Dr. Gridlock: January 16, 2011 - January 22, 2011
Transportation policy fest in D.C.
It's the transportation equivalent of Lollapalooza. Ten thousand people with an interest in transportation -- from journalists to government officials and academics -- are descending on Washington next week for the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, a division of the nonprofit National Research Council.
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Washington Post Editors
| January 22, 2011; 12:00 PM ET |
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Transportation News
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Metro: Sarles is pick to be CEO, GM
Gov. Martin O'Malley told WTOP radio Friday morning that Richard Sarles, the current interim Metro general manager, is the top choice of the board of directors to lead the transit authority permanently. Sean Adamec, O'Malley's spokesman, confirmed the governor's account and said the governor endorses the choice.
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Ashley Halsey III and Ann Scott Tyson
| January 21, 2011; 6:14 PM ET |
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Metro
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Dr. G taking Qs for Monday chat
The good doctor will be administering his prognosis on what's ahead for Metro's top position and upcoming disruptions by major events and construction--and probably dispense a little therapy for your latest woes, too.
By
Luke Rosiak
| January 21, 2011; 2:47 PM ET |
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Commuting, Driving, Metro
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Conn Ave. South reopens
2:45 p.m. Update: Lanes have reopened, according to traffic reporting services. Original post: Connecticut Avenue southbound is closed at Weller Road due to an accident, according to county and state officials. Drivers should expect delays through rush hour....
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Washington Post Editors
| January 21, 2011; 1:59 PM ET |
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Advisories, Montgomery County
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Traffic delays at Chain Bridge Rd.
Drivers should expect delays in the vicinity of North Glebe Road and Chain Bridge Road for at least 30 minutes, according to Arlington County officials. A vehicle has struck a pole at the intersection. According to the Arlington Now blog,...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 21, 2011; 1:04 PM ET |
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Advisories, Northern Virginia
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Airlines, feds may resolve DCA dispute
Delta Air Lines, US Airways Group and federal officials have told a U.S. appeals court they may be able to resolve a dispute over airport landing slots in New York and Washington that prompted a lawsuit.
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Bloomberg News and Staff Reports
| January 21, 2011; 12:42 PM ET |
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Airlines, Airports
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The weekend and beyond
Travelers dodged the snow, but they won't escape the cold and wind in the D.C. area this weekend. There's not much scheduled in the way of outdoor activities that might interfere with getting around. At Verizon Center, the Wizards play the Phoenix Suns at 7 p.m. Friday and the Boston Celtics at 7 p.m. Saturday. Metro has a more modest program of track work this weekend. There are no major road work programs scheduled for the daytime, but there are some lane and ramp closings.
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Robert Thomson
| January 21, 2011; 10:30 AM ET |
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Congestion, Construction, Driving, Metro, Weekend Work
| Tags:
Dr. Gridlock, The weekend and beyond
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VRE explores ways to improve service
Virginia Railway Express Chief Executive Officer Dale Zehner reached out to riders this week, updating them on efforts to alleviate overcrowding and prevent the massive delays the commuter rail service experienced last year.
By
Jennifer Buske
| January 21, 2011; 10:05 AM ET |
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Virginia Railway Express
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Spending cuts would hit Amtrak, Metro
[This post has been updated] Federal transportation funding would take a hit under the "Spending Reduction Act" being proposed Thursday afternoon by some conservative House Republicans. The plan from the Republican Study Committee, which represents 165 members, would cut $2.5...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 21, 2011; 9:01 AM ET |
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Amtrak, Metro, MetroAccess, Metrobus
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Unease over merging transit agencies
If it's not broken then don't fix it- that's the attitude some Northern Virginia transit officials have toward a bill that proposes to merge three major transit agencies into one come July 2012.
By
Jennifer Buske
| January 21, 2011; 8:00 AM ET |
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Northern Virginia, Transit
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Numerous area flights canceled
Snowfall is wreaking havoc on flights into and out of the Washington area.
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Mark Berman
| January 21, 2011; 7:10 AM ET |
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Advisories, Airlines, Airports
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Some icy roads possible this A.M.
Check back with this blog throughout the morning for updates on traffic issues during your commute.
By
Mark Berman
| January 21, 2011; 6:00 AM ET |
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Commuting, Congestion
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Arlington working to smooth commutes
Traffic lights synched in real time, fewer delays due to accidents and more digital signs on the roads could lead to better commutes in Arlington over the next few years. The Arlington County Board is considering approving more than...
By
Christy Goodman
| January 20, 2011; 7:03 PM ET |
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Northern Virginia
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Snow may affect a.m. commute
[This post has been updated] The Maryland Transit Administration warns that snow overnight Thursday may affect service Friday morning for riders on Commuter Bus and MARC trains. Officials plan to post an update on the MTA Web site by 4...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 20, 2011; 5:50 PM ET |
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MARC
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Airlines issue waivers for snow
The flakes are expected to fly in Washington overnight. At least one airline is already looking ahead to possible travel impacts for Friday. Delta has issued a travel advisory for the Northeast.
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Mark Berman
| January 20, 2011; 5:45 PM ET |
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Airlines, Aviation, Weather
| Tags:
Dc forecast, Washington dcweather, dc snow, dc weather, dc weather forecast, dc weather radar, dc weather report, local weather, local weather dc, local weather forecast, snow dc, snow forecast dc, snow forecast va, weather Washington dc, weather forecast md
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Delays on I-270 North
5:30 p.m. Update: The accident has been cleared but delays continue. Original post: Interstate 270 northbound is blocked at Father Hurley Boulevard due to an accident. Traffic gets by on the shoulder....
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Washington Post Editors
| January 20, 2011; 5:19 PM ET |
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Montgomery County
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Dozens evacuated at D.C. hotel
5:36 p.m. Update: D.C. Fire Department officials said a chemical reaction in a trash compactor created a dangerous odor that forced the evacuation of the Washington Marriott. Authorities expect 22nd Street to remain closed until about 6:30 p.m., but nearby...
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Clarence Williams
| January 20, 2011; 4:36 PM ET |
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Va. congressmen send letter on BRAC
Virginia's top Democrats -- U.S. Reps. James P. Moran Jr. and Gerald E. Connolly and Sens. James Webb and Mark Warner -- sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlining road and transit improvements the U.S. Army should consider in Alexandria.
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Washington Post Editors
| January 20, 2011; 1:56 PM ET |
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BRAC, Virginia
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LaHood: Still fighting distracted driving
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has been criticized by highway safety advocates for his focus on distracted driving, said he'll keep the issue at the top of his safety agenda. "We will not be deterred by false choices about...
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Bloomberg News
| January 20, 2011; 12:53 PM ET |
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Traffic Safety, Transportation News
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VRE to lobby for funds to expand
Virginia Railway Express officials will head to Richmond Wednesday to lobby state legislators and provide information about the commuter rail system. VRE Chief Executive Officer Dale Zehner will be joined by about a dozen others including members of the VRE Operations Board for the legislative reception, which happens every four to five years, VRE officials said.
By
Jennifer Buske
| January 20, 2011; 11:09 AM ET |
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Virginia, Virginia Railway Express
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Suspicious package cleared
11:25 a.m. Update: The suspicious has been cleared and streets should be reopening. 10:14 a.m. Update: Connecticut Ave is blocked from N Street to Massachusetts Avenue NW., according to the District Department of Transportation. Eighteenth Street is also blocked. D.C....
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Washington Post Editors
| January 20, 2011; 10:01 AM ET |
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Advisories, District
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Share your commuting stories
Eagle-eyed Post staff writer J. Freedom du Lac spotted this license plate Wednesday in a parking lot at the Forest Glen Metro station. We can all empathize with the driver. What's your worst commuting experience? Or do you have...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 20, 2011; 9:00 AM ET |
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Commuting
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Power restored in outage area
Check back here throughout the morning for updates on your morning commute.
By
Mark Berman
| January 20, 2011; 5:55 AM ET |
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Commuting, Congestion
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Mass. Ave. NW reopens
3:15 p.m. Update: Cato employees were sent home early after authorities discovered a gas leak in the basement of the think tank's building, according to D.C. Fire/EMS spokesman Pete Piringer. Piringer said crews traced the leak to a basement utility...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 19, 2011; 1:44 PM ET |
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Advisories, Commuting, Congestion
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How commuters define misery
The Texas Transportation Institute is scheduled on Thursday to release the latest version of the report we've long relied on as a benchmark of our misery as commuters. The D.C. region is always high up on the list of congested areas in the institute's Urban Mobility Report. The report released in 2009 again ranked Washington second to Los Angeles in car congestion. Politicians, transportation advocates, reporters, columnists and commuters cite the statistic whenever they seek a national measure of just how dire a fix we're in. But what does it mean?
By
Robert Thomson
| January 19, 2011; 1:35 PM ET |
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Commuting, Congestion, Driving, Transit
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Dr. Gridlock
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Metro negotiating with new GM
Metro officials are negotiating a contract with their top choice to become the new permanent general manager and hope to announce the appointment at transit authority's Jan. 27 meeting, according to board members. The members declined to name the three...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 19, 2011; 12:54 PM ET |
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Metro
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A campaign for transportation funding
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is taking its case for federal funding to the public. AASHTO Executive Director John Horsely and other transportation leaders kicked of a six-week social media campaign Wednesday at Union Station to generate public response about the country's transportation needs.
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Washington Post Editors
| January 19, 2011; 11:50 AM ET |
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Transportation News
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Lasers an increasing hazard for pilots
The number of reported incidents where lasers have been pointed at airplanes almost doubled from 2009 to 2010, according to a report Wednesday from the Federal Aviation Administration. "The FAA is actively warning people not to point high-powered lasers at aircraft because they can damage a pilot's eyes or cause temporary blindness," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. "We continue to ask pilots to immediately report laser events to air traffic controllers so we can contact local law enforcement officials."
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Washington Post Editors
| January 19, 2011; 10:56 AM ET |
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Airlines, Aviation
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New escalators for Foggy Bottom
The transit authority is about to begin a project that should ease the notorious bottleneck for Metrorail riders trying to get in and out of the Foggy Bottom Station. Next Monday, workers will start replacing the three old, often-out-of-service escalators with three new ones. Also, they will add a staircase adjacent to that bank of escalators between 23rd Street NW and the station mezzanine. Above it all will be a canopy to better protect the works from the weather.
By
Robert Thomson
| January 19, 2011; 10:10 AM ET |
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Blue Line, Metro, Orange Line
| Tags:
Dr. Gridlock, Metrorail
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Some roads still slick and icy
Check back here throughout the morning rush for tips on what's going on and advice for your morning commute.
By
Mark Berman
| January 19, 2011; 6:00 AM ET |
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Advisories, Commuting, Congestion
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Green Line delays cleared
The Green Line is delayed in both directions due to a train malfunction at College Park that has since been resolved.
By
Mark Berman
| January 19, 2011; 5:46 AM ET |
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Metro
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Delays ahead in Manassas
The Virginia Department of Transportation is building a bridge on Route 28 over Wellington Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks in Manassas to eliminate the at-grade crossing. Starting Wednesday, VDOT says, drivers may encounter delays in either direction on Route 28 (Nokesville Road) near Wellington Road. One of two lanes will be closed in each direction between Technology Drive and Cockrell Road through the first week of February. As an alternative, drivers can use Godwin Drive and Sudley Road.
By
Robert Thomson
| January 18, 2011; 2:40 PM ET |
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Congestion, Construction, Driving, Virginia, Virginia Railway Express
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Dr. Gridlock, VDOT
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Respiratory problems prompt train stop
Big delays in both directions on the Red Line: Trains are sharing the same track between Cleveland Park and Friendship Heights due to a track problem outside of Tenleytown.
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 2:23 PM ET |
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Metro
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Capital Bikeshare network reopens
1:25 P.M. UPDATE: Capital Bikeshare resumed operations at 1 p.m. Original post: Capital Bikeshare, the regional network serving the District and Arlington, closed overnight due to the ice and snow in the area. Officials said the system will reopen when...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 1:25 PM ET |
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Biking
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Groundbreaking at Glenmont Metro
State and local officials held a groundbreaking Tuesday for a new parking garage at the Glenmont Metrorail Station. Construction, which began earlier this month, is expected to continue for about a year on the six-story parking garage, which will be across Georgia Avenue from the station.
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 1:15 PM ET |
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Metro, Montgomery County
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MTA Commuter Buses on normal p.m. schedule
12: 48 P.M. UPDATE: The MTA says Commuter Buses will operate on a regular schedule this afternoon. 6 A.M. UPDATE: MTA Light Rail trains are experiencing major delays from Falls Road to Hunt Valley due to ice on the catenary...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 12:45 PM ET |
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Maryland
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Flying today? Check with your airline
If you're planning on flying today and tonight, you should check with your airline to see if your travel plans may be affected by ice and snow. Delta, for example, has already canceled many flights in the Northeast. Many of...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 10:17 AM ET |
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Airlines, Airports, Aviation
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Red-light cameras active in Falls Church
Drivers who run red lights in Falls Church will begin receiving citations at two locations in the city beginning today. The cameras have been installed at the eastbound and westbound approaches at Broad and Cherry streets and at Broad Street...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 9:30 AM ET |
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Commuting, Driving, Northern Virginia
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Metrobuses on snow emergency routes
Due to icy conditions in the area, numerous buses are on snow emergency routes
By
Mark Berman
| January 18, 2011; 9:16 AM ET |
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Metrobus
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Trash collection in DC begins at 9 a.m.
Due to this morning's icy conditions, trash and recycling collections in the District will begin at 9 a.m., according to the District Department of Public Works.
By
Mark Berman
| January 18, 2011; 8:17 AM ET |
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The week ahead in traffic, transit
Major projects on Metro and on the Capital Beltway wrapped up over the long holiday weekend before the snow and ice moved in to hinder the start of the short work week.
By
Robert Thomson
| January 18, 2011; 7:55 AM ET |
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Commuting, Congestion, Construction, Driving, Metro
| Tags:
Dr. Gridlock, The week ahead
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Icy roads slowing A.M. commute
Check back here throughout the morning for updates on road conditions and what to expect out there.
By
Mark Berman
| January 18, 2011; 5:50 AM ET |
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Commuting, Congestion
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MARC and VRE running full service
MARC and VRE commuter trains are running their full schedules today. The Maryland Transit Operation and the Virginia Railway Express both advise travelers to add extra time to get to their stations, because roads, parking lots and platforms could be slick.
By
Mark Berman
| January 18, 2011; 5:33 AM ET |
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MARC, Virginia Railway Express
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Report power outages, road issues
Ice and snow throughout the region have caused some minor power outages. There's also the possibility of downed wires and tree limbs. Here are some resources for reporting these issues. Utilities -- BGE outages: 877-778-2222; downed wires: 800-685-0123; outage map...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 5:11 AM ET |
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Advisories, Weather
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An icy morning commute
A messy mix of rain, ice and snow have glazed roads around the area with a slippery coating that will make the morning commute treacherous. Lon Anderson, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, surveyed the conditions in his neighborhood this morning...
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Washington Post Editors
| January 18, 2011; 5:06 AM ET |
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Commuting, Driving, MARC, Metro, Metrobus, Virginia Railway Express
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No MARC or VRE service Monday
In honor of the holiday, there will be no MARC or VRE service Monday.
By
Mark Berman
| January 17, 2011; 5:00 AM ET |
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MARC, Virginia Railway Express
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