After this current storm...

[Annex4421]

Dude, shut up already. Metro is trying their best to get service back up and running again. If you can't catch the buses or trains because of the service, GET OVER IT. DEAL WITH IT.

Exactly. Well said Brandon. You sit here and whine and moan about every little thing WMATA does like be grateful you even have a T/A that provides service to you, I said it once and I'll say it again if you don't like WMATA don't ride WMATA. All this huffing and puffing about the service makes no sense.

[LandoverDivision]

Dude, shut up already. Metro is trying their best to get service back up and running again. If you can't catch the buses or trains because of the service, GET OVER IT. DEAL WITH IT.

Exactly. Well said Brandon. You sit here and whine and moan about every little thing WMATA does like be grateful you even have a T/A that provides service to you, I said it once and I'll say it again if you don't like WMATA don't ride WMATA. All this huffing and puffing about the service makes no sense.

Exactly my point. I think WMATA would know what's best for them better than we would know. If you was to get on the bus and get stuck, you would complain even more. If you was to get on the train and the train got stuck on the bridge, who would you blame....WMATA. So yall complain now, but when you actually get stuck out in the middle of nowhere, you're going to do even more complaining. So don't blame them for keepin your butt safe. You only have yourself to blame for being stupid and going out to begin with.

[WayneNYC]

I thought I heard somewhere yesterday that New Jersey was running out of salt. It's definitely not a DC area thing where there is a problem getting things cleared out.  It's not worth the liability to send people out in dangerous conditions to take a chance riding on a bus that is going to have problems, just to set themselves up for people to complain that the bus wasn't reliable.

Wow!  Never heard that they ran out of salt.  Now that you mention New Jersey... NJTransit is also quick to play it safe and suspend bus service during heavy snow storms.

I know most people here see Twitter as a joke and it's 99.98% people who don't know the inner workings of  transit agencies, but the reaction to the latest news (no change in rail initially tomorrow, limited bus service) is VERY anti-Metro. Some samples. 

• "#WMATA FAIL! Only underground rail service? Limited bus? How can a major east coast city function without mass transit?"
• "No above ground wmata service tomorrow. I actually wanted to go into the office. Ugh."
• "Really confused why it has been over 24 hours since @wmata last provided an update on status of DC Metro. #snOMG"
• "WTF @wmata I need to know if I'll be able to make it to work tomorrow"
• "I wish #wmata would make a decision about tomorrow. Either way I think it will be easier to walk to work than take #metrofail."
• "Hey! Look! @wmata finally stopped drinking long enough to tell us what they are doing tomorrow (link to press release)"
• "WTF with the no above-ground service even on Monday, @wmata!?! Fer reals?"

[never mind that the official Metro twitter feed is @metroopensdoors, but still...]


I'm lucky that my job syncs to OPM, however most people want some element of normalcy in their lives and with another 5-8 inches due Tuesday night I think things might only get worse. So many Northeners moved to DC for a reason: to see less snow. Heaven help this isn't just El Nino.

Jason,

I think it's probably safe to say that some of these people will have a complaint regardless of what WMATA does in this case.  If WMATA chose to not suspend service, they'd complain about trains and buses having problems in the snow.  If someone got hurt on one of the outside platforms or in a weather-related bus accident, they'd say that WMATA should've shut down.  I think WMATA made the right decision, but it was one in which they were going to be second-guessed and/or criticized whichever way they went on this issue.

[Tritransit Area]

What IS WMATA doing to clear the rapid transit tracks?  I can understand the shut down with so much snow, but I'm really not understanding why Metrorail service, which runs on tracks, is taking forever to be restored.  Are they just waiting for it to melt a bit?  Do they have maintenance vehicle with plows?  Is the equipment really THAT sensitive?  Are there not many contractors available to clear stations, especially overnight?  Do they have a specific removal program where the system can be restored in stages if necessary, with the densest sections taking priority?

[WayneNYC]

What IS WMATA doing to clear the rapid transit tracks?  I can understand the shut down with so much snow, but I'm really not understanding why Metrorail service, which runs on tracks, is taking forever to be restored.  Are they just waiting for it to melt a bit?  Do they have maintenance vehicle with plows?  Is the equipment really THAT sensitive?  Are there not many contractors available to clear stations, especially overnight?  Do they have a specific removal program where the system can be restored in stages if necessary, with the densest sections taking priority?

My understanding is that they actually have to  remove the snow from the tracks

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

According to the Washington Post's "Dr. Gridlock", WMATA will be operating the following buses ONLY on Monday. They Are:

9:10 p.m. update: Some additional details:
Bus service will be available on less than 10 percent of Metro's bus routes beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. Service will start the day only on snow emergency routes. Expect substantial delays due to the condition of the roads.

"Take your time when boarding a bus, as we know that there are huge piles of snow lining the edges of streets and blocking the bus stops," said Dave Kubicek, Metro's acting deputy general manager for operations. "Please do not [try] to run to catch a bus or a train as it's not worth a fall that could cause an injury."


Metro said it will operate limited service Monday on these routes in the District of Columbia: the U8 line (Minn. Ave – Capitol Heights), the 64 line (Georgia Ave-Petworth– Fort Totten), the 50 line (14th and Colorado Ave) the 70 line (Silver Spring – Archives), the S4 line (Silver Spring – Federal Triangle) the 30 line (Friendship Heights – Potomac Ave) and the A line (Southern Ave to Anacostia).

In Northern Virginia, service will be provided on the 16 line (Pentagon – Baileys Crossroads) the 1C line (Dunn Loring), 2C line (Dunn Loring), 17 line (Braddock Road) and the 28 line (Alexandria – Tysons Corner).

Routes operating in Maryland will be the Z2 and Z8 line (Silver Spring), the Q line (Silver Spring-Shady Grove), the Y line (Silver Spring –Norbeck Road), the F1 and F2 line (Takoma – Cheverly), the J2 line (Bethesda – Silver Spring), the J7/J9 line (Bethesda – Lake Forest Mall), and the P12 line (Eastover – Addison Road).

Wonder why NO C2-4, F4, or limited 80's (Rhode Island Avenue).
very little cross-town, county routes listed
I did see Ride-On will operate their "S" service plan, operating all routes, as if its a normal weekday rushhour.

Please Stay Safe & warm, all you good people.

[Tritransit Area]

That's an interesting set up.  I would expect a slow start up, but I'm surprised that bus service is ending so early.  At least employees who were living at hospitals and nursing homes for the past 2-3 days can attempt to head home.

[Tritransit Area]

What IS WMATA doing to clear the rapid transit tracks?  I can understand the shut down with so much snow, but I'm really not understanding why Metrorail service, which runs on tracks, is taking forever to be restored.  Are they just waiting for it to melt a bit?  Do they have maintenance vehicle with plows?  Is the equipment really THAT sensitive?  Are there not many contractors available to clear stations, especially overnight?  Do they have a specific removal program where the system can be restored in stages if necessary, with the densest sections taking priority?

My understanding is that they actually have to  remove the snow from the tracks

Like...shovels and such?  Egads!

It wouldn't be a terrible idea for WMATA to confer with the neighbors to the north to see how they deal with excessive snow.  They might learn something that may make it a bit easier for at least the rail division to start up more quickly again just in case of dire winter conditions.

I'm just afraid if they don't get things cleared up NOW, they are going to be in a world of hurt when the next storm comes through.

[WayneNYC]

What IS WMATA doing to clear the rapid transit tracks?  I can understand the shut down with so much snow, but I'm really not understanding why Metrorail service, which runs on tracks, is taking forever to be restored.  Are they just waiting for it to melt a bit?  Do they have maintenance vehicle with plows?  Is the equipment really THAT sensitive?  Are there not many contractors available to clear stations, especially overnight?  Do they have a specific removal program where the system can be restored in stages if necessary, with the densest sections taking priority?

My understanding is that they actually have to  remove the snow from the tracks

Like...shovels and such?  Egads!

It wouldn't be a terrible idea for WMATA to confer with the neighbors to the north to see how they deal with excessive snow.  They might learn something that may make it a bit easier for at least the rail division to start up more quickly again just in case of dire winter conditions.

I'm just afraid if they don't get things cleared up NOW, they are going to be in a world of hurt when the next storm comes through.

Not sure how they actually remove the snow from the tracks.  In regards to checking with other agencies, I always wondered about this too and thought it was a no-brainer.  In my mind between SEPTA, NYCTA, MBTA and CTA surely they could get some good advice, but I also understand that WMATA's railcars are probably more complex than those on the older systems.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Metro revises Monday's limited bus operations

Metro has revised its plans for bus service from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Metrobuses now operating on snow emergency routes include the 64, 50, 70, S4, 30, Z2, Z8, P12 and 16, though several routes are terminating before their regular end point. That's fewer routes than Metro originally announced it would operate.

Staff writer Aaron C. Davis reports that hundreds of people were waiting for the first buses this morning between downtown D.C. and the Beltway, spilling into the roadways. Along Georgia Avenue, the Route 70 buses were packed.


Evidently, people had places to get to. Dr offices & the like.


The METRO website currently has NO listing for the F1-2, J2, Q, or Y lines.
Give up & wait for the spring thaw?? In May or early June, perhaps?

[Scrabbleship]

Rode a J2 today from Silver Spring. They seem to be running in two portions from Silver Spring to Bethsda and from Medical Center to Montgomery Mall. Sounds horrible for connections in the scheme of things.

Noticed one of the Y's running as well and mobs waiting for the S4 and 70 buses. It also looks like 40" bus service only probably due to the risk of seeing an artic jackknife.

[BladensburgB2]

ANOTHER SNOW STORM ON ITS WAY RUN, HIDE LLS THEY SAYING IT MIGHT BE 10 TO 20"

[Tritransit Area]

One lovely thing is that all of that snow is going to cover all of the ice that's still left on the roadways!   I'm gearing up for the 2nd storm myself!

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

One good thing about this snowfall thats forecasted. . .
My HOT TUB is set for a comfy 103F


(has anyone seen my ice scraper??)

[Scrabbleship]

Tomorrow's status before this alleged second storm, good news and bad news:

Good news: The return of full service on the Green, Yellow, and Orange lines plus some extra bus routes (71, 79, P6, P12, X2, 16's).Bad News: Eastern Blue Line and the above-ground portions of the Red Line are still not clear of "snow drifts on the tracks of 3-6 feet". This really hits Montgomery County and eastern DC hard. To add insult to injury, still no shuttle bus service though all the effected stations on the east side have some way out.

Wayne (and anyone who's a facebook friend) might be the only person to get this, but why am I getting a LILCO-post-Hurricane Gloria vibe from Metro lately? I'll go hide in my Chicken Little hole