Thursday, May 16, 2013
With the contractor selected, the first of several “milestones” begins for the Metro line creeping toward Ashburn.
The notion of riding Metro from a station in Ashburn to Reston Town Center, Tysons Corner or Washington, DC, moved another small step toward reality Wednesday when the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors cemented its selection of Capital Rail Constructors to build Phase 2 of the Silver Line. “This is the first of many milestones to come for the second phase of the Silver Line,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO. Phase 1 of the 23-mile extension runs from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue and could begin carrying passengers by the end of the year. Passengers will be able to stay on Silver Line trains East of Falls Church because they will share the Orange Line track. While the contract award for Phase 2 marks …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Metro says system-wide capability not possible until 2015, but the Congressional deadline is Sept. 30 of this year.
Metro got a break this week on its Congressional deadline to install cellphone service system-wide; a continuing resolution pushed the due date from March 30 to Sept. 30, The Washington Examiner reports. But don't get your hopes up, Metro has said system-wide service will not happen until December 2015. Among other requirements to continue receiving $150 million in federal funding each year, Metro is supposed to offer cell phone service throughout the transit system. Metro's 20 busiest stations were wired for internet service in 2009, but many tunnels between stations and many stations still do not have cell phone or internet service capabilities. Currently AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have mixed levels of service throughout…
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Traffic information for Northern Virginia commuters, including traffic jams, delays, Metro, ART, DASH, Fairfax Connector and more. Click on the grey tabs below for more information.
Problems on your commute today? Tell other readers about it in the comment section below. Updated traffic information: Delayed Metro trains, buses and cars sitting in endless traffic on I-66 and the Beltway—even a 10-minute commute in the DC metro area can be extreme some days. In fact, a March 2013 report from the Census Bureau shows people in the DC metro area have the second-worst commute in the country. That report came on the heels of a Texas Transportation Institute report in February that DC area commuters face the worst traffic in the country. Patch is here to help! Click on any of the grey tabs above to expand it and get more information about congestion, delays or other traffic alerts. On the Metro rail map, click on any …
Friday, March 1, 2013
MWAA expects to complete construction in late summer and turn the rail line over to Metro.
Among a series of interesting tidbits to come from Thursday’s Committee for Dulles meeting in Ashburn was a clue about when the first passengers will be able to ride Metro’s Silver Line, a 23-mile extension of the rail system from East Falls Church to Ashburn. The project was broken into two phases. Phase one, from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, is nearing completion as the second phase, from Wiehle to Ashburn, begins moving forward. There are really two important dates coming up for the project's first phase: completion of construction and the day passengers begin riding. “We will be completing the work in late summer,” said Marcia McAllister, a spokeswoman for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. DCMR was contracted by …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
On January 16, 2013, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s (“MWAA”) Board of Directors passed a resolution proposing to amend its lease with the US Department of Transportation to allow commercial development on Dulles Airport property.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Metro will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday because of the Presidents' Day holiday.
Metro riders on Monday should anticipate trains running on a Saturday schedule and buses running on a "Saturday Supplemental" schedule due to the Presidents' Day holiday. Metrorail Schedule The system will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. Orange Line: Blue Line Red Line: Green Line: Yellow Line: Metrobus Schedule According to a Metro news release, "Metrobus service will operate on a "Saturday Supplemental" schedule; customers should check timetables for details." Find Herndon Patch via:
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Herndon, Reston residents express concern at possibility of longer commutes.
Fairfax County officials answered residents’ questions Tuesday regarding the first half of the Silver Line and the new Connector bus routes that will launch when the Metro line opens at the end of the year. Nick Perfili, Dulles Rail Project Planner, and Christy Wegener, Connector’s manager of operations, led the discussion, part of a weeklong effort to gather input on the many changes coming to Connector service in the area. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s (FCDOT) plan includes the addition of 12 new routes and restructuring of 20 existing routes, as well the elimination of six others. One Fairfax resident expressed concern that those commuting west to areas like Reston and Herndon on the new routes will end up with a …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Dulles Rail Project and Fairfax Dept. of Transportation officials will answer residents' question about the Metro Silver Line and proposed bus services to it.
If you have any questions about the Dulles silver line rail project or related bus services in the area, you have a chance to get answers Tuesday. At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nick Perfili, Dulles Rail Project Planner, and Christy Wegener, Fairfax Connector’s Manager of Operations, Planning and Customer Service with the county’s Department of Transportation, will host an online chat. You can submit questions in advance here. A transcript will be available after the chat. For the latest on Metro's plans throughout the region, see 'Metro Momentum Offers Expansive Plans for System's Future.' Keep up with transportation developments and more with the Herndon Patch email newsletter!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Though Phase 2 construction has yet to begin, process is underway for art in the six future stations.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is seeking artists to contribute public art works at Phase 2 Silver Line Metro stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), will place works at six future Silver Line stations. The art will promote transit use, enhance travel by Metro, and highlight the cultural vitality of the National Capital region, according to materials from Metro. MWAA is managing the design and construction of the Silver Line Project, the Metro extension that is set to begin operating at the end of 2013. Phase 1 of Silver Line will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, which does not yet have a construction start date, will …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
When is metro running? Which stations are closed? How much will it cost? Patch has you covered.
Inauguration Day 2009 set the all time ridership record for Metro at about 1.54 million trips on rail and bus combined. The rail ridership in 2009 alone was 1.12 million trips. Metro is preparing for a crowded system this year as well, spokesman Dan Stessel told Patch. WMATA estimates 600,000 to 800,000 people will use Metrorail for the 2013 inauguration events. Metro has been working with external partners like the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police and other agencies involved in inauguration activities to help alleviate some of the crowding that plagued metro during the 2009 inauguration. The transit agency is doing everything it can to communicate with riders about their best routes and about planning ahead to help reduce congestion …
Bob Bruhns
3:55 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Go! Go! Oops. It's going. Going broke. The Silver Line Metro needed another $300 million... before it even OPENED. Oh wait - WE'RE the ones who are going broke. Why? Because WE'RE the ones who are already bailing out the Dulles Rail / Silver Line with another $300 million to try to hold the toll increases a little less than planned... for a few years.... and then we'll have to bail it out with a … more ›