Ok but really, just fix the damn escalator

Northbound... we've got an upbound. And that's it.

Another day, another escalator repair at our beloved Metro station. Just checked WMATA. This one is classified as a "CALLBACK/REPAIR" to be completed by 4/24/09. I read about it here first, though since that blog was posted half the escalator reopened for climbing only.

So the bad news is, we still have a busted staircase. And the worse news is, the side that is working is operating as shaky as a rope bridge with a fat lady on it.

Transportation Report: Street Cleaning, Yogurt Pretzels, Single Tracks

A few transportation notes to report.

Street sweeping is back on March 23, 2009. Have fun moving your cars all summer long, folks.

The Yellow/Green line is single tracking again this weekend between Mt. Vernon and Shaw. When will it end? I don't know because WMATA won't tell me.

And we have three escalator alerts for the Columbia Heights Metro station. The date given below is when it's expected to be fixed. These dates get pushed back, and pushed back some more. I can't help but wonder if the first INCIDENT/ACCIDENT involves those yogurt pretzels that are now part of the Northbound stairs. If that side of the escalator wasn't busted before, I bet it is now after months of not running and being covered in Columbia Heights garbage:

INCIDENT/ACCIDENT 3/17/09
Escalator between street and mezzanine, 14th Street Northbound Entrance

CALLBACK/REPAIR (no date)
Escalator between street and mezzanine, 14th Street Southbound Entrance

MAJOR REPAIR 3/28/09
Escalator between street and mezzanine, 14th Street Northbound Entrance

Escalator Watch: Deadline, Metro

The escalator on the Northbound Buses side of the Metro? It's broken. Still. You probably already knew this.

We wrote a while back that it's classified as a "major repair," and now it's also listed as an "incident/accident." And while they make these "major repairs" to the "incident/accident" we are treated to a trash-laden and dangerously icy hike up and down the metal teeth.

The latest "deadline" WMATA has posted is 3/31 for the "major repair" and 3/6 for the "incident/accident."

So starting today - we are on escalator watch. Will anything change before tomorrow's "deadline," and if not - with 26 days to go, can WMATA make a major repair?!?!

We're watching WMATA... Ok, we're actually mostly tripping on the stairs, but that's a form of "watching," so... We're watching.

Metro: Efficient Inefficiency

As anyone who boards the Metro at Columbia Heights via the Northbound entrance knows... that thing is downright broken.

Almost daily I plod down the slippery stairs in heels not meant for plodding wondering - when, why, didn't they just fix this thing?

Apparently our Metro escalator is classified as a "MAJOR REPAIR," per WMATA, and is set to be in repair mode until March, at least.

But I do have good news - note the headline. After weeks of metal stairs where an escalator used to live, we have some movement! In the morning, the escalator has been going down. Then at night... it goes up!

Sure - only one side works.... and it's been broken FOREVER and won't be fixed for MONTHS yet. But nonetheless... a little efficient inefficiency. And for that I say - thanks for trying, Metro.

Circulator Bus Stop Coming to the Neighborhood?

The Examiner has a small article about Metro and Councilman Jim Graham’s proposal to eliminate the 98 bus that runs from Woodley Park to U Street. Its replacement would be a Circulator bus—similar to what runs along K Street between Union Station and Georgetown—that would connect Woodley Park and McPherson Square. According to the article, the route would have stops in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and the U Street Corridor. DCist has a few thoughts on it, too.

When I lived in Adams Morgan, I was a fan of the 98 bus because it cost only $.25 however oftentimes it was easier just to walk to U Street because traffic was so bad on 18th Street. While there is no final decision on the Circulator route or start date, below are my ideas for where the bus should provide service.


View Larger Map

Poll Fails to Predict the Future

And Columbia Heights residents are a bunch of pessimists. The 14th Street North Metro escalators are once again working, after being out of service for about six days. Also, track work delays continue to plague the Green and Yellow lines this weekend. However, if you are on a train, hope for one with a speedy operator. The drivers of the trains I was on this afternoon were determined not to get stuck single-tracking and stopped for about 10 seconds less at affected stations.

New Ad Eats Metro Floor

A new ad took over the floor of the Columbia Heights metro station.

Although an eye-catching approach, it was almost too big to digest without stopping and walking around on top of it.

Next, a giant Best Buy tag on the ceiling?

Update: While I was snapping this photo, I met a fellow photo-snapper. You can check out his website and photos (brighter photos of this ad will surely be up there soon) here.

Cuffed in the Metro Circa 7:50PM

Metro police caught someone doing something wrong tonight in the Columbia Heights metro station.

An older woman was cuffed, calm, and waiting with two Metro officers as I exited the station just before 8:00PM. She appeared to be complaining about the cuffs, but cooperating.

Anyone know what happened?

ArtBart speculates that she was caught with food or drink. I didn't think they cuffed you for that, just fined you... I hope not anyhow because I totally snuck a few bites of a cookie the other day. That 12 year old girl was arrested for the french fry incident right as I was moving to Washington, so I normally comply with the food rules, but I was famished and there was a cookie in my purse! It could have been worse, I could have snuck the cookie while also leaning my butt against a metro pole. Anyhow, I'm off-track.

Anyone know why that woman was cuffed?

Butts on Poles: A Rant

Please, my fellow commuters, get your butts and backs off my pole.

I'm aware that the folks at WMATA have been playing with the configurations of our metro cars for years now, but no matter what they do the problem of butts on my pole will not go away.

Let me explain... there are poles on the metro. They are there for standing commuters to hold while the train is in motion. When everyone just places a hand on the pole, up to five or six people can easily crowd one pole, and not have to reach up for the high bar (thus exposing the whole train to their pit stank).

BUT - DC commuters are leaners. And this leaning on the poles has two results:

1. Butt contamination, and
2. The pole ceases to serve anyone but the leaner. The pole-contaminating leaner.

This problem is especially prevalent on the car configuration on the Green Line. The wall poll that curves below the map deceives people. Sure, the low part IS good for leaning, but get your junk off that high part! These cars have no other center polls (HUGE mistake WMATA, almost as bad as your butt leaning pads config.), and the high part of the poll is a necessity for the shorties. I'm not even a shorty, but it's not like they don't have rights! And it's not like ANYONE should hold the high bar after a long day at work. ALAS! Your 10 minutes of leaning, fellow commuter, is RUINING my night! GET OFF MY POLE.

And with that, I have photos - one of a pole-o-phile, and another of a pole in its natural form. Enjoy.

The Morning Commute

And it's Monday...

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