All Commuter News stories gathered from Washington, D.C. area sources over the past two weeks are listed below. Stories can be sorted by topic using the links immediately below. For older stories, see the Commuter News archives.
MARC train breaks down
A MARC train headed toward Baltimore lost power Wednesday afternoon, leaving passengers stranded without air conditioning for about 45 minutes.
By David Sherfinski, September 1, 2010, Examiner
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In study, half of D.C. cab drivers pass by blind people with guide dogs
In a study by a civil rights watchdog group, taxi drivers in the District often drove past blind people who were trying to hail a cab while accompanied by guide dogs.
By Henri E. Cauvin, September 1, 2010, Washington Post
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Amtrak alters service this weekend
Amtrak trains in Virginia are having their routes ended early due to the approach of Hurricane Earl.
By Mark Berman, September 2, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro raises rider awareness during National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and Metro aims to raise riders' awareness of the Metro Transit Police telephone number so that riders know how to contact the police department.
September 1, 2010, WMATA
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Metrorail to stay open an extra hour for Sept. 6 college football game
Metrorail will stay open an additional hour on Monday, Sept. 6, to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend the Virginia Tech and Boise State University football game at FedEx Field at the request of the organizers who have paid Metro in advance to keep Metrorail open for an extra hour.
September 1, 2010, WMATA
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Metro sets September weekend track maintenance schedule
Work planned on all rail lines to maintain state of good repair
August 31, 2010, WMATA
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UK service helps neighbors share cars
A four-month-old London company, WhipCar, hooks up vehicle owners with people who want to rent private cars. Fast Company.com calls it a "peer-to-peer car-hire scheme" that seeks to compete with car-share companies like Zipcar, by making rental cars more available on weekends and in less populated areas, including smaller neighborhoods, where car-sharing firms aren't located.
By Katherine Shaver, September 1, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro: Federal recommendations could cost $935M
The pricetag for complying with federal recommendations made after last year's fatal Red Line crash could be at least $935 million, Metro says.
September 1, 2010, WTOP
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Wakefield Park pedestrian bridge to close around Sept. 13
The Wakefield Park bridge provides a place for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the Capital Beltway near Braddock Road. Construction crews are continuing to work on raising the bridge. On or about September 13 the bridge will be closed for approximately 4 days to safely raise the structure. (Link goes to a PDF file, Adobe Reader required.)
August 31, 2010, Virginia Megaprojects
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Mosquito noise device at Gallery Place aims to annoy potential troublemakers
The Mosquito, as the $1,000 device is called, hung outside the Chinatown entrance to the Gallery Place Metro station Tuesday, annoying its intended targets and then some.
By Theresa Vargas, September 1, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro e-Alert users spammed
Some subscribers to Metro's e-Alert notification system have received spam e-mails instead of service reports from Metro since Sunday, but Metro said on Monday it has resolved the problem.
By Ann Scott Tyson, August 31, 2010, Washington Post
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Software issues delay Metro SmarTrip discount
"Additional programming changes are being required to implement the reduction of the cost of a SmarTrip card," a recent Metro press release states.
By Adam Tuss, August 31, 2010, WTOP
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School safety reminders for drivers
Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley says each year an average of 300 Maryland pupils are injured either arriving at or leaving school. With most of the area's students back in school, it's a good time for a reminder on how sticking to the rules of the road can increase safety for schoolchildren and others.
By Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, August 31, 2010, Baltimore Sun
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Metro plans Sept. maintenance
The Red Line work that will close five Metrorail stations this weekend is the largest maintenance project the system has on the near horizon.
By Michael Bolden, August 31, 2010, Washington Post
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1st Capital Bikeshare Station
The first of 114 stations was installed in Crystal City.
August 31, 2010, CommuterPageBlog
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Call Metro to find out when next train will arrive
People can call Metro's customer information number (202-637-7000) and say "Next Train" followed by the station name to find out when trains will arrive within the next 20 minutes.
August 31, 2010, WTOP
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More overnight Custis Trail closures
Last week's nightly closures of the Custis Trail under I-66 have been extended through Wednesday. Construction is still taking place on a framework, intended to protect bicyclists from work related to the I-66 widening project.
August 30, 2010, ARLnow.com
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Police investigating attack at Brookland Metro Station
Metro says surveillance cameras may help them identify the troublemakers who apparently harassed another rider right before jumping the Catholic University student.
By Bob Barnard, August 30, 2010, myfoxdc.com
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Teen arrested in fight stopped by Guardian Angels on Green Line train
The Guardian Angels stopped three youths involved in a fight on an inbound Green Line train Friday night and turned them over to Metro Transit Police when the train arrived at L'Enfant Plaza Station, according to Metro and one of the Guardian Angels.
By Ann Scott Tyson, August 31, 2010, Washington Post
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Bicyclist, 9, fatally struck by car in Fairfax
The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. south of Alexandria on Franconia Road in the Rose Hill section of the county.
By Martin Weil, August 30, 2010, Washington Post
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MARC ridership falls in July
The Maryland Transit Administration says ridership on MARC's Brunswick Line was down 9.3 percent last month compared to a year earlier.
By Maryann James, August 30, 2010, Baltimore Sun
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Columbia Pike to get easier to bike
VDOT is planning to start work on the Washington Boulevard Bridge - to be renamed the Freedman's Village Bridge - over Columbia Pike in the summer or fall of 2011 (tip ARLnow).
August 31, 2010, WashCycle
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Laurel to get bike lanes
"When you build streets, you get more cars; when you build sidewalks you get more pedestrians; and when you build bike lanes, you get more bicyclists," a city engineer, Bryon White, told the Laurel Leader.
By Luke Rosiak, August 30, 2010, Washington Post
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BicycleSPACE open in downtown DC
Forget the stereotypical spandex and lycra image, this is normal bikes and gear for normal people who have discovered the convenience of getting around by bicycle.
By Erik Kugler, August 26, 2010, Life in Mount Vernon Square
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Hand-over of Columbia Pike could occur soon
Arlington officials are hopeful that, within a few weeks, the final details will be worked out to turn Columbia Pike over to county-government control.
By Scott McCaffrey, August 30, 2010, Sun Gazette
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Metro seeks public input on bus service
Metro is holding five public meetings between Aug. 31 and Sept. 23 as part of an in-depth study to improve service along four lines.
By Cheryl Chumley, August 29, 2010, insidenova.com
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Portland streetcar success has fueled interest elsewhere
A decade ago, the Pearl District in Portland, Ore., was a dicey warehouse area. A streetcar line that opened in 2001 helped transform it into a lively neighborhood with boutiques, condos and restaurants.
By Judy Keen, August 30, 2010, USA Today
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Metro changes: New fare hikes, no more negative card balances
Metro officials implemented the second and final round of planned "peak of the-peak" fare increases Monday, raising the charge for morning commuters by 20 cents per ride between 7:30 and 9 a.m. on weekdays, called "the peak of the peak."
By Markham Heid, August 29, 2010, Examiner
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How to navigate the new peak Metrorail fares
The "peak-of-the-peak" 20-cent surcharge for morning travelers on Metro is scheduled to take effect Monday. It will affect train trips taken between 7:30 and 9 a.m. weekdays.
August 29, 2010, Washington Post
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Red Line Metro stations to close for maintenance work over Labor Day weekend
Metro is taking advantage of expected low ridership during the Labor Day weekend to close five Red Line stations for one of the biggest maintenance projects in the history of the transit system.
By Ann Scott Tyson, August 29, 2010, Washington Post
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Crowds for rallies disrupt Metrorail
Crowds trying to get to the National Mall for a rally organized by Fox News commentator Glenn Beck faced long lines trying to use the Washington subway system.
August 28, 2010, WTOP
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Washington could beat the rush on defusing rush hour
Dear Dr. Gridlock: The Washington area, with its large government presence and influence, has a unique opportunity to eliminate rush-hour gridlock and set a national example.
By Robert Thomson, August 29, 2010, Washington Post
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Metrobus prepared for rolling detours on five routes
Metrobus customers may experience possible rolling detours on five Metrobus routes on Saturday, Aug. 28 in the District of Columbia due to area events.
August 27, 2010, WMATA
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The weekend and beyond
Whether you're on the streets of the District or the suburbs, or riding beneath it all on Metrorail, you may run into delays that interfere with your travels.
August 27, 2010, Washington Post
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New Circulator route debuts Sunday
Several changes begin Sunday for D.C.'s popular Circulator bus service. The biggest is the introduction of service along a route from Dupont Circle to Georgetown to Rosslyn.
By Michael Bolden, August 27, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro crash trial pushed back to 2012
The trial was scheduled for September 2011, but U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton granted a motion to delay the trial four months until January 2012 on Tuesday.
August 26, 2010, myfoxdc.com
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2 men injured after late-night assault on Green Line train
Metro Transit Police were called to L'Enfant Plaza Station early Thursday morning after two adult males reported that they were assaulted on a Green Line train headed to Branch Avenue, a transit official said.
By Ann Scott Tyson, August 27, 2010, Washington Post
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D.C seeks commuter input to help find new 'slug' pickup sites
The District is asking commuters to help find new sites for slug ride-sharing lines after vehicles stopping along the heavily traveled 14th Street corridor near the National Mall have been ticketed by police.
By Derek Kravitz, August 27, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro installs new cameras on Metrobus fleet
Metro has begun to install new cameras on its fleet of 1,500 buses to assist with improving Metrobus safety by documenting incidents and assisting operators to develop safer, more efficient driving habits.
August 26, 2010, WMATA
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DC's streetcar project halted
Contractors have been ordered to put the first phase of a $25 million pilot streetcar project in Anacostia into mothballs before work is complete, according to four sources close to the project.
By Scott Broom, August 26, 2010, WUSA 9
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Ride On bus involved in accident
Montgomery County police say a Ride On bus has collided with a van on Route 355, injuring 13 people.
By Stacey Cohan, August 25, 2010, myfoxdc.com
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Signs stolen at Falls Church bike trail
After six of the signs were stolen from the intersections, city officials decided to move the 7th and final sign to another location downtown. But in a matter of hours, that sign was stolen too. Police don't have any idea who did it or why.
By Wisdon Martin, August 25, 2010, myfoxdc.com
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D.C. Metro won't let SmarTrip users leave with insufficient fare
Currently, SmarTrip users are allowed to exit with a negative balance on the electronic fare cards. The outstanding sum is subtracted from the total when the customer adds value.
By Ann Scott Tyson and Rick Rojas, August 26, 2010, Washington Post
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Metro Transit Police on platforms as students pour out of schools
As school started in the Washington area this week, Metro police stepped up morning and afternoon patrols at seven key stations that are near schools or transfer stations.
By Ann Scott Tyson, August 26, 2010, Washington Post
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Morning peak-of-the-peak pricing takes effect on August 29
Metro will begin charging a peak-of-the-peak fee on August 29 for Metrorail trips taken between 7:30 and 9 a.m. weekdays, completing the phased implementation of peak-of-the-peak pricing.
August 25, 2010, WMATA
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Zipcar goes to Frederick
Hood College is the first local venue to offer Zipcar service, a pay-as-you-go vehicle sharing program designed mostly for large cities, such as Baltimore and Washington.
By Stephanie Mlot, August 25, 2010, Frederick News-Post
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VRE can sell railcars to the Army
The Virginia Railway Express Operations Board has given commuter-rail officials the green light to sell rail cars and locomotives to the Army, which is looking for new ways to move military personnel between bases.
By Jennifer Buske, August 24, 2010, Washington Post
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MARC trains among those affected by low-voltage issue
About 30 Amtrak trains in the Northeast were delayed from 11 minutes to almost two hours Tuesday because of a low-voltage problem. The disruption began shortly before 8 a.m., and power was restored about an hour later. The cause of the outage was under investigation.
By Liz F. Kay and Michael Dresser, August 24, 2010, Baltimore Sun
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Train operator in Red Line crash had record of suspensions, reprimands
The Metro train operator who survived last year's horrific Red Line crash had an employment record riddled with suspensions and reprimands and a history of neglecting Metro safety protocol.
By Markham Heid, August 24, 2010, Examiner
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Amtrak power and communication lines falter
Even as frustrated Amtrak and commuter rail passengers wondered for hours where their delayed trains were, the rail company chose to return media phone calls, rather than update its Twitter or website about the massive power failure that stopped trains in its busy Northeast Corridor.
By Neal Augenstein, August 24, 2010, WTOP
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Metrobus Service Evaluation Study continues with public meetings
Metro will host five public meetings between Aug. 31 and Sept. 23 as part of a Service Evaluation Study to improve Metrobus service along four bus lines. The study began in June 2010 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
August 24, 2010, WMATA
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Dulles Metro station may be moved above ground
The original plans had the station under the parking lot in front of the terminal, but now the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says they will consider an above-ground station that's farther from the terminal.
August 22, 2010, WTOP
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Vanpool driver has DUI charge
A commuter vanpool bound for Spotsylvania County made an unscheduled stop along Interstate 95 southbound Friday afternoon when the van's driver was pulled over by Virginia State Police and charged with drunken driving.
By Kelly Hannon, August 24, 2010, Fredericksburg.com
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Arlington expands HOT lanes lawsuit, discrimination claims
The board recently filed a motion with the U.S. District Court in D.C. to expand its lawsuit to include Edward Sundra, a program manager for the Federal Highway Administration.
By Markham Heid, August 22, 2010, Examiner
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Robbers stalk on Ft. Totten Park trail
The US Park Police says robbers have been preying on victims as they walk to and from the Fort Totten Metro Station by way of a nearby US Park trail.
By Armando Trull, August 22, 2010, WUSA 9
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Fisette: County wants settlement of HOT-lanes fight, but on its terms
Despite mounting costs and ongoing friction among the parties involved, County Board Chairman Jay Fisette says he and his colleagues are sincere in their efforts to compromise and settle the lawsuit against state and federal officials over proposed high-occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes on Interstates 95 and 395.
By Scott McCaffrey, August 23, 2010, Sun Gazette
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More Metro officers on trains as school starts
As the school year kicks off this week in the District of Columbia more transit officers will be riding Metrorail to keep an eye on students.
August 22, 2010, WTOP
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Fredericksburg area on path to better bike trails
As part of any new or renovated road project since 2004, a Virginia Department of Transportation policy requires it to examine ways to provide facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
By Kelly Hannon, August 22, 2010, Fredericksburg.com
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Brunswick Bicycle Festival a thank you to cyclists
Patrick Kay and others at Brunswick Main Street organized the first Brunswick Bicycle Festival held Saturday at Railroad Square as a way to say thank you to the cyclists who visit the town.
By Nicholas C. Stern, August 22, 2010, Frederick News Post
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Street parking experiment has readers' attention
Many travelers wanted to comment on the D.C. street parking experiments that offer alternatives to paying with a fistful of quarters.
By Robert Thomson, August 22, 2010, Washington Post
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Metrobus catches fire in commuter parking lot
Members of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department were called to the commuter parking lot at routes 50 and 424, Friday morning, for a report of a bus on fire.
August 20, 2010, WUSA 9
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Metro strands passengers again
As in the previous incidents, the passengers at Greenbelt were aboard the last outbound Wednesday evening train. When they got off the train and tried to exit at Greenbelt, they found the main gate locked, and the station manager's booth deserted. Another employee let them out within 15 or 20 minutes.
By John Henrehan, August 20, 2010, myfoxdc.com
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Va. submits high-speed rail request
Virginia has submitted new applications requesting federal funding for high-speed rail, including more than $50 million for the I-95 corridor between Richmond and the District, the commonwealth said yesterday.
By Luke Rosiak, August 20, 2010, Washington Post
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Union Station Metrorail elevators out of service for 12 weeks
During the 12-week elevator modernization project, Metro will operate shuttle buses upon request between the Judiciary Square and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail stations with a stop at the Union Station Metrorail station.
August 20, 2010, WMATA
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Metro passengers locked in Greenbelt Station
Metro has begun an investigation of claims by Green Line passengers here that they were temporarily locked in the subway station on two consecutive nights this week.
August 20, 2010, WUSA 9
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Love affair with Arlington trikes wearing off a bit
Perhaps it's because the novelty has worn off, but apparently the love affair between Arlington County government employees and the government's fleet of trikes seems to have hit a plateau.
By Scott McCaffrey, August 19, 2010, Sun Gazette
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VRE's on-time performance slips
The on-time performance record for the Virginia Railway Express tumbled this summer as weather, mechanical issues and a rocky transition to a new operator took their toll on the commuter rail service.
By Jennifer Buske, August 20, 2010, Washington Post
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The weekend and beyond
The Redskins and Ravens play on Saturday and D.C. United on Sunday, but there are plenty of other outdoor events, including the annual Shakespeare Free for All in downtown Washington. Check out these travel tips for the D.C. area.
By Robert Thomson, August 20, 2010, Washington Post
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Major track work on Red Line Labor Day weekend
Labor Day Weekend track work will close five Red Line stations
August 19, 2010, WMATA
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People are more inclined to ride buses if they know where they go
Dear Dr. Gridlock: I just returned from a week each in London and Paris, where the extensive underground rail systems are matched with even more extensive surface buses. Washington could learn a lot from both cities.
By Robert Thomson, August 19, 2010, Washington Post
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Circulator to replace Blue Bus
The Georgetown Metro Connection bus, known as the Blue Bus, will be integrated into the DC Circulator system starting September 1. The Dupont-Georgetown-Rosslyn route will remain the same. Monthly Blue Bus passes will no longer be valid, and are no longer available on CommuterDirect.com. The Circulator system accepts both SmarTrip© cards and cash.
August 12, 2010, Georgetown BID
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Sign up in advance for Capital Bikeshare
Cyclists in the Washington area can now sign up in advance for Capital Bikeshare, the regional bikesharing network that is scheduled to start service in September in the District and Arlington, Virginia. The program's website is now live at www.capitalbikeshare.com and by signing up online now individuals can take advantage of a special introductory offer.
August 11, 2010, BikeArlington
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Huge Labor Day project on Red Line
Metro has released more details about a track work project that will have a huge impact on Red Line service over the entire Labor Day weekend. Metro plans to do several projects along the tracks. To clear room for the work, five stations will be closed in what amounts to the biggest maintenance shutdown in Metro's history.
By Robert Thomson, August 3, 2010, Washington Post
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Labor Day weekend track work to close 5 Red Line stations
Metro will close five Red Line stations during the Labor Day Holiday weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, to closing on Monday, Sept. 6, as the agency undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project.
August 3, 2010, WMATA
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Unplowed roads, covered sidewalks still a hot topic
The weather may be getting warmer, but local leaders were still talking snow Tuesday in Virginia.
By Adam Tuss, March 17, 2010, WTOP
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