the way: There...
By | April 28, 2008; 9:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Weekend and Beyond
Some tips that might improve your travels. Metro Delays Track maintenance will cause delays on the Orange and Blue lines Friday night through Sunday. See the full details in this Metro statement. Have you weekend riders noticed improvements in your travels as Metro tries to make the maintenance work more tolerable? The idea is to concentrate the work and not overburden any one line. Frederick Ramps Closing At 9 o'clock Sunday night, highway workers are scheduled to close the entrance and exit ramps from eastbound Interstate 70 onto South Street (Exit 55). Workers are installing a water main under South Street as part of a $93 million interchange and highway extension project along I-70 that is scheduled to be done in fall 2009. Use exit 54 (Route 355/85) or exit 56 (Route 144) as alternate routes during the ramp closures. The ramps should reopen by 5 a.m. Monday. Hand Grips...
By | April 25, 2008; 6:25 AM ET | Comments (12)
Ice Storm Anger Melts Away
It was quiet. Too quiet. In fact, the Waterford reception center in Springfield was dead quiet last night, except for the sound of water flowing in a fountain that forms the centerpiece of the entrance hall. Moving slowly forward through the dimly lit corridors, alert for charging zombies, I found my way to the room set aside for the Virginia government's forum for public comments on the ice storm that froze the nearby Springfield Interchange on Feb. 12. Inside, David S. Ekern, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, was reviewing how motorists came to be stranded for eight hours or more and what his department has done since then to improve its procedures and preparations. He delivered a good talk to an audience made up mainly of VDOT officials who were there to assist in answering questions from angry citizens. There were about two VDOT officials per angry citizen....
By | April 23, 2008; 8:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Metro Tests New Flooring
I've been thinking about some new flooring for the kitchen, so I stopped by National Airport Station this morning to see if I could get some decorating ideas from the transit authority. Dark rubber flooring in car 6026. (Thomson) There was Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith holding a few floor tiles for review as she ushered reporters aboard three Metrorail test cars, each with a different type of surface under foot -- but none of them a carpet. You may see these test cars roaming the system. Let me know what you think. Metro wants to know, too. Gray rubber flooring in car 6027. (Thomson) You'll see photos of the floors on this page, but you've really got to see them for yourself. Smell them, too. It's a radical change from the carpet styles -- musty old carpet styles, with colors not found in nature -- that have adorned Metro cars...
By | April 22, 2008; 2:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
Hearing on Montgomery Fares, Fees
The Montgomery County Council is holding a public hearing today about proposed changes in the county's transportation fares and fees. The session is at 1:30 p.m. in the 7th Floor Hearing Room, Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. The changes are part of County Executive Isiah Leggett's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in July. The proposed changes include: -- Eliminating the Ride On bus system's "Ride About" two-week pass. -- Creating a Ride On Monthly Pass, costing $25. -- Increasing the cost of the Ride On 20 Trip Ticket from $20 to $27. -- Increasing some parking fees in the Silver Spring and Wheaton parking districts....
By | April 22, 2008; 8:40 AM ET | Comments (0)
Metro Investigating Train Doors Incident
During this afternoon's online discussion, I got a note from a Metro rider about an very disturbing incident aboard a train entering Rosslyn Station. "I was in the last car of an 8 car train this morning. As the train pulled into Rosslyn, the last car did not make it into the station and was still inside the tunnel. Nonetheless, the doors were opened to offload passengers at Rosslyn. "We were left staring at the tunnel walls. Luckily, no one was hurt. The train operator either did not know that this had happened or did not acknowledge it as he proceeded to Foggy Bottom where a number of people had to get off and take the next train back. "After last week's article regarding manual operation of doors, how does a train operator know that all of the cars are aligned with the platform? Seems like this may be a...
By | April 21, 2008; 2:43 PM ET | Comments (13)
Ice Storm Meeting Tuesday
Has the memory of being stuck six hours or more in the frozen Springfield interchange melted with the coming of spring? Highway information on display at Northern Virginia's Traffic Management Center. (Thomson) For those who haven't forgotten the long afternoon and evening of Feb. 12, here's your chance: The Virginia Department of Transportation is holding a forum to discuss its mistakes in planning and execution during the ice storm. VDOT's presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterford, 6715 Commerce St., Springfield. Public comments will follow, starting at 7:15 p.m. People who want to speak can sign up at the door. VDOT says the comments will be used to help develop a better statewide emergency response plan, so that similar traffic paralysis doesn't happen again. You'll find a copy of VDOT's interim report on its ice storm response at this link. [ Join me at 1 p.m. today for...
By | April 21, 2008; 5:57 AM ET | Comments (0)
Beltway Lanes Clear
All the lanes on the Capital Beltway at Branch Avenue in Prince George's County have been reopened following completion of the big weekend project involving construction of a flyover ramp. For 14 hours overnight, Maryland State Highway Administration crews set a dozen curved beams for the new ramp, which is part of a $52 million interchange project, improving access to the nearby Metrorail station. The entire project is scheduled for completion early next year....
By | April 20, 2008; 1:29 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Weekend and Beyond
Here are some tips that might help you plan your travels. Beltway Delays Drivers should avoid the Capital Beltway around the Branch Avenue interchange from Saturday night until early Sunday afternoon, as the Maryland State Highway Administration sets steel for a ramp over the highway. Delays are likely to be extensive. If you're traveling long distance, consider using the western side of the Beltway or heading east to Route 301. Douglass Bridge Closure After initial tests on the South Capitol Street bridge's swing span Friday evening, the District Department of Transportation has decided that more testing in necessary. So the bridge will close again at 10 p.m. Saturday and is scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday. Track Work Resumes After a month off for busy local travel periods, Metro has restarted its endless weekend track maintenance program. Delays are occurring on the Red, Blue, Yellow and Orange lines through...
By | April 19, 2008; 12:28 PM ET | Comments (0)
Rock Creek Paving Planned
The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration are in the final phase of the year-long reconstruction of Rock Creek Parkway between P Street and Virginia Avenue. This weekend is the scheduled time for some repaving along the southbound curb lane and ramps. The curb lane is scheduled to close after noon today. The P Street ramps, the K Street ramps and the Pennsylvania Avenue ramp along the southbound parkway are scheduled to close during the afternoon rush period. The ramps should be reopened by 6:30 Monday morning. The right lane is scheduled to reopen by late Tuesday. Three travel lanes will be open both northbound and southbound during the paving operations, the park service says. (This is the work originally scheduled for last weekend.) The entire project is scheduled for completion in May....
By | April 18, 2008; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (4)
Traffic Restrictions End As Pope Leaves
The last of the week's traffic restrictions left town at 9 a.m. along with Pope Benedict XVI, who took off for New York from Andrews Air Force Base. Though there was a no parking zone on Massachusetts Avenue from Wisconsin Avenue to Observatory Circle and a one lane limitation on Massachusetts from Observatory Circle to 34th Street, all of that ended this morning. This week was an unusual challenge for our transportation system. So many days, so many locations. This wasn't another VIP going from place to place for closed meetings with other VIPs. This was a person people came from across the country to see. As a result, Metro was extra crowded and traffic backed up where streets were closed. But the plans worked out pretty well. The shutdown of the Douglass Bridge for Thursday's mass at Nationals Park slowed traffic but did create a memorable traffic jam. (That...
By | April 18, 2008; 9:15 AM ET | Comments (2)
Pope Traveling to Catholic University
Watch for rolling street closures as the pope travels across town to his final events in Washington this afternoon. At 5 p.m., Pope Benedict XVI addresses Catholic educators at Catholic University on Michigan Avenue, east of North Capitol Street in Brookland. At 6:30 p.m., meets with interfaith leaders at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center at 3900 Harewood Road NE. There may be more passengers than usual on the Red Line heading for Brookland Station, near Catholic University. The Douglass Bridge and South Capitol Street have reopened for the afternoon commute. Friday: -- There are no papal events in the capital Friday. The pope will travel from the Vatican Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue at Observatory Circle to Andrews Air Force Base during the morning rush. -- The no parking zone on Massachusetts Avenue from Wisconsin Avenue to Observatory Circle and the one lane limitation on Massachusetts from Observatory Circle...
By | April 17, 2008; 4:29 PM ET | Comments (1)
Watch for Afternoon Congestion
The exit from the papal mass at Nationals Park on South Capitol Street should create a surge of traffic and some additional crowding on Metrorail. But it shouldn't be as difficult as this morning's combination of commuters and worshipers. Crowd at Navy Yard Metro station, 8 o'clock this morning. (Thomson) Metro will maintain peak service through 7 p.m. (though the reduced fares remain in place until the afternoon rush). That should help a lot. And what I observed this morning gives me confidence in the transportation system for the rest of today. Because the Douglass Bridge was shut and the trains were bound to be crowded, I feared the worst. But what I saw this morning was far from the worst. Interstate 295 and Suitland Parkway were crowded near the junction that leads to the 11th Street Bridge, but I saw worse last July when the Douglass Bridge was shut...
By | April 17, 2008; 11:25 AM ET | Comments (17)
Metro Handles Stadium-Bound Crowds
Among the hundreds of people crammed into Green Line trains this morning, it was easy to distinguish between the worshipers bound for the papal mass and the commuters. The worshipers were smiling. Crowd covers Navy Yard Station platform this morning. (Thomson) Their attitude helped ease some very crowded trips on Metrorail. Navy Yard Station, where passengers got off for the short walk to mass at Nationals Park, was crowded but calm. It took about five minutes to clear the platform after a train arrived from downtown, compared to about three minutes before recent Nationals baseball games. The worst crowding I saw was at the L'Enfant Plaza, where the platform was lined at least four deep with riders transfering from the Orange and Blue lines. My Green Line train already was jammed with standees when it arrived at L'Enfant shortly before 7:30 a.m. Metro staffers on the platform helped ease the...
By | April 17, 2008; 9:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
A View From the Pope's Traffic
Standing atop the Anacostia Metro garage: I can see that traffic is very heavy on I-295, on the Suitland Parkway and other approaches to the 11th Street Bridge. Traffic is diverting from the closed Frederick Douglass Bridge and instead traffic is taking detour routes that most veteran commuters are familiar with from shutdown of the Douglass Bridge last summer. Traffic was okay on 11th Street Bridge. (Thomson) While traffic is very heavy here this morning, it's not as bad as the first few days of last summer's Douglass Bridge shutdown. Commuters have either learned some new routes or are are avoiding the area today. On Metro rail: The Greenline is extremely heavy this morning, as would be expected. Hundreds of people are crowding onto the trains heading toward the Navy Yard Station. You can tell the difference between the worshippers and the commuters: The worshippers are smiling! (And I mean...
By David Marino-Nachison | April 17, 2008; 8:40 AM ET | Comments (9)
Update: The Wednesday Evening Commute
Transportation officials have closed streets around the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the pope's motorcade has just ended. He is at the Basilica and District transportation officials say the streets are relatively clear. There was some concern that traffic could back up on North Capitol Street, but traffic cameras at North Capitol and Rhode Island Avenue seem to show traffic moving smoothly. These are the street closures for this afternoon and evening around the Basilica: Michigan Avenue, NE from Monroe Street to Irving Street: 3 pm - 8 pm 4th Street, NE north of Lincoln Road: 3 pm - 8 pm Harewood Road, NE from Taylor Street to Michigan Avenue: 3 pm - 8 pm A full schedule of the street closures for tomorrow is at www.ddot.gov. Although the Brookland Metro station on the Red Line was very busy today, Metro officials report no incidents....
By David Marino-Nachison | April 16, 2008; 5:57 PM ET | Comments (0)
Prepare For Rare Traffic Event Thursday
Thursday morning's rush will be highly unusual, even for a region that takes a twisted pride in standing among the national leaders in traffic and transit congestion. My concern is focused on events in Southeast Washington, but the impact on drivers and transit users will ripple out from there. Tens of thousands of people will be trying to reach Nationals Park for the papal mass. Tens of thousands of drivers and Metro riders will be trying to get around them to reach their workplaces. Planning Points The Douglass Bridge and part of South Capitol Street near Nationals Park will be closed for security and logistics throughout the morning commute. The District Department of Transportation advises commuters to do what they did last summer when the bridge was shut for reconstruction. The main detour for this major commuter route is the 11th Street Bridge. Alternative approaches from the east are East...
By | April 16, 2008; 12:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
First Popemobile Procession Done
The pope's procession moved quickly west along Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, but traffic congestion lingers behind. The cameras on trafficland.com show some downtown intersections clear while others remain jammed with traffic. Next up: Afternoon rush hour traffic up North Capitol Street will have a very difficult time in the Brookland neighborhood. The pope meets with U.S. bishops at the National Shrine on Michigan Avenue in Brookland, just east of North Capitol Street at 5:30 p.m. If that's your normal northbound commuting route, you might be better off sliding west to 13th, 14th or 16th streets NW, or heading east along New York Avenue to the Baltimore Washington Parkway. But that's not to say any route will be clear sailing this afternoon. The city is very crowded with cars and pedestrians. The pope will cut across town to reach the Brookland area, so watch for those rolling closures in...
By | April 16, 2008; 12:13 PM ET | Comments (0)
Popemobile Parade on Pennsylvania Ave.
Pennsylvania Avenue NW is clear of traffic and lined with police and spectators awaiting the Popemobile procession. Pope Benedict XVI's route takes up west on Pennsylvania through Washington Circle, which is closed to pedestrian cross traffic. He'll go up Rock Creek Parkway to Massachusetts Avenue NW before arriving at the Vatican Embassy on Observatory Circle. Unless you're going to see the pope, that western sector of Washington is a place to avoid for the next couple of hours....
By | April 16, 2008; 11:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Crowding Likely on Trains, Streets
Here's what thousands of people will be trying to get to or avoid today: 10:30 a.m. Pope Benedict XVI, who is staying at the Vatican Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue NW, meets with President Bush at the White House. Noon Popemobile procession from the White House west on Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Washington Circle, to Rock Creek Parkway to Massachusetts Avenue to the embassy. 5:30 p.m. The pope meets with U.S. bishops at the National Shrine on Michigan Avenue in Brookland, just east of North Capitol Street. So the traffic hotspots are Massachusetts Avenue NW, Pennsylvania Avenue NW and the North Capitol Street/Michigan Avenue area, but expect the effects to ripple out from those corridors. Transit is likely to be crowded today. Many commuters who have the option will turn to Metro, because of the likelihood of congestion in central Washington during the pope's visit. Many visitors also will be parking...
By | April 16, 2008; 5:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Motorcades Done For Day
Pope Benedict XVI has arrived at the Vatican Embassy on Observatory Circle, and that's it for his travels today. However, Massachusetts Avenue is one one lane each way in the vicinity of the circle and it's best to avoid that area through Friday morning, when the pope leaves for New York....
By | April 15, 2008; 5:50 PM ET | Comments (0)
Avoid Mass Ave This Evening
With Pope Benedict XVI scheduled to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base at 4 p.m., there's likely to be some extra traffic congestion late in this evening's rush period. The exact route the pope will take into the District has not been made public, for security reasons, but it's a good bet there will be congestion on Massachusetts Avenue around Observatory Circle, where the Vatican Embassy is located. In fact, since parts of Massachusetts Avenue will be restricted during the next few days, it would be best to avoid that area from this afternoon through Friday morning. From 5 p.m. today through 9 a.m. Friday: -- No truck traffic will be allowed on Massachusetts Avenue between Wisconsin Avenue and Observatory Circle. -- Massachusetts Avenue between Observatory Circle and 34th Street will be one lane in each direction. If that's part of your regular commuting route, try Wisconsin Avenue, Connecticut Avenue...
By | April 15, 2008; 3:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Officials Warn of Congestion
With a world spiritual leader visiting so many places in the capital over so many days, District Transportation Director Emeka Moneme rightly refers to the "unknown unknowns" in describing what planners confront today through Friday morning. Despite all the interagency planning and the public awareness campaign, some transportation problem will occur during the pope's visit that we're not talking about right now. So if you can work from home, Wednesday and Thursday are the days to do it. Otherwise, Metrorail is your best bet. But Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. offered this advice for both commuters and visitors: "Come early" and "understand it will be crowded." Moneme and Catoe spoke to reporters outside WTOP radio this morning, after an hour-long discussion of transit issues, which you can hear by using this link. Here's some of the advice they're giving out today. Train riders who park at Metro stations...
By | April 15, 2008; 1:32 PM ET | Comments (0)
Getting Around During Papal Visit
Here is some advice about traffic hot spots during the pope's visit to Washington, which begins during this afternoon's rush and ends Friday morning. -- Worst Bet: Expecting events to begin and end at the scheduled times. -- Best Bet: Getting to your seat for the 10 a.m. papal mass at Nationals Park by 8:30 a.m. -- The worst congestion is likely to occur tomorrow and Thursday. -- Avoid Massachusetts Avenue NW around Observatory Circle all week. That's the neighborhood where the pope will be staying. Commuters can try Wisconsin Avenue, Connecticut Avenue and 16th Street NW as alternatives or take Metro's Red Line. Crosstown traffic could use Garfield Street, Cleveland Avenue and Calvert Street. -- The streets around North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue NE are likely to be congested tomorrow and Thursday as the pope attends events in Brookland. -- Popemobile Procession: Noon tomorrow from the White House,...
By | April 15, 2008; 8:16 AM ET | Comments (0)
Parkway Paving Postponed
The repaving on Rock Creek Parkway that had been scheduled to start today has been postponed for a week. The National Park Service says this weekend's weather forecast, which includes the possibility of thunderstorms, could have posed a problem for the paving project on the parkway's southbound side between P Street and Virginia Avenue. Here's the new plan: The southbound curb lane will be closed Friday, April 18, after noon. Then at midnight, the southbound P Street ramp will close, reopening after noon on Saturday. On Sunday, the Pennsylvania Avenue and K Street ramps will be repaved, so they can reopen by 6:30 a.m. Monday, April 21. Three travel lanes will remain open both northbound and southbound during the paving operations. The Thompson's Boat Center parking lot will close for repaving on Monday, April 21, after 7 p.m. and reopen Tuesday, April 22 at noon....
By | April 11, 2008; 9:07 AM ET | Comments (5)
Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday
Dear Dr. Gridlock: I have a ticket for a play at the Lansburgh Theater, 450 7th St. NW, on Saturday at 2 p.m. As the Cherry Blossom Parade starts at 10 a.m. and lasts to at least 12 p.m. rain or shine, what is the best way to get to the theater and avoid the parade traffic and crowds. Is it better to drive or to use Metro? Elaine Horsfield I'd take Metro -- especially because you've got two stops so close to the theater on 7th Street. There's Archives-Navy Memorial at 7th and Pennsylvania, and there's Gallery Place-Chinatown with an exit at 7th and F streets. They're both within two blocks of the theater. Also, there's no track work scheduled for this weekend, so you should not experience any train delays....
By | April 11, 2008; 6:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
Weekend Work Near Wilson Bridge
Watch for a construction project that will close part of the outer loop tonight through Sunday evening. Starting at 9 p.m., two of the outer loop's four lanes between the Eisenhower Connector and Telegraph Road are scheduled to close, with all the lanes reopening by Sunday evening in a new three-lane configuration. This work may sound familiar because it was postponed from last weekend. If the forecast for tonight through Sunday looks bad for the work, project managers could still postpone it. If I hear that, I'll post it right away. But if the project comes off this weekend, the result will be an earlier merge from four to three lanes on the outer loop approaching the Wilson Bridge. You regulars know that traffic backs up in this area. Stay alert this coming week, because the backup will likely start sooner as a result of the shift in the merge...
By | April 11, 2008; 6:12 AM ET | Comments (3)
Big Day For Metrorail Ridership
For the first time this year, a day's worth of rail ridership broke into Metro's top 10 list of travel dates. The transit authority said people took 801,370 Metrorail trips on Wednesday, placing it at No. 9 on the all-time list for ridership. Four of the top 10 dates are from 2007. The all-time leader is June 9, 2004, the date of Ronald Reagan's funeral, when ridership totaled 850,636. Over the years, the cherry blossom festival often has pushed a date into the top 10. That was a factor on Wednesday, but so was a series of evening sports events at Nationals Park, Verizon Center and RFK Stadium. Look for next Thursday, the date of the morning papal mass at Nationals Park, to challenge for top 10 membership. What suggestions do you have for those traveling to the mass or just trying to avoid the resulting congestion?...
By | April 10, 2008; 1:42 PM ET | Comments (9)
Paving to Start on Rock Creek Parkway
The National Park Service plans to start a paving project on Rock Creek Parkway between Virginia Avenue and P Street tonight after the evening rush. The work involves closing the southbound curbside lane, the P Street ramp, the K Street ramp and the Pennsylvania Avenue ramp. Three travel lanes will remain open both northbound and southbound during the paving operations, the park service says. All those ramps are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. Friday and stay open until 10 a.m. Then they will close again through Sunday. The parking lot for Thompson's Boat Center will be closed for repaving on Monday after 7:00 p.m. It's scheduled to reopen Tuesday afternoon. This whole project, which began last April, is scheduled to be done in May. You can see a fuller description of the work on this page from the Federal Highway Administration, which is overseeing the project in conjunction with...
By | April 10, 2008; 6:40 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sports Meet Traffic Today and Friday
This may be a bit more of a challenge than navigating to, or through, the first two games at the new baseball stadium: This evening, we have three sports events in Washington; and on Friday evening, two. Tonight, it's Nats at Nationals Park, DC United at RFK Stadium and Wizards at Verizon Center. Something important for Nats fans: The free parking at RFK will move from Lot 8 to Lot 7 on Wednesday night, and whenever the Nats and DC United overlap. So DC United fans will be using the RFK access road to Lot 8. The Nats recommend that baseball fans reach Lot 7 by taking either the Whitney Young (East Capitol Street) Bridge or Oklahoma Avenue. The free Nationals Express shuttle will meet baseball fans at Lot 7. Transit Users: Metro did very well on Monday night, but only the Nats were playing. Today and Friday will be...
By | April 9, 2008; 5:37 AM ET | Comments (11)
Advisory for Route 1 Drivers in Virginia
This advisory just came in from the Wilson Bridge project: Northbound Route 1 travelers, whether coming from southern Fairfax County or the Capital Beltway, can expect continued delays through the remainder of the work week because the far-right lane is closed immediately north of the Beltway. Project managers say the closure is necessary to install footings for new barriers for soundwalls that will protect nearby residents from highway noise. The work requires deep excavations immediately adjacent to Route 1 in the northwest quadrant of the interchange. So the lane closure was imposed for safety reasons. To lessen the impact on traffic, the single-lane reduction that occurred today on Route 1's two-lane Beltway overpass is being moved slightly north this afternoon to where Route 1 is usually three lanes. Motorists entering northbound Route 1 from the Beltway's inner loop will need to merge expeditiously into the remaining two lanes, rather than...
By | April 8, 2008; 4:19 PM ET | Comments (0)
No Stress Test For Stadium Traffic
Nationals Park will cause no congestion problems at all, as long as the team plays every game in mist and bone-chilling cold. Lonely duty for traffic control on M Street north of stadium. (Thomson) For the first week night game at the new stadium by the Anacostia waterfront, fans and commuters had it easy. But then the game was played in bad weather on NCAA men's final night, factors that likely held down attendance at the ballpark. Also, Mondays tend to be lighter on commuting than other weekdays. The worst congestion I saw in a two-hour pre-game tour last night was at L'Enfant Plaza Metro station. The platform was crowded with a mix of commuters and baseball fans, and so were the trains. Metro had plenty of staffers spread out along the Green Line platform. As trains heading toward Branch Avenue (and stopping at Navy Yard Station, nearest Nationals Park)...
By | April 8, 2008; 8:27 AM ET | Comments (0)
Traffic Meets Baseball Tonight
The Nationals are scheduled to play their first week night game at the new stadium starting at 7:10 tonight. I'll take a look around the area and tell you what the traffic and transit conditions were like. Meanwhile, here are some tips for getting to -- or getting around -- Nationals Park, at 1500 South Capitol St. SE. Evening traffic from I-395 to South Capitol Street. (Thomson) Drivers -- First, don't type that stadium address into your online directions finder, make a printout and get in the car. This trip is way more complicated. The secret neighborhood parking spot you think you know is likely to be inaccessible or restricted at game time. -- These are probable hotspots for traffic: the Maine Avenue and South Capitol Street exits on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway, the intersection of M and South Capitol streets, M Street SE in front of the Navy Yard and...
By | April 7, 2008; 8:11 AM ET | Comments (13)
The Weekend and Beyond
Here are a couple of things you might need to know for your travels this weekend and afterward. Possible Delays on Metro Starting Monday, Metro will conduct a series of rail tests to detect internal rail defects. The tests themselves will be conducted overnight, but if repairs are needed, speed restrictions may be put in place and could result in delays. The tests are scheduled to take place during the next three weeks, with different lines affected at different times. The first line in the queue is the Red Line. Metro Expected to be Crowded for Monday's Nationals Game A large ridership on Metro is expected on Monday evening, as the Nationals play their second game at the new stadium. The game starts at 7:10 p.m., and Metro reports that it will add trains and personnel to help with the anticipated larger volume of riders....
By Amy L. Kovac | April 4, 2008; 11:57 AM ET | Comments (1)
Metro Will Open at 5 a.m. Sunday
On Sunday, Metro will open two hours early at 5 a.m. for the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race and 5K run/walk. The 10-mile race begins at 7:50 a.m., and runners will start and finish near the Washington Monument. The 5K run/walk starts at 8:50 a.m., and participants will start and finish just down the street from the Washington Monument. The closest Metro station to the courses is Smithsonian Memorial on the Blue and Orange lines....
By Amy L. Kovac | April 3, 2008; 3:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
