Poll: Which 3 stations to close on the weekends?

[Scrabbleship]

So Metro's released their list of stations to possibly close on the weekends with some surprises. Though Morgan Boulevard was a given, The choice of back-to-back stations, one of which trying to sow the seeds of gentrification, however, is a bit head scratching. Everyone knows that even with little ridership between New Carrollton and Stadium Armory, that long stretch between Landover and Minnesota Ave's going to be a haul.

I'm curious about what everyone would pick to close if it was their choice? I've made a little poll where everyone can pick 3 and in traditional Metro fairness I've picked 3 from each jurisdiction. I'll get a lot of heat for Pentagon and the DoD would probably never let it happen, however it is within walking distance of Pentagon City (barely) and just because I'm trying to be far doesn't mean it has to be 100% realistic.

[Annex4421]

Question Why is Deanwood an Option?

[Scrabbleship]

Question Why is Deanwood an Option?

Because the 3 Metro proposed to close were Morgan Blvd, Cheverly, and Deanwood.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Your attempt to be "fair" is a bit silly, Pentagon is not really within walking distance of Pentagon City, and what are you going to do with all the buses that serve the transit center at the Pentagon?  Stations you can make an argument for closing are ones in the center of the city that are surrounded by federal offices and are largely empty on weekends and have nearby alternatives (i.e. Judiciary Square, I was once on a train there on Thanksgiving Day IIRC en route to New York City and there wasn't a soul in the station, also McPherson Square, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, and Federal Center SW would qualify), or stations that essentially function as Park & Ride lots and have nothing else around them within walking distance (i.e. Cheverly, this may be the only station that falls into this category). 

[Scrabbleship]

also McPherson Square, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, and Federal Center SW would qualify

Farragut West: Might be a good idea, especially with the exit onto Farragut Square closed on weekends good service (McPherson Square, Farragut North) nearby.

McPherson Square & Federal Triangle: Might make sense, but I think the fact that bus routes terminate at both might keep both of these open weekends.

I still think the world could do without Virginia Square on the weekends, especially since Ballston and Clarendon are not that far away in either direction. I'd shut that before McPherson or Federal Triangle.

or stations that essentially function as Park & Ride lots and have nothing else around them within walking distance (i.e. Cheverly, this may be the only station that falls into this category). 

Why would Cheverly be in that position and not Morgan Boulevard? Outside maybe a dozen or so weekend days a year, Morgan Boulevard is in the same boat (and Cheverly at least has some weekend Metrobus service). Is it because Morgan Boulevard hasn't proven itself yet while Cheverly's basically a lost cause?

Aren't those two in a class by themselves? Even West Hyattsville (a bastion of poor PG planning) at least has some stuff near it within walking distance.

[Sand Box John]

Oren,
Using Thanksgiving as evidence as to what stations should be closed on weekend is not a very good barometer.

Forget about closing Federal Triangle on weekends, Federal Triangle like Archives serves the Smithsonian Museums along Constitution Avenue. It also serves the various other attractions and establishments along Pennsylvania Avenue to the west.

[Scrabbleship]

Oren,
Using Thanksgiving as evidence as to what stations should be closed on weekend is not a very good barometer.

Oren does have a valid point. I've gone through Judiciary Square countless times on the weekend and most of the time it's vacant outside when there's some event at the Building Museum or (true story) some fans leaving events at Verizon Center heading towards Shady Grove walk there to have a better chance at a seat. Outside of those people, what real point is there in keeping it open on weekends? In fact, on many other forums everyone assumed that Judiciary Square would be shuttered as one of the weekend closures from the get-go.

Good point on Federal Triangle though, John.

[LandoverDivision]

Take it from me, Cheverly Station does get some kind of action on weekends. I know this. I live up the street from there. Morgan Blvd doesn't see much action, but you guys forgot about the Redskins games where Mogan Blvd gets jammed. I'd say Federal Center SW and Capitol South. That's all I can think of.

[Scrabbleship]

Take it from me, Cheverly Station does get some kind of action on weekends. I know this. I live up the street from there. Morgan Blvd doesn't see much action, but you guys forgot about the Redskins games where Mogan Blvd gets jammed. I'd say Federal Center SW and Capitol South. That's all I can think of.

The Metro proposal clearly stated that if the proper parties would pay that Morgan Blvd would open for Redskins gamedays and any other weekend events (soccer matches, one-off college football games, concerts) that would happen. That'd take care of the dozen or so weekend days a year where the station would actually see use. I've always wondered why when it opened Metrobus didn't put in any bus service there...

Closing Capitol South would cut off the northern end of the commercial strip off/near Pennsylvania (and the southern half of Capitol Hill) from Metro on the weekends. That station's a bit more used than you'd think and it runs into the same problem that would happen with closing consecutive stations. There'd be a long gap between L'Enfant Plaza and Eastern Market.

(sarcasm mode goes on)
If we're going to diss Capitol South, why not close Court House, that one's redundant? How about closing Cleveland Park and putting the dagger in an already flagging commercial strip? If those darn apartments hadn't gone up, I'd so close Fort Totten even if Jim Graham killed me over it  .
(sarcasm mode goes off)

[Tristan]

Has anyone else noticed the new residential development immediately adjacent to Morgan Blvd?  I wonder if the ridership from that could justify the cost of keeping the station open?

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Oren,
Using Thanksgiving as evidence as to what stations should be closed on weekend is not a very good barometer.

Forget about closing Federal Triangle on weekends, Federal Triangle like Archives serves the Smithsonian Museums along Constitution Avenue. It also serves the various other attractions and establishments along Pennsylvania Avenue to the west.

Ordinarily I would agree, but I've never seen a Metro station completely empty like that before.  At least the other stations had some traffic, this one appeared to have none.

WRT to Federal Triangle, this is true, but there are other alternatives to Federal Triangle with Metro Center and Smithsonian that aren't so great with Archives.  I'd put Federal Triangle at the bottom of my list of proposals, but I'd keep it on there for consideration.

also McPherson Square, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, and Federal Center SW would qualify

Farragut West: Might be a good idea, especially with the exit onto Farragut Square closed on weekends good service (McPherson Square, Farragut North) nearby.

McPherson Square & Federal Triangle: Might make sense, but I think the fact that bus routes terminate at both might keep both of these open weekends.

I still think the world could do without Virginia Square on the weekends, especially since Ballston and Clarendon are not that far away in either direction. I'd shut that before McPherson or Federal Triangle.

or stations that essentially function as Park & Ride lots and have nothing else around them within walking distance (i.e. Cheverly, this may be the only station that falls into this category). 

Why would Cheverly be in that position and not Morgan Boulevard? Outside maybe a dozen or so weekend days a year, Morgan Boulevard is in the same boat (and Cheverly at least has some weekend Metrobus service). Is it because Morgan Boulevard hasn't proven itself yet while Cheverly's basically a lost cause?

Aren't those two in a class by themselves? Even West Hyattsville (a bastion of poor PG planning) at least has some stuff near it within walking distance.

Who cares if bus routes terminate at downtown stations?  There are plenty of other stations nearby.

West Hyattsville has residential areas within walking distance that are not within walking distance to the next closest stations.  Cheverly does not AFAIK.  The need to keep Morgan Boulevard open for certain events at FedEx Field means it should be off the list for consistency purposes.  You don't want people having to think whether Morgan Boulevard will be open or not when deciding to take the train to FedEx Field, and then deciding to drive because they aren't sure.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

of the list above, I would just choose Forest Glen, since even on weekdays it doesn't get much action.

I was gonna say Shady Grove Station as well, seeing how most of the routes that serve that station are weekday and/or rush hour routes. but then there's also the 55, 59, 46 (Sundays), 61, 90 (?), 43, 64, and 100 serving that station. It could be that they could close the Metro Station itself and allow buses to run and people to cross to other sides, but that would just cause a lot of complaints of people having to transfer to another bus to get to Rockville Station to catch the Metrorail.

Morgan Boulevard - doesn't seem like a busy station at all, especially since there's no Metrobuses that go around there. but during football games at FedEx Stadium, it's bound to be a busy one. I wouldn't be surprised if that closed on weekends though, and have it opened on game days.

Plus I agree with Oren, downtown stations are probably most suitable for closing on weekends, since there's many stations bunched up nearby. Of course, I don't suggest they close stations with transfer points.

[Perry]

What's the ridership like at the New York Ave. stop on weekends?  That seemed like it was put there primarily for weekday usage of the nearby offices. 

I also kind of like Virginia Square not being open.  Clarendon and Ballston are very close.  When I used to live in Ballston, I used to just walk to Clarendon or Court House rather than dealing with Metro.

[Scrabbleship]

What's the ridership like at the New York Ave. stop on weekends?  That seemed like it was put there primarily for weekday usage of the nearby offices.

There actually is quite a bit of development that has opened near New York Ave, the first apartment/condo buildings are due to open within the next few months, another hotel is due to open, another retail strip including a Harris Teeter is opening this Fall as well. The NoMa area, fake as it sounds, is starting to mature and there is even some usage from the eastern parts of Bloomingdale/Eckington. There are people using it besides Greyhound station passengers and employees at ATF and Sirius/XM. I'd say keep it open.

I also kind of like Virginia Square not being open.  Clarendon and Ballston are very close.  When I used to live in Ballston, I used to just walk to Clarendon or Court House rather than dealing with Metro.

I think the one place that would object to Virginia Square closing on weekends is (don't laugh) the dancing school across the street from there. The one time I used Virginia Square involved that and on the way back I got lost and was halfway to Ballston as it was.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

What's the ridership like at the New York Ave. stop on weekends?  That seemed like it was put there primarily for weekday usage of the nearby offices. 

I also kind of like Virginia Square not being open.  Clarendon and Ballston are very close.  When I used to live in Ballston, I used to just walk to Clarendon or Court House rather than dealing with Metro.

What I don't get is why they built NYAve with two entrances that they staff full time.  Huge waste of money for a relatively low ridership station IMHO.