Get There Archive: Metro
Metro to postpone SmartBenefit changes
The changes that would have affected transit benefits for many thousands of riders will be delayed for a year, according to Metro officials. The revisions, which caused widespread confusion among riders and among the employers responsible for administering the benefits, were to take effect in January. Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. had signaled that the transit authority was rethinking whether to go ahead. During an online chat Nov. 6 on Metro's Web site, he said: "Over the past couple of weeks, we have heard a lot of comments from customers about this change in SmartBenefits. I've decided that we need to rethink the changes that we are making." This morning, the iMetro blog reported that Catoe had said at a Wednesday night meeting in Prince George's County that the changes would be postponed. The transit authority said the changes were necessary to comply with IRS guidelines on how...
By
Robert Thomson
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November 19, 2009; 11:15 AM ET |
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Categories:
Metro
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transit
| Tags: Dr. Gridlock, SmarTrip, SmartBenefits
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See Veterans Day transit schedules
Metro has put out a roundup not only of its schedule for Wednesday but also of the various transit systems around our region. See that schedule here. This is Metro's own schedule for the Veterans Day holiday: -- Metrorail will operate on a modified Saturday schedule (5 a.m. to midnight). -- Metrobus will operate on a weekday schedule. -- MetroAccess will operate on a Saturday schedule (5 a.m. to midnight).-- Parking at all transit authority-operated lots will be free. -- Reduced transit fares will be in effect all day. -- Bicycles will be allowed on Metrorail. Metro managers say they are reviewing whether they need to modify some of the holiday service schedules. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are among the easier ones. Most people have them off. Columbus Day and Veterans Day are more difficult, because some people are off and some work. Do you think there's too much...
By
Robert Thomson
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November 10, 2009; 2:44 PM ET |
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Categories:
Events
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Metro
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transit
| Tags: Dr. Gridlock, holiday schedules
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Today's read: Senators call for Metro investigation
They want federal probe of potential safety lapses. And Metro board Chairman Jim Graham said the transit agency's safety chief was "out of order" when she denied access to the monitors from the Tri-State Oversight Committee, who sought to ensure that Metro was following worker safety rules. (Lena H. Sun and Joe Stephens) Walking in Washington. Cities that came of age in the post-World War II era, when the car was king, are far more dangerous places to walk than Washington, says a study by Transportation for America, an advocacy group. Boom areas including Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix ranked among the 20 worst for walkers. Cities of the horse-and-buggy era are better places for traveling safely on foot. (Ashley Halsey III)...
By
Robert Thomson
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November 10, 2009; 7:29 AM ET |
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Metro
| Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Today's Read
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Catoe comments on SmartBenefit changes
Metro General Manager John B. Catoe just finished his noontime chat on Metro's Web site, and it included this interesting comment about the planned changes in the SmartBenefits program. Catoe says he's heard plenty of rider questions about the changes, and "we need to rethink the changes that we are making." Arlington, VA: Good afternoon - I have a question regarding the upcoming changes to SmartBenefits. Do we know yet what will happen to the current balances on our SmarTrip cards? For instance, if I have a $100 balance on the card beginning Jan 1, what "purse" will that money go into?Thank you! Reply [from Catoe]: Hi Arlington. I see a few questions about SmartBenefits here in the queue. Over the past couple of weeks, we have heard a lot of comments from customers about this change in SmartBenefits. I've decided that we need to rethink the changes that we...
By
Robert Thomson
|
November 6, 2009; 1:10 PM ET |
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Comments (6)
Categories:
Metro
| Tags: Dr. Gridlock, SmarTrip, SmartBenefits
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WMATA: Recharge your SmarTrip at Giant stores
WMATA is expanding your ability to add money to your SmarTrip card, announcing 42 Giant stores in the Washington area will add the feature. Most of the participating Giant locations are in Virginia and Maryland. See the full list of more than 150 locations where you can add money to your SmarTrip. In addition to recharging at Giant, CVS and other retail participants, you can add SmarTrip fare at Metro stations and on Metrobuses....
By
washingtonpost.com editors
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November 6, 2009; 12:35 PM ET |
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Metrorail extension will close Tysons service roads
Click on Dulles Rail project map for larger image of upcoming changes to Route 7. This is the start of big changes along Route 7 for Tysons commuters. Beginning Monday, the service road of eastbound Route 7 between Pike 7 Plaza and the Koons GM car dealership will start to close permanently. Crews working on the Metrorail extension are closing portions of the service road one at a time until this entire stretch is gone. Over the next year, the service roads on both sides will be closed and the through lanes shifted. The mid-block turning lanes will be closed. A wider median will be created to accommodate the elevated rail line and two stations along Route 7 between Route 123 and the Dulles Toll Road. During the phase out of the service roads, drivers on Route 7 still will be able to reach the businesses along the road,...
By
Robert Thomson
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November 6, 2009; 9:01 AM ET |
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Categories:
Construction
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Driving
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Metro
| Tags: Dr. Gridlock, Tysons
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