WMATA

The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) announced the launch of its Body-Worn Camera Program, which will train and equip all MTPD officers, sergeants and lieutenants to begin carrying body-worn cameras in the coming months. The body-worn cameras will supplement the more than 20,000 cameras Metro has throughout the rail, bus, and paratransit system to further strengthen public safety and security efforts.

The department will take a staged approach in its rollout of body-worn cameras, beginning with a group of approximately two dozen highly trained officers in the MTPD’s Special Response Team (SRT) and Tactical Operations Unit (TOU). These officers will be the first to begin carrying body-worn cameras later this month. Following the initial deployment, body-worn cameras will be put into use at each of the three MTPD districts, with an estimated 315 officers trained and equipped by the end of the summer.

Starting Monday, March 20, Metro will begin increasing train service across the rail system just in time for peak cherry blossom season. Weekday service will see an infusion of trains, as well as weekends. Additional trains will also run as needed during the Cherry Blossom Festival as crowding is monitored during peak bloom.

Per WMATA: The improvements correspond to growing ridership, with new post-pandemic records being set almost daily. This week, Metrorail saw its highest ridership since the pandemic, with more than 337,000 paid trips on Wednesday, followed by the second highest day on Thursday with more than 335,000 trips. Cherry blossom season, tourism, sporting events, entertainment, and increased commuters are driving the trend.

Starting next week, customers and the general public have four opportunities to publicly provide feedback on Metro’s Fiscal Year (FY 24) 2024 budget proposal. All are invited to participate in person, via video or via telephone. Below are details for each hearing date:

Metro’s plan to change the way it presses wheels on 7000-series rail cars (7Ks) is under development, based on technical data released today by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):

“We appreciate the NTSB making the technical reports available so that we can develop our plan to begin repressing wheels on these trains at a higher standard, including the fit onto the axles,” said Chief Operations Officer Brian Dwyer. “We are preparing the technical documents and training plan, while we collaboratively advance the next version of our return to service plan for approval by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.”

Last week, Metro’s Board of Directors marked the 50th Anniversary of Metrobus service, now the nation’s sixth largest bus network. The milestone coincides with Metro’s Better Bus Initiative to redesign the bus network and improve the Metrobus system for decades to come including new bus facilities, zero-emission buses, more bus lanes and signal priority.

Long-time Metrobus employees joined the Board to celebrate, among them was Bus Operator Robert Miles, who worked for DC Transit when it merged with three other bus companies in 1973 to become Metrobus. Retired General Superintendent of Bus Services Sherman Ramey, who also started with DC Transit in 1964 and transitioned to Metro, was recognized too along with Depot Clerk James Woods, marking his 50^th year with Metrobus, and other past and present bus employees.

Metro will perform critical work, to maintain the tracks during the late-night and overnight hours weeknights, Monday through Thursday, Feb. 27 – Mar. 2, Mar. 6 – 9, and Mar. 13-16. Work will begin at 10 p.m. prior to the system closing, with trains single tracking between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery on the Blue and Blue+ lines, and between Foggy Bottom and Ballston on the Orange and Silver lines.

The single-track area is three miles long and coupled with the Yellow Line Bridge closure requires train service to be reduced to every 26 minutes on the four lines. Trains will gradually transition from the end of the lines starting at 9 p.m. until all trains are operating every 26 minutes by 10 p.m. as follows: