Starting in summer 2024, construction will begin on a new mezzanine at Silver Spring Station to provide access between Metro and the future Purple Line, which will be owned and operated by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). A portion of the Red Line will be closed due to construction this summer.
Officials representing the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors and the Metro Board of Directors today announced they would convene the two bodies to launch a new joint initiative to develop a unified vision for transit service in the region.
Metro has released an update stating it has “seen positive trends in recent months with growing ridership and more customers paying their fares, showing efforts to reduce fare evasion and increase safety are working.”
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and for the second year in a row, Metro has partnered with the Autism Transit Project to highlight the special bond children with autism often have with mass transit systems. In acknowledgment of that connection, Metro invited 25 children with autism to record boarding and safety announcements that will be played throughout the Metrorail system the entire month of April.
WMATA, the DC Metro system, has created a realistic, but fun video introducing “Metreau De Parfum”- a made up series of Metro-inspired scents for April Fool’s Day that has led to dozens of comments in response. Below, you can see the video, as well as a few of the comments that have received the most attention (good and bad):
Metro is currently offering a property for development, located in the Eisenhower Avenue Corridor in Alexandria with a mix of residential, retail, and business development. The approximately half-acre site is a short walk from the Eisenhower Avenue Metro Station on the Yellow Line, and next to the Metro Building at Eisenhower. New development solicitations are expected soon for a North Bethesda site as well.
The Metro Board of Directors is seeking members of the public to serve on its public advisory body that makes recommendations to the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) to enhance training and policies.
The K Street entrance of the Farragut North station is back open two weeks ahead of schedule. The entrance now has three brand-new, more reliable escalators and a repaired support beam. Additional stations will have escalators replaced this year (available below).
“This is not your grandmother’s Metro.” The next generation in transit is now available to view at the Fleet of the Future Expo on the National Mall through April 3, showcasing Metro’s new 8000-series railcar design and zero-emission bus, as well as a Pop-Up Shop with special Metro merch.
Metro’s cherry blossom themed buses and train made their debut last week. WMATA has wrapped three buses and a six-car train to bring on the blossoms.
Metro announced the rail system will open two hours early on Sunday, April 7, for the 2024 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. The event, celebrating its 51st anniversary this year, is known as “The Runner’s Rite of Spring” during cherry blossom season and draws more than 17,000 runners.
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