Metro | ARLnow.com

Weekend Track Work to Close Airport, Crystal City Metro Stations

Published July 10, 2012 at 12:00PM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:24PM

Workers will be installing cable to provide better cell phone coverage along the Blue and Yellow lines, in addition to doing work on ties and insulators. Starting at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13, and continuing through closing on Sunday, July 15, free shuttle buses will replace trains between Pentagon City and Braddock Road on the Blue and Yellow lines. The Reagan National Airport and Crystal City stops will both be closed.

Blue Line trains will operate in two segments: between Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road and between Pentagon City and Largo Town Center, at regular weekend intervals. Yellow Line trains will also operate in two segments: between Huntington and Braddock Road and between Pentagon City and Mount Vernon Square, at regular weekend intervals. Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

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New Metro Fares to Take Effect Sunday

By ARLnow.com

Published June 29, 2012 at 3:45PM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Off-peak rail fares are increasing from $1.60-$2.75, depending on the length of your trip, to $1.70-$3.50. Peak fares are increasing from $1.95-$5.20 to $2.10-$5.75.

In order to encourage riders to utilize SmartTrip cards, there will also be new a $1 surcharge for riders using paper fare cards.

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Morning Poll: Metro’s Rush Plus Service

By ARLnow.com

Published June 25, 2012 at 9:24AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Designed to reduce the rush hour “Orange crush” by adding three additional Orange Line trains per hour, Rush Plus accomplished the enhanced Orange Line service by directing three formerly Blue Line trains per hour over the Yellow Line bridge into the District.

Metro billed Rush+ as “rush hour reinvented,” promising to “reduce crowding and provide new transfer-free travel opportunities.” Has it lived up to expectations?”

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 18, 2012 at 8:45AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Rush Plus Starts Today — This morning marks the start of Metro’s “Rush Plus” modified rush hour rail service. So far, via Twitter, numerous problems and crowded trains have been reported on the Blue Line. Initial reviews have been mixed on the Orange and Yellow lines.

Hearing Set for Pike Neighborhoods Plan — A public hearing about the new Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Plan will be held on Saturday, July 21. The plan envisions the addition of 6,000 new rental apartments (to the existing stock of 9,000 apartments) along the Columbia Pike corridor over the next 30 years. Arlington County says the goal of the plan is to “Preserve affordable housing… encourage private investment… create a more pedestrian-friendly community… [and] strengthen the Pike corridor’s transit network.” [Washington Post, Arlington County]

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Metro Rush Hour Changes Begin Monday

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 15, 2012 at 10:30AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Rush+ will be in effect Monday through Friday, from 6:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Orange Line customers who use stations west of Rosslyn should notice three more trains per hour in each direction. Metro estimates the change will allow for an 18 percent increase in capacity on the Orange Line, which would benefit more than 46,000 customers.

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Metro Work Will Result in Delays This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published May 30, 2012 at 12:43PM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Work on the Orange, Blue and Yellow lines will result in longer travel times for riders. The work is being done as part of what WMATA terms “the massive effort to rebuild Metrorail.”

Due to testing associated with the Silver Line construction project, the Orange Line will be split into two sections between Arlington and Fairfax County. One section will operate between Vienna and West Falls Church, the other between East Falls Church and New Carrollton. A shuttle bus will be provided between the East and West Falls Church stations. Riders taking the shuttle should add 20 minutes to their travel time, Metro says.

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Clarendon Metro Plaza Changes Coming Soon

By Katie Pyzyk

Published May 15, 2012 at 1:45PM | Updated May 16, 2012 at 9:23AM

The revamp involves installing new landscaping, pavers, irrigation, seating, lighting, curbs and gutters. It’s designed to provide a larger public space where community functions, such as the farmers’ market, can be held.

The plaza’s fountain will stay, but will receive upgraded water lines. Additionally, the changes should improve drainage in the plaza.

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Blue Line Changes This Weekend Due to Track Work

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2012 at 10:15AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

Starting at 10:00 tonight and continuing through system closing on Sunday, buses will replace trains between the Pentagon and Rosslyn stations. Blue Line trains will operate in two sections, with one of the sections running between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square via the Yellow Line bridge. Arlington Cemetery station will be closed.

The service change is necessary to allow crews to replace wooden rail ties — the same work that was taking place last weekend.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2012 at 9:14AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

New School Budget Approved — The Arlington School Board approved a new $499.98 million budget last night. The budget includes a 2.84 percent cost of living increase for school employees, but no seniority-based “step” increases. The per-student cost at Arlington Public Schools will increase to $18,615, up from $18,400 in Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s FY 2013 proposed budget and $18,110 in this past year’s budget. [Sun Gazette]

Extra I-66 Lane Studied — Adding an extra lane in each direction on I-66 would improve travel times for drivers by only about 2 percent, while costing some $310 to $685 million, according to a preliminary study. [Greater Greater Washington]

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Metro Single Tracking Due to Derailment at Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published April 24, 2012 at 8:18PM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:25PM

The incident was first reported by WMATA as a “track problem” around 7:15 p.m. Minutes later the agency announced that Blue and Orange Line service was temporarily suspended in between D.C. and Arlington due to a “minor” derailment. No injuries have been reported and WMATA says passengers on the train were “safely moved to platform.”

Trains started single tracking around 7:30 p.m. and are now running with a 20 minute headway, according to Metro. The agency is advising Blue Line passengers to use the Yellow Line between D.C. and Virginia, if possible.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2012 at 9:04AM

Defibrillator’s Batteries Weren’t Charged — Metro General Manager Richard Sarles has ordered a review of the agency’s automated external defibrillator (AED) program after it was revealed that the AED used to try to revive a man suffering a heart attack at the Pentagon Metro station on Monday had “insufficient battery charge.” The man later died. [Dr. Gridlock]

Favola Gets Top Business Rating — State Sen. Barbara Favola was the most “business-friendly” member of the Arlington legislative delegation in 2012, according to the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. During her recent campaign Favola was criticizing for taking big donations from real estate developers. [Sun Gazette]

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Changes Coming to Hayes Street in Pentagon City

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 19, 2012 at 3:19PM | Updated April 19, 2012 at 3:46PM

(Updated at 3:30 p.m.) If the County Board approves the construction contract, work could start soon on a major road improvement project near the Pentagon City mall.

An agenda item is on the table to award a contract to Milani Construction LLC for the work along S. Hayes Street from S. 15th Street to Army Navy Drive. There will also be improvements made to the Pentagon City Metro station plazas. The contract is worth more than $9 million.