SOME VISIONARIES IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY see a Chicago-like skyline rising from a piece of undeveloped land near Andrews Air Force Base — a mini-city that would contain millions of square feet of office and residential space. But with no Green Line extension to Westphalia in sight, that plan could sit on the drawing board for years.
Might developers concentrate on land already adjacent to existing Metrorail stations? There's land available and Maryland officials, peeved at Metro's real estate development practices, want the transit agency to reform the way it promotes development at stations, as The Post's Lisa Rein and Lena H. Sun reported on Sunday. A new report details the problems with Metro's development protocols. Write Rein and Sun:
The report blames Metro's hands-off approach for a "paucity" of interest from developers, confusion in communities near stations because of "interminable reviews often at odds with community concerns," and "frequent disconnect" with local governments. It calls Metro's process broken.
While some areas around Metrorail stations have been touted as real estate success stories — like Arlington County's Ballston-Rosslyn corridor with its high- and mid-density developments clustered near transit centers — other station areas, particularly in Prince George's County are relatively undeveloped, with quite a bit of Metro-controlled property sitting barren or being used for surface parking lots.
Let's take a look at some aerial photography of some of the problem stations, courtesy Google Maps. Above is the Cheverly station on the Orange Line, where we noted you can't get a pint of beer at a local watering hole, because there isn't one. Below left is Capitol Heights on the Blue Line and below right is Naylor Road on the Green Line. They may be friendly to commuters, but in their current form, are not friendly to transit-oriented development. If things change, there is the promise of millions in new revenue to the cash-strapped agency.
» "Metro Fails to Nurture Development, Report Finds" [WaPo]
EARLIER:
» "Green Line to Westphalia?" [Free Ride/Express]
» "Prince George's Sees Andrews As Hub of Development" [WaPo]
THROUGH THE THREE-DAY LABOR DAY weekend, Orange Line trains will not serve the Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton stations in Prince George's County due to a major track rehabilitation project. On that end of the Orange Line, trains will terminate at the Deanwood station in the District. Shuttle bus service will ferry passengers to and from the closed stations.
More details here.
METRO WILL CLOSE the Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations in Maryland over the upcoming holiday weekend for "a major track rehabilitation project," the transit agency announced today.
From a Metro statement:
Metro will replace the rail switch outside the Cheverly Metrorail station on the Orange Line from 10 p.m., Friday, August 31 to 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 3 (Labor Day). A rail switch or "interlocking" is an intersection in the track, where trains "switch" from one track to another. This work must be done to ensure service quality and safe operation through the Cheverly Metrorail station.Shuttle buses will run every eight to 10 minutes from the Deanwood station, where the Orange Line will terminate, to New Carrollton, with stops at Cheverly and Landover, Metro says.
Metro service will run on its regular weekend schedule on Saturday and Sunday, and on a Sunday schedule for Monday's Labor Day holiday.
» "Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metro Stations to Close This Weekend for Track Work" [WMATA]
You Can Drink Near Van Dorn St., But Not Cheverly
Map It:
Cheverly Dunn Loring East Falls Church Federal Center SW Fort Totten Greenbelt
THREE MEN IN LONDON recently completed a liver-quivering task: a pub crawl featuring stops at all 275 stations on the British capital's Underground rail network. That's not 275 stations in one trip, mind you — it took place over five years. It's still quite the feat, though. And too many pints to count...
Since our Metrorail only has 86 stations, it'd be much easier to do a D.C. subway pub crawl, right? Not exactly. While stations like Gallery Place-Chinatown, Clarendon and Bethesda have plenty of options to choose from, there are some stations that aren't known for being hubs of nightlife — they're better places to park a car than to throw back a pint.
So we used our very own Metro Links mapping tool to see whether there are drinks to be had near some of Metro's outlying stations.
» VAN DORN STREET: Yes, sort of, but you have to walk over the CSX tracks to Pickett Street. Options include Shenandoah Brewing Company (you make your own beer) and Nick's Nightclub ("a well-known spot for county music and line dancing").
» CHEVERLY: No.
» GREENBELT: No, but wait a few years.
» EAST FALLS CHURCH: Well, sort of. You just have to walk 10-15 minutes into Falls Church.
» FORT TOTTEN: An emphatic no.
» DUNN LORING-MERRIFIELD: Yes! There's a Shark Club billiards location nearby. Who knew?
» FEDERAL CENTER SW: Yes. The hotel bar at the Holiday Inn called 21st Amendment Bar & Grill. (We've actually been there. It's the crown jewel of the neighborhood.)
» "Five-Year Pub Crawl Tours Entire Tube" [This Is Local London via Londonist]
» "MetroLinks" [Express]
IF YOU PLAN on traveling on the Orange, Blue, Yellow or Green lines this weekend, be prepared for delays due to scheduled track maintenance and rail car testing. But if you're heading out for Sunday's 12th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival in Arlington, you've hit the transit jackpot: Metro will be providing free rides.
Those attending the festival will not be charged for fares on routes 16B, 16G and 16J, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The bus routes runs along Columbia Pike and connect to either the Pentagon or Pentagon City Metrorail stations.
Riders heading through Prince George's County on the Orange Line can expect 20 minute delays between the Cheverly and New Carrollton stations due to track maintenance. Trains between those stations will share a track from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Alternating Orange Line trains will terminate at the Cheverly station and return to the District and Virginia.
Continue Reading "Weekend Track Work, Free Bus Ride for Blues Fest" »
THIS NEW YEAR'S weekend, residents and visitors to the Green Line's Mid-City corridor — including the ever-popular U Street and redeveloping Columbia Heights and Petworth neighborhoods — will start seeing Yellow Line trains serving the Metrorail route between the Mount Vernon Square-7th Street-Convention Center and Fort Totten stations. 
Starting Sunday, the new Yellow Line service will run during off-peak hours and on weekends, which should quell complaints that there isn't enough train frequency to those busy neighborhoods. During the 18-month pilot study, Yellow Line trains will terminate service at Mount Vernon Square during rush hour, when Green Line service is more frequent.
» "Metro Extends Yellow Line to Fort Totten During Off-Peak Hours" [WMATA]
» METROBUS CHANGES: Starting Sunday, Metro will be implementing changes to timetables and routes on a number of Metrobus lines in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Details here.
» TRACKWORK AHEAD: While December has been largely free of trackwork, the new year will bring weekday, weeknight and weekend maintenance, including two major switch replacements affecting the Blue and Orange lines. This will include the closure of the Arlington Cemetery and Cheverly stations on certain holiday weekends. Those who commute between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. weekdays should expect single-tracking on segments of the Red, Blue, Yellow and Green lines. Metro has details here.
Addison Road