Dr. Gridlock - D.C. area transportation and traffic news and advice - October 17, 2010

Crash causes delays on I-270

An overturned vehicle on southbound I-270 has slowed traffic just before the I-370 exit. The left lane is getting by, but expect delays in the main and local lanes....

By Washington Post Editors | October 23, 2010; 12:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments

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With mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures, it should be a good weekend for traveling out for a day of trick-or-treating at the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport on Saturday, or taking in the Bill Cosby show Saturday night at the Kennedy Center. It's also Disney on Ice weekend at the Patriot Center. Here's a review of some of the obstacles that travelers will face as they move around the D.C. area.

By Robert Thomson | October 22, 2010; 7:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Driving, Metro | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, The weekend and beyond
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Consult the Doctor

Dr. Gridlock is taking questions from you, dear readers, on dealing with Metro, roads and other travel and commuting hazards, for his weekly live online chat, which will take place Monday at noon. Submit questions here, and browse back Monday at noon.

By Luke Rosiak | October 22, 2010; 4:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting, Metro
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VRE opens Metro option for riders

Virginia Railway Express officials expect service on the Manassas Line to return to operate normally this afternoon. However, the rail agency says the Metro option is available for all passengers this afternoon. Passengers can ride Metro for free by presenting...

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 2:36 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, Metro, Virginia Railway Express
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A theatrical bonus for Metro riders

Metro is offering its riders a chance to buy half-price tickets to Arena Stage performances at the Mead Center for American Theater. Under a promotion called "Metro Mondays," riders can present their SmartTrip or paper fare cards at the Arena Stage box office after noon to purchase half-price tickets for that week. There is a limit of two per customer.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 2:06 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro, Metrobus
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Transit advisory group wish list

An advisory group of Alexandria citizens and officials put together a list of demands Thursday night for a new transit study focusing on three busy corridors: Beauregard and Van Dorn streets; Duke Street and Eisenhower Avenue; and Route 1 and Washington Street.

Any system studied for these areas must be faster, reliable and more convenient than a car, without being too noisy, cause vibrations or impacting the quality of life and character in each neighborhood it passes through, said members of the High Capacity Transitway Corridor Work Group.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 1:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Northern Virginia, Transportation News
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VDOT to fix parkway problem

The Fairfax County Parkway was conceived at a time when some planners were dreaming of an outer beltway around Washington. But drivers know the parkway, with its congested intersections, is unlike any beltway they had in mind. The Virginia Department of Transportation hopes to change the parkway experience a bit by removing the traffic signals at the Fair Lanes Parkway intersection and building a highway-style interchange over the next three years.

By Robert Thomson | October 22, 2010; 1:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Congestion, Construction, Driving, Virginia | Tags: Dr. Gridlock
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Are you a traffic ticket magnet?

If you drive a Mercedes-Benz SL Class convertible or a Toyota Camry-Solara Coupe or a Scion TC, don't be surprised to find yourself squarely in the sights of a police officer's radar gun. Certain cars -- or is it their drivers? -- seem to attract the attention of law enforcement officials, according to a study by Quality Planning, a San Francisco firm that verifies policyholder information for auto insurers.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 1:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Traffic Safety, Transportation News
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Red Top cabs get credit card machines

Don't have cash when you jump into a Red Top Cab? No problem! Almost one-third of Red Top Cab's 350-taxi fleet in Arlington has been outfitted with credit card machines that are customer operated, said Charlie King, vice president of the company. He said the entire Arlington-based fleet should have the machines by the Thanksgiving holiday.

By Christy Goodman | October 22, 2010; 12:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Transportation News
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L.A. braces for Obama motorcade

Los Angeles drivers are bracing for something that Washington residents are familiar with: gridlock due to a presidential motorcade. President Obama is arriving for a Democratic rally that starts at 2:15 p.m. EDT. Police and the local media have been warning about delays when four major streets around the University of Southern California will be shut for several hours Friday before and after the campus rally.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 11:58 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Transportation News
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A dog has his day on Metro . . .

This video of what appears to be a beagle checking out a Metro train called to mind several reports from earlier in the year of animals of various types wandering around subways around the world.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 10:39 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro
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All aboard the 'Hipster Express'

A 55-seat charter bus dubbed the "Hipster Express" began its inaugural journey from the District to Brooklyn a little after 8 a.m. Friday. Officially known as the Knowit Express, the bus line provides direct service between Washington's U Street neighborhood and the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. Internet commentators have nicknamed the bus line the "Hipster Express" because of the supposed wealth of skinny jean-wearing, indie-rock-loving individuals that can be found in both areas. Unlike other DC to NYC buses, Knowit Express does not stop in Manhattan.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 10:03 AM ET | Permalink | Comments

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Train system outage affected five states

VRE officials said they do not anticipate any disruptions this evening, however will continue to monitor the situation with Norfolk Southern. Norfolk Southern's signal system went out around 6:30 a.m. this morning across the entire Piedmont Region, which extends south beyond Virginia and into the Carolinas, VRE officials said. While the first two VRE trains were able to operate this morning, the blackout stopped train 326. VRE officials said Norfolk Southern gave them permission to move at a reduced speed to Backlick Road, where buses took riders to the Springfield metro. Otherwise, passengers would have been stranded on the tracks, they said.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 9:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, Virginia Railway Express
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Delays on MARC line

MARC 410 on the Penn Line has encountered a switch problem in Washington. The Maryland Transit Administration says there will be a 45- to 55-minute delay. The train was scheduled to depart at 8:20 a.m....

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 9:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, MARC, Maryland
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Police to search I-95 for evidence

Prince William County Police will have its search and rescue team out on I-95 Friday morning to search for evidence related to shots fire at the United States Marine Corps Heritage Museum on Oct. 17.

By Michael Bolden | October 22, 2010; 8:07 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Congestion, Driving
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VRE Manassas Line running again

A widespread system failure that halted passenger and rail traffic on Norfolk Southern tracks in five states for two hours Friday morning is over, but riders can expect severe delays.

By Mark Berman | October 22, 2010; 7:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Virginia Railway Express
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Blue and Orange line delays

There are delays on the Blue and Orange lines heading to Largo Town Center and New Carrollton, respectively.

By Mark Berman | October 22, 2010; 7:52 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Metro
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Inner Loop slow in VA

Check back here throughout the morning for an update on any headaches awaiting you on your commute.

By Mark Berman | October 22, 2010; 5:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Commuting, Congestion, Driving, Virginia
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Mark Center traffic fixes reviewed

Eighteen months and $750,000 in studies later, Alexandria's BRAC-133 Advisory Group had the chance Wednesday night to see several new short- and mid-term roadway improvement possibilities for the area around the Mark Center.

The group has been working to determine how to get some 6,400 new federal employees from the Washington Headquarters Services and other Department of Defense agencies into the already traffic-tied west end.

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 7:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: BRAC, Northern Virginia
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MARC trains canceled

MARC Camden Line trains 845 and 855 have been canceled. MARC 856 will make stops to cover the cancellation of MARC 855, according to the Maryland Transit administration. Signal problems on the Brunswick Line have contributed to delays on the...

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 7:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, MARC, Maryland
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I-66 West closing overnight

The Dulles Metrorail construction project plans to close westbound Interstate 66 at the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) overnight tonight, Friday and Saturday. The workers in this zone are building the large concrete structures, called straddle bents, that will cross the roadway between piers. This will carry the new line near its merge with the Orange Line.

By Robert Thomson | October 21, 2010; 6:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Virginia | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Dulles Metrorail
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VRE buys new locomotives

VRE Virginia Railway Express has purchased its last new locomotive, which completes the commuter rail service's effort to update its aging equipment. The $4 million locomotive is set to arrive in July 2011 and is one of 20 VRE...

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 3:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, Virginia Railway Express
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Airbag for cyclists unveiled

An alternative to a bicycle helmet was unveiled in Sweden today--a fabric collar with motion sensors that rapidly inflates into an air-filled cushion around the wearer's head after detecting rapid movement indicating an impact. In this video, a crash dummy...

By Luke Rosiak | October 21, 2010; 2:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Biking, Traffic Safety | Tags: Bikeshare
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Fatal crashes with teen drivers drop

Fatal car crashes involving teen drivers fell by about a third over five years, according to a new federal report that partly credits the drop to tougher state limits on younger drivers. The number of deaths tied to these accidents fell dramatically from about 2,200 in 2004 to 1,400 in 2008, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 2:06 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Traffic Safety
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Too early for snow? Not at Metro

Metro has stepped up preparations for snowstorms this fall to try to keep more portions of the system running despite heavy snow, Metro officials said Thursday. One major goal is to keep the Yellow Line over the Potomac open even if a snowfall of over eight inches forces a shut down of above-ground rail operations, according to Jim Hughes, who is in charge of Metro's snowstorm strategy.

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 12:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro, MetroAccess, Metrobus
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Southwest launching BWI-S.C. service

Southwest Airlines is launching service from Baltimore-Washington Marshall International Airport to Charleston and Greensville-Spartanburg, S.C., starting next March. The three daily roundtrip flights to Charleston and two daily trips to Greenville-Spartanburg will bring Southwest's total daily departures out of Baltimore...

By Derek Kravitz | October 21, 2010; 10:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Airports
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What's ahead for D.C. transportation

What's going to change for the District in the likely event that Vincent C. Gray replaces Adrian M. Fenty as mayor? A panel of Post writers Wednesday night previewed the impact on city politics, education, social issues, real estate, economics and transportation in a town hall meeting at the new Shaw library. I took transportation.

By Robert Thomson | October 21, 2010; 9:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: District, Transportation Politics | Tags: Dr. Gridlock
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Red Line delays due to malfunction

9:22 a.m. Update: The train problem has been fixed but expect delays to linger. Original post: A train malfunction at Dupont Circle is causing delays to Glenmont....

By Michael Bolden | October 21, 2010; 9:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro
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A few delayed MARC trains

Delays for MARC riders

By Mark Berman | October 21, 2010; 7:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, MARC, Maryland
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Accident on I-395 N at 3rd St

Check back here throughout the morning for updates on the morning rush.

By Mark Berman | October 21, 2010; 5:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Commuting, Congestion
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Road closures for Army 10-miler

Arlington County police will shut down several major roads early on Oct. 24 for the annual Army 10-miler. The race begins at 8 a.m., but roads begin to close at 4:30 a.m.

By Christy Goodman | October 20, 2010; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Driving, Events, Northern Virginia
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Water main break on Clarendon Blvd.

Arlington County crews are repairing a water main break on Clarendon Blvd., between North Scott and North Rhodes streets. Detours will be in effect through rush hour and into the evening hours, officials said. Officials say drivers should seek alternate...

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 4:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Congestion, Construction, District
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DMV error hits some D.C. residents

An undetermined number of District residents stood in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles this week after mistakenly receiving mailed notices that their car and truck registrations had been suspended. The notices warned of a big fine if they continued to drive, saying the DMV had determined their insurance information was incomplete.

By Ashley Halsey | October 20, 2010; 2:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Ashley Halsey III, Commuting, District, Driving, Events, Traffic Safety
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Crash recording can be used at trial

Families suing over the 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 will be allowed to use the cockpit voice recording at trial.

A federal judge in Buffalo agreed with lawyers for the families who argued the written transcript is incomplete and the actual sound is necessary for a fair trial. In a decision dated Tuesday, he ordered the recording turned over to lawyers and told them to come up with a way to prevent it from being publicly released so potential jurors won't be influenced. The case is set for trial in 2012.

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 1:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Airlines, Aviation
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Video shows rescue from tracks

Newly released video shows a daring and dangerous rescue of a man who in August fell onto Metrorail tracks by another who bounded across two tracks, stepping on the flimsy cover of the electrified third rail.

By Luke Rosiak | October 20, 2010; 1:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro, Orange Line
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Virginia to raise some speed limits

A Virginia Department of Transportation official has recommended raising the speed limit on 587 miles of interstates to 70 miles per hour. Major urban areas and places where the existing speed limit is below 65 miles per hour would be excluded under the plan recommended by Connie Sorrell, VDOT's chief of systems operation.

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 12:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Transportation Politics, Virginia
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I-66 ramp to E St. to close overnight

The inbound ramp from the Roosevelt Bridge to E Street NW is scheduled to close overnight today through Sunday, according to the District Department of Transportation. The closures are necessary for repairs to the bridge deck and will be in...

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 11:47 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Construction, District
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HUD grant to benefit Metro Green Line

The federal government will provide local agencies with $800,000 to stimulate growth around four stations on the southern end of Metro's Green Line. The money is being awarded to the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission and Prince George's County under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Challenge Grant Program to help plan for transit-oriented development around Southern Avenue, Naylor Road, Suitland and Branch Avenue stations.

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 11:16 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Green Line, Metro
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Forum tonight on D.C.'s future

Join us this evening in Shaw for a Washington Post panel discussion on "What lies ahead for the District." I'll be there, along with Post colleagues who cover politics, education, social issues, business, real estate. The panel will be moderated by columnist Robert McCartney.

By Robert Thomson | October 20, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: District, Events, Transportation News, Transportation Politics | Tags: Dr. Gridlock
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Real Transformers in the works

The Transformers may be gone from Washington -- but not forgotten. And now two Maryland companies are involved in a program to bring one to real life. On Tuesday, Pratt & Whitney's Rocketdyne division in Los Angeles announced it had been awarded $1 million to design a propulsion system for a flying Humvee. AAI Corp. of Hunt Valley, Md., and Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, the nation's largest defense company, are listed as the program's prime contractors.

By Michael Bolden | October 20, 2010; 8:02 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Transportation News
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I-395 N slow at 14th St Bridge

Check here throughout the morning for a roundup of the headaches facing you during the morning rush hour.

By Mark Berman | October 20, 2010; 5:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Commuting, Congestion, Maryland
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Woman hit by school bus dies

Arlington County police say they are investigating an accident that happened about 7;30 a.m. Monday at South Eighth and Carlin Springs roads when a school bus struck a pedestrian.

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 6:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting
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Fairfax bans smoking in bus shelters

Fairfax County officials are holding a public hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday about a proposal to ban smoking in county-owned bus shelters. The Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act requires state agencies and localities to consider reasonable no-smoking areas in any building they own or lease.

By Kafia Hosh | October 19, 2010; 5:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Bus, Commuting, Metrobus, Northern Virginia, Virginia
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Congestion around Beltway & beyond

6:12 p.m. Update: One lane of Georgia Avenue northbound has opened. Original post: It's a tough commute home around the Washington region as travelers deal with challenging rides on most of our major highways. The commutes are especially trying in...

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 4:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting, Congestion, Maryland, Northern Virginia
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MARC trains experiencing delays

MARC trains 873 and 891 are running about 15 minutes late due to track work between Silver Spring and Washington Grove, according to the Maryland Transit Administration....

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 4:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, MARC, Maryland
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Annapolis considers speed cameras

Annapolis officials are considering installing speed cameras near schools and perhaps road construction zones. Alderman and police officer Mathew Silverman says bringing cameras to Annapolis would not cost the city any money if the right contractor is selected.

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Maryland, Transportation Politics
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DDOT hosts Rock Creek meeting

The District Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Rock Creek West 2 Livability Study. The livability studies focus on quality of life in D.C. neighborhoods and areas such as transportation and housing. According...

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 3:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: District, Transportation Politics
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Georgia Ave N closed due to break

Georgia Avenue northbound is closed betwen Veirs Mill Road and Reedie Drive due to a water main break. Traffic is being diverted to Veirs Mill Road....

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 2:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting, Congestion, Driving
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Bike riders settle with NYC

A lawsuit brought by bike riders against New York City has been settled for nearly $1 million. The 83 cyclists were among hundreds arrested or ticketed in the so-called Critical Mass rides between 2004 and 2006.

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 1:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Transportation Politics
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Meet the MARC managers

MARC riders can meet some of the people who operate the train service on Wednesday

By Mark Berman | October 19, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, MARC, Maryland
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Pentagon investigation closes roads

11:10 a.m. Update: Someone fired shots at the Pentagon early Tuesday, hitting the building and causing minor damage, defense officials said. Police who protect the massive Defense Department headquarters temporarily locked down some road and pedestrian entrances to the...

By Michael Bolden | October 19, 2010; 9:19 AM ET | Permalink | Comments

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Brunswick Line trains delayed

MARC riders hopping on the train at Perryville, take note: The ticket machine is down at that station this morning.

By Mark Berman | October 19, 2010; 5:52 AM ET | Permalink | Comments

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Wheaton Metro escalators back up

Delays and issues on the Metro.

By Mark Berman | October 19, 2010; 5:47 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Metro
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Westbound NY Ave jammed up

Check back here throughout the morning for updates on your morning commute.

By Mark Berman | October 19, 2010; 5:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Commuting, Congestion
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Flight delays hit the wallet

Flight delays don't come cheap. That's the word from researchers who outlined the costs in a report to the Federal Aviation Administation on Monday. The Washington Post's Jia Lynn Yang reports that the delays cost passengers $16.7 billion, but the total cost to the economy was almost double at $32.9 billion. The amount includes money spent by passengers on food and hotel rooms.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 7:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Airlines, Airports, Aviation
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Alaska crash survivor returns to work

Two and a half months after surviving the crash of a small vintage plane that killed five people, Sean O'Keefe returned to work on Monday as the chief executive of the U.S. unit of European aerospace company EADS. O'Keefe, still sporting a neck brace and protective cast on his foot, said in a Web posting that he was at "75 percent strength," but eager to get back to work.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 7:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Aviation
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Expect Metro delays due to track work

Several Metro projects will slow your travels on the rail system during this week. Here's a roundup: Red Line: Work on the deteriorated platform at Rockville Station continues this week as part of the Red Line rehabilitation project. Trains will...

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 6:55 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro
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Groundbreaking for control tower

Federal, state and local officials broke ground for a new air traffic control tower at Frederick Municipal Airport Monday. The $5.3 million project is being paid for with stimulus money and will include a new tower, access road and other infrastructure. The airport currently does not have a tower. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, about 200 aircraft are based at the Frederick airport, which handles more than 135,000 operations each year. The airport, which caters mostly to private pilots, handles a range of aircraft, including the presidential helicopter, Marine One. It is the second-busiest airport in the state, behind Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, officials said.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 6:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Airports, Aviation
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NAACP offices evacuated due to powder

The Washington offices of the NAACP were evacuated after employees opened an envelope containing white powder that authorities later determined was harmless.

NAACP Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton says the envelope contained a typewritten letter and a plastic bag with white powder.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 5:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting, Congestion, District
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New funding could save rail tunnel

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he'll consider restarting a stalled New Jersey-New York rail tunnel if someone else helps pick up the tab. Otherwise, the Republican governor says he's comfortable walking away from the $9 billion project. Christie's transit team has until Friday to identify financial options that could keep construction on track.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 5:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Passenger Rail, Transportation Politics
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Pr. George's bus strike ends

The contractor that operates the bus system in Prince Georges County and the union that represents drivers and mechanics reached an agreement Monday, ending a strike that has lasted five weeks.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 4:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Maryland, Metro, Metrobus, Prince George's County
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MARC train delayed at Union Station

4:40 p.m. Update: MARC 875 will board passengers on the opposite track at Silver Spring, according to the MTA. 4:35 p.m. Update: Train 891 is now running 20 to 25 minutes late, and may incur an additional delay due to...

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 4:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuter Rail, MARC, Maryland
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Inner loop lanes to shut

Three lanes on the Capital Beltway's inner loop are scheduled to shut Monday night for emergency repairs to concrete on the underside of the Beltway bridge over Bradley Boulevard. The lanes to be closed are between exit 39 (River Road) and Exit 38 (Bradley Boulevard), north of the American Legion Bridge.

By Robert Thomson | October 18, 2010; 3:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Capital Beltway, Maryland | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Maryland State Highway Administration
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Metro details upcoming disruption

The Blue and Orange lines again will be disrupted by a Metro track work project. This one, scheduled the first weekend in November, is part of a long-term effort to stabilize a section of track between the Cheverly and Deanwood stations on the eastern side of the Metrorail system.

By Robert Thomson | October 18, 2010; 2:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Blue Line, Metro, Orange Line | Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Metrorail
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Crash causes Beltway delays

WTOP is reporting that the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in an accident on the Beltway has died, and the driver of the car was critically injured. The tractor-trailer, which was hauling beer, overturned this morning shortly before 5 a.m.

By Mark Berman | October 18, 2010; 11:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Capital Beltway, Commuting, Congestion
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Trains on track after wire causes delays

A downed power wire slowed Amtrak and NJ Transit trains headed for New York City for more than five hours Monday. About 40 feet of wire came down around 1:30 a.m. and was back in place by 6:40 a.m., NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said. It was not known what caused the problem. Amtrak trains were operating three to five minutes behind schedule until workers made repairs, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Amtrak, Passenger Rail
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Searching for graffiti on Metro

A passenger onboard a train at McPherson Station became alarmed Friday when a Metro police officer asked her and other riders to get up and look on their seats for any signs of graffiti. Berna Diehl who has been a Metro rider for more than a decade said the minute-long incident was "jarring" for many of the passengers because the officer, who entered the train with a great sense of urgency, said he was looking for Arabic script or graffiti. Diehl said she boarded the Orange Line train around 3:10 p.m. The train held for a few minutes and the Metro Transit Police officer boarded.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Metro, MetroAccess, Metrobus
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What's Washington's worst intersection?

Intersection of Florida and New York avenues becomes even more puzzling The Washington region is notorious for congested traffic. Is one intersection worse than all the rest? If you know of one, tell us in two sentences, where it is...

By Ashley Halsey | October 18, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Commuting, Congestion, District, Driving, Highways, Maryland, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, Prince George's County, Traffic Safety, Tysons Corner, Virginia
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Questions for Dr. Gridlock?

Have any questions for Dr. Gridlock? He'll be chatting with commuters today at noon

By Mark Berman | October 18, 2010; 10:35 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories
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Switch problem caused Red line delays

Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel says there was a track switch malfunction between New York Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue this morning. I know platforms were jammed during the morning rush in the direction of Shady Grove, and the trains were far off schedule. Unlike kickabout, who commented below, I heard no announcements in the station or aboard the train. When I reached the platform at Silver Spring at 8 a.m. it was obvious there was a problem. The platform is not usually so crowded at that hour. Most of us let the first train go by, because it was so crowded, and waited about six minutes for the next.

By Mark Berman | October 18, 2010; 9:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Advisories, Metro
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Airline may let fliers use cellphones

Early next year, Singapore Airlines will begin to install technology in dozens of planes to let passengers surf the Internet and send e-mail from 35,000 feet in the air, the airline has announced. The circuitry it plans to install in at least 40 long-haul jets by 2013 would also allow passengers to make airborne cellphone calls. But Singapore Airlines remains undecided whether to allow cellphone calls. "As we get closer to the launch date, we will decide whether voice calling in the cabin will be activated," said James Boyd, a spokesman for Singapore Airlines. One consideration, he said, is whether passengers want to make calls in flight.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 9:23 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Airlines, Aviation
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High-speed rail in East? Not so fast.

To passengers looking forward to riding high-speed trains in New England, planners have a message: Not so fast. Washington is spending $8 billion in federal stimulus money to establish high-speed rail corridors nationwide. But in populated areas of New England where city streets and railroad tracks intersect and trains must negotiate curves, hills and tunnels, travel at speeds as high as 150 mph are out of the question.

By Michael Bolden | October 18, 2010; 8:58 AM ET | Permalink | Comments
Categories: Amtrak, Passenger Rail, Transportation Politics
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Network News

Dr. Gridlock: October 17, 2010 - October 23, 2010