Metro's Disruption Reports Lacking Substance Recently
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Dear Dr. Gridlock:
One thing I've loved about the Metro since I moved to the D.C. area about a year ago is that it publishes the disruption reports on its Web site. But lately, they seem to have a pretty ridiculous definition of "disruption."
Events that I can see with my own eyes, by being stuck in them, apparently no longer make the cut. A train overrunning a platform does, but why is there no mention of the fact that three times this week, it's taken me 45 minutes to get from Metro Center to Takoma?
And speaking of which, any idea when Metro will actually do something about this ridiculous track problem near Takoma?
-- K. Ross, Arlington
That's about three times as long as your Red Line run should take. There were a variety of problems on Metro's most heavily used line. Most of them were of the familiar type to regulars: a malfunction of the track equipment, a problem with train mechanisms, a sick passenger. Even after such concerns are resolved, residual delays can slow thousands more riders.
There is one unusual condition that Metro is working to resolve this weekend. South of Takoma Station, the Transit Authority discovered that a drainage problem had softened the ground.
Metro decided that the trains could still use the tracks while repairs were arranged, but as a precaution, train speeds were slowed significantly. Now, workers are digging up the area, fixing the drainage, restoring the ground and putting down several new sections of track. This week, if the work is completed on schedule, the speeds should be back to normal.
Speeders Undeterred
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
In the April 19 edition, you wrote [in Dr. G's Tips] that the Virginia Department of Transportation is experimenting with zigzag lines painted on asphalt where the W&OD Trail crosses Belmont Ridge Road. I first saw that on Saturday [April 18] when I was riding the trail from Sterling to Purcellville and can report that the zigzag lines appear to have no effect on drivers.
Cars and trucks continue to travel this road like it's a NASCAR track. This is a tough situation to solve, as both the northbound and southbound lanes of Belmont Ridge Road slope down to the intersection with the W&OD. The road design encourages cars to speed up as they approach the intersection, and painted lines will not change that.
-- Jack Delaney, Vienna
