The DC Traveler » Metro

Riding Metro on Inauguration Day Will Cost You More

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Initially, Washington, DC’s Metro system announced that on January 20, 2009, Inauguration Day, it would charge riders the lower, off-peak fares all day long.

It seems like the initial thought was that since Inauguration Day is a work holiday for Federal workers in DC, and parts of Virginia and Maryland, Metro would charge the lower off-peak fare.

But I suspect Metro financial troubles has caused Metro officials to rethink (and I believe correctly), to charge peak rates all day on Inauguration Day. The higher fares are based on a high price it will cost to keep Metro running with lots of overtime being scheduled for Metro employees.

Metro will be charging standard peak rates all day long. But Metro is also offering a one-day unlimited use pass for just $7.80 if purchased in advance at Metro vending machines or sales offices. The passes cost $10 if ordered online and at Metro stations on January 20th.

And check out my published letter regarding Metro fares in the today’s Sunday Washington Post.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Weekend Area Travel Woes

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:38:00 +0000

Besides normal heavy Labor Day holiday weekend traffic in and around Washington, DC, there’s a couple major issues to plan around this Labor Day weekend.

If your travels take you to Reagan National Airport , expect a 30+ minute delays on Metro’s Blue and Yellow line subway trains this weekend. Metro is replacing tracks south of Reagan National and riders arriving from the south or heading towards Alexandria , Virginia , will be shuttled by bus around the effected area.

And if your plans take you to a final summer weekend at the beach, your fun in the sun time may be cut down a bit, due to construction and resulting congestion on the Bay Bridge near Annapolis , Maryland . The work is being done to repair some damage from the major truck accident on the bridge earlier this month. The deadly accident caused traffic to be snarled for miles. One lane of traffic on one of the two spans will be closed for the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Images – Bay Bridge, Metro

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Getting Around DC – Part 7 – The DC Circulator

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:02:53 +0000

CHECK OUT MY LATEST CIRCULATOR UPDATE FROM MAY 10, 2009

Click here for Circulator New Routes and Update.

The bright red DC Circulator busses drive three circular routes to and from many major tourist and dining areas in DC for only $1.00 per trip (half price for seniors and the disabled). The $3.00 one-day pass is a great deal if you are planning on lots of sightseeing. Busses stop every couple blocks and you can get on and off at any stop.

Convention Center – SE Waterfront Route – This route runs from the DC Convention Center through The National Mall to the SE Waterfront restaurant district. Some great restaurants and nightclubs can be found on the SE Waterfront along with Washington’s Fish Market. Runs daily from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Smithsonian – National Gallery of Art Route – This bus route is ideal for the Mall visitor. It circles the Mall from 4th Street to 17th Street along Constitution and Independence Avenues and gets you close to virtually every monument on the National Mall. The longest walks are (about 4 blocks) to the Capitol building from the furthest west end of the route and (about 7 blocks) to the Lincoln Memorial from the furthest east end of the route. Runs weekends only from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Georgetown – Union Station Route – This bus runs from Union Station down Massachusetts Avenue to K Street and into the heart of Georgetown, ending at Wisconsin Avenue before it turns around and retraces it path. It also passes the Convention Center and is idea for visiting restaurants in the downtown area, in Chinatown and in Georgetown. Runs daily from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Additional Information and Details
Circulator stop every couple blocks. Look for the red & white Circulator signs.

Circulators run approximatelty every 5-10 minutes.
$1.00 fare requires exact change or dollar bills.
- Metrobus transfer – free
- Metrorail (subeway) transfer 35¢

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Getting Around Washington, DC – Part 5 – Metro Buses

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:04:29 +0000

DC has a fairly extensive but somewhat quirky public bus system. Timetables and schedule can vary so it’s best to plan your trip in advance. Some buses only run during the rush hours, especially the DC to/from suburban routes.

The fare for the bus is $1.25, $3.00 for express buses, and $.60 for seniors and persons with disabilities. On Metro buses, either a Metro Farecard or exact change is accepted. However, your Farecard must have enough fare to pay for your ride as your board.

Metro Bus stops are designated with red, white and blue signs. Make sure you check the bus number before boarding as multiple bus routes use the same stops. You can request a transfer (good for 2 hours) on any bus for many other local and regional buses or to receive a reduced Metro train fare.

The Washington Metro Area Transportation Authority has an excellent trip planner for bus and subway trip planning. It’s a good idea to plan your trip in advance.

For information on the Washington DC Metro subway system, check out my earlier post.

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: The DC Traveler

Getting Around Washington, DC – Part 4 – The Metro Subway

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:02:07 +0000

The Washington subway system (The Metro) is a great way to get around the area. Using a hub and spoke layout, there are five lines or routes – the Red, Yellow, Green, Blue and Orange Lines that cover different areas of the metro Washington area. Train lines interconnect at various stations, sometimes requiring the rider to change subway levels within a station. System maps are posted at each station and on all trains or available online.

Farecards & MetroRail Passes
The cost to ride the metro is based on the distance you travel and the time of day (rush hour is a bit higher). Costs range from $1.35 for short rides, to a maximum of $3.90 for the longest rides.

There are a few options from pay-per-ride using a rechargeable MetroRail Farecard to a daily MetroRail Pass ($6.50) or a weekly pass ($22.00-$32.50). However passes have specific conditions such as limited travel times (not before 9:30 AM weekdays, etc.) so check carefully before purchasing. The daily pass is ideal if you are planning on riding the Metro more than a couple times a day, especially on weekends. To determine how much your ride will cost, check the fare chart at your starting station; it will list the cost from that station to any other station.

If you pay per ride, you must buy a rechargeable MetroRail Farecard at any of the vending machines located at the entrance of every station. Farecards hold between $1.25 and $45.00. It tracks your starting and ending station and then automatically debits the fare as you exit the station. You can add value to your card at any time at any station in case your card’s value is less than is needed to pay for your ride. Farecard vending machines take CASH ONLY and provided limited change ($5 max.), so using smaller bills is advised. You can however use a credit card to purchase daily and weekly MetroRail Pass cards.

Up to two kids under 5 years old ride free with a paid adult. Seniors and the disabled ride for half price. Most stations have escalators or elevators. Everyone else pays full fare. Yet when compared to fighting traffic and finding and paying for parking, the Metro is a safe, logical and easy alternative.

Metro Hours
Unlike many large city subway systems, Washington DC’s Metro subway trains do not run 24-hours a day.

Metro’s hours of operation are:
Monday - Thursday 5 a.m. to Midnight
Friday                    5 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Saturday                7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Sunday                  7 a.m. to Midnight

Trains run every roughly 5-6 minutes during the rush hour, every 12 minutes midday and every 15-20 minutes during the evening and night.

If traveling close to closing time, check train schedules for the last train of the night as it may leave your station long before stated system closing times. This is especially important if you need to transfer to another line mid-trip. Once on a last train of the night, it will run to the end of the line so you won’t get stranded mid-system.

Contact Metro at 202-962-1234 or use their handy online trip planner.

Parking at a Metro Parking Lot
Some Metro stations have parking. On weekdays, it can be difficult to find a spot after 9:00 a.m. If you plan to park at any of the parking lots at some Metro stations, paying for parking requires a specific prepaid parking card.

Phot credit 1: flickr

Post from: The DC Traveler