Washington, DC

I had heard about there being Pope Bobbleheads early this week when researching for this week’s Special Topic Tuesday post on the Papal Visit. At the time, though, I decided to not bring it up because it is not an official souvenir. However, after seeing the Pope Bobblehead as part of a Metro Ad encouraging the use of the Metro to get to the mass at Nationals New Park I just could not ignore the bobblehead for a second time. There was a You Tube video of the ad, but it says it has been removed because the Church complained that not only is the bobblehead unofficial, but it inaccurately has him with a red skullcap and red cap. Here is the WUSA 9’s article on it, though. By the way the video even showed the Pope Bobblehead using the special Mass Pass (one-day pass good on Mass Day, April 17), which you can get at the Metro Sales Office. I picked up two of them today as collector items, but not without some trouble. Apparently few understand the word Papal and you got to say Pope for them to understand what you want. I now realize the even more appropriate lingo is to ask for a Mass Pass.

The other Metrorail news I wanted to bring up is that tomorrow is going to be a real test on their ability to handle game day crowds. Yesterday they were saying they handled the first weekday Nats game very well, which apparently is a big deal because it corresponds with afternoon rush hour. I was kind of confused by them also saying the real test was at the end of the game, which made no sense because it certainly did not even look as crowded as the exhibition game at least from what I saw watching it on television. Anyways crowds feel free to all go to tomorrow’s game and not go on Thursday, so I can deal with less of a crowd for Thursday when I have tickets. Just kidding, though, because really I have faith in the Metro because they handled Opening Day crowds very well and at least at the Navy Yard Station I do not see them having much trouble until possibly after the Papal Mass next week.

So, my assessment is that at least at the Navy Yard station it will not get too crowded, however, the trains are likely to end up crowded at key transfer points, especially Gallery Place Chinatown with there being a Wizards game tomorrow night. L’Enfant could also get crowded with D.C. United fans and Nats fans using it as a transfer point. In the end, though, it really comes down to how closely together the different sports games end. The start times are all pretty close, however, I personally think before game traffic is always lighter than post game traffic because people have a more varied time they like to get to the stadiums/parks before the game compared to the mass exit at the end of games. Here is the link to WUSA 9’s report on the Metro Being Ready for the Tripleheader.

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The MetroRail expansion to Dulles has been denied federal funding, which is needed for the project to become a reality, based on the current proposal. The federal government will not offer any funding without drastic changes to the plan. The expansion to Dulles would certainly be a great thing for business as pointed out here, but it is also useful for people flying international. While I personally don’t think of Dulles as a world class airport as the article calls it, I do realize its importance as the nearest International airport that serves a wide range of destinations worldwide. One of the reasons given for funding being denied is that Metro is having problems keeping the current system as a well-funded and upkept subway system, which does make sense because really the MetroRail could use with some refurbishing the current system rather than adding more to take care of when it cannot keep the current system in good repair without significant passenger disruption like last weekends necessary refurbishment of a platform at Metro Center. Anyways for now you can still get to Dulles via Metrobus, which is not that bad of an option, although Rail would certainly be more convenient.

Metro, Dulles, subway, D.C.

Today there is free rides on all MetroBuses if you show your SmarTrip card. Just show it to the driver and do not tap it. Save money by not driving or using MetroRail and taking advantage of this great opportunity due to the mistake of it charging last Monday when transferring between MetroBuses. MetroBuses are also free tomorrow morning.

Metro, free, bus, D.C.

Yes, a Book of the Week post is coming later today. I read the book, but do not have time to get the post for it written until later today. Right now I have two pieces of D.C. area news that I felt should be shared.

First off this past Monday the fare boxes on the MetroBuses were charging those with SmarTrip cards to transfer. It is supposed to be free to transfer within two hours, but it was instead charging the full $1.25 fare again when you tapped it to transfer. They were fixed by Tuesday. To make up for the mistake MetroBuses will be offering free rides if you show your SmarTrip card on Sunday all day or Monday until noon. Thus perhaps take the bus if you are going somewhere on Sunday and have a SmarTrip card instead of using the MetroRail and get a free ride instead of paying the higher rail fees. You might realize it is not that bad and worth saving money by taking buses instead of the rail on occasion.

Second piece of news is that yesterday there was a record high temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a beautiful warm spring like day. Today will still be in the 60s, but some rain is coming and cooler temperatures. Thus while the past two days were spring like it will soon be winter like again in the D.C. area. Too bad these warm days did not occur on a weekend. Would have been amazing days for walking the National Mall.

D.C., Metro, record high, weather

I meant to write this post sooner, but just did not get around to it. At least neither of the changes have occured, yet. The MetroBus Schedule changes begin December 30, so if you use one of the effected lines to get to work like I do you might want to make sure you know what time to catch the bus now to need to catch the bus to be on time and so that you do not end up waiting longer than necessary at the stop because the bus comes later than you thought. Bus Lines effected are 60, 64, 62, 66, 68, 90, 92, 93, D8, G8, H1, H2, H3, H4, N6, U4, U8, W2, W3, X1, X3, 85, C11, D12, D14, F4, F14, J7, J9, P12, P17, P19, T2, T18, Y5, Y7, Y8, Y9, Z2, 3A, 3B, 3E, 9E, 10A, 10E, 12C, 12S, 16Y, 22B, 23A, 23C, 25A, 25F, 25G, 25J, 25P, 25R, 25B, 28B, and 38B. Go here to download the PDF files of the new timetables for these lines.

Now about the fare increase. This is something that has been discussed for months here and all along Metro has been quite clear that some kind of increase will happen early in 2008. The confirmed fare increases and the date for the increase has now been given. The increases start on January 6, 2008. The increases include a 30 to 60 cent increase to rush hour rates depending on how far you are going. The base fare of $1.35 will rise to $1.65. Daily parking fees will increase 75 cents and may rise another 25 cents late in 2008 if Metro decides to use the option they made for themselves. The metered parking fees will increase to $1 an hour. Monthly reserved parking will increase anywhere from $10 to $55. Bus fares remain at $1.25 if you pay with a Smarttrip (making it well worth the low price of $5 it costs to get it if you ride the bus at just once a week, plus it is just more convenient overall for riding the Metro). If you pay with cash, bus fares will now cost $1.35. Metro is providing 50,000 Smarttrip cards to be given for free to low-income people who cannot afford the $5 fee, thus making it possible for them to also keep the same budget for their bus riding.

Please note that paper bus transfers are to be eliminated in January 2009 and after that you will only get the transfer discount if you use a Smarttrip, so if you ever ride the MetroBuses you definitely should invest the $5 in the Smarttrip card. It is also a much greener option, as you are not wasting paper with bus transfers or paper MetroRail tickets.

Metro, fare increases, bus schedules, MetroBus

I know this proposal has been going on for a long time and it is not exactly new news for most long time Washington area residents, however I thought I would bring it up today because I was reminded of it by this news article that appeared in the Washington Post today. This additional line would be mostly for Maryland suburbs. It is proposed to link Bethesda to New Carrollton. The cost of the line is projected between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion. There are still logistics problems such as the fact that the proposed line goes through Capital Crescent Trail and the University of Maryland’s College Park Campus.

purple line, Metro, D.C.

The main purpose of Union Station is as a transit center and all else is just a bonus and meant to get more people to visit as well as serve those in transit there. Union Station for one is a stop on the Red Line of the D.C. area Metro system. Union Station is also a train station that is served by Amtrak trains to various locations. This is also where you can get MARC trains during the week that are commuter trains into Maryland to places such as Penn Station in Baltimore. Right outside Union Station is also a good sized bus transit center for Metrobuses. In addition you can rent cars from major car rental companies here as well as get D.C. tours that leave from here run by three different tour companies.

Union Station, D.C., trains, Metro

If you are like me, you have never heard the term escalump until today. I was checking the Washington Post website for interesting news and this is what I found. Apparently an escalump is a person who stands on the left side of an escaltor. Being an escaplump causes pedestrian traffic to back up on the escalotor and platform in the D.C. metro system. (more…)

The two end stops of the Yellow Line are Fort Totten and Huntington. Weekdays 5am to 9:30am and 3pm to 7pm it only goes to Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center instead of going all the way to Fort Totten. So during those times you have to use the green line for the stations between Fort Totten and Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center. (more…)

The two end stops of the Red Line are Shady Grove and Glenmont, which are both in Maryland. There are also trains (mostly during week day rush hours) that only go to Grosvenor-Strathmore instead of going all the way to Shady Grove. If you are going to stops past that, it is best to get on a Shady Grove train, but you can always get off at Grosvenor-Strathmore and wait for the Shady Grove one to come. Going towards Glenmont there are trains that only go to Silver Spring. (more…)

The two end stops of the Orange Line are Vienna/Fairfx-GMU and New Carrollton. It shares about half of its stops with the Blue Line. (more…)

The two end stops of the Green Line are Branch Ave and Greenbelt. It shares some of its stops with the Yellow line. During morning and evening rush hour times the Green Line is the only line that services Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center through Fort Totten, while at other times both Green and Yellow line trains service these stations. (more…)

The two end stops of the Blue Line are Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center. It shares about half its stops with the Orange Line and another about a quarter of its stops are shared with the Yellow Line. (more…)

Hours

Metrorail Opens: 5am Monday through Friday and 7am on Saturday and Sunday
Metrorail Closes: midnight Sunday through Thursday and 3am Friday and Saturday nights

Fares

There are two types of fares. The regular fare applies to rides that occur from opening to 9:30am, 3pm to 7pm, and 2am to closing. Depending on how far you travel it can cost between $1.35 to $3.90 for regular fare one-way. At all other times rides are based on the reduced fare, which is $1.35 minimum, $1.85 mid-range, and $2.35 maximum. Thus if you are doing a trip that falls in the maximum range you can save over a $1 if you are able to do so during reduced fare prices. Also, the regular fare times are typically the rush hour and it can be crowded to ride. Thus if you are a tourist here on a weekday I do not recommend leaving for sightseeing using the metro until after 10am. Besides most place will not even be open until 10am (ex. the Smithsonian museums) and you will get there shortly after opening without being on the Metro with quite so many people. (more…)