Metrobus

Metrobus Service To Be Discussed At Public Meetings

By ARLnow.com

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is planning a series of public meetings to discuss Metrobus service on certain routes. Two of the meetings will take place in Arlington.

One meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Shirlington Library (4200 Campbell Ave). Another is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 23 at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association building (4301 Wilson Blvd). Each meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

At both meetings, service on the 23A, 23C, 25A, 25C and 25D routes (The McLean-Crystal City and the Ballston-Bradlee-Pentagon City lines) will be discussed. WMATA is reviewing the travel time and reliability of the routes.

Other meetings are planned for Oxon Hill, Northeast DC, and McLean.

Flickr pool photo by Aaron Webb.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Hit-and-Run Bus Driver Facing Discipline — The Metrobus driver accused of rear-ending a car in Ballston and then driving off “will be disciplined,” a WMATA spokesperson tells TBD. Metro says the accident was “preventable” but is refusing to release the results of drug and alcohol tests performed on the driver after the accident.

Local Technology Firm Sold — Arlington-based ICx Technologies has agreed to be purchased by Oregon-based Flir Systems for $274 million. ICx manufactures high-tech sensors that can detect radiation, chemicals, explosives, and biological agents. Some of ICx’s largest clients include the U.S. military and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More from the Oregonian.

Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser Tonight — A happy hour fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia will be held tonight at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington (4251 South Campbell Avenue), the Shirlington Village Blog reports. From 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., five percent of the restaurant’s revenue will be donated to the organization’s Northern Virginia office.

Flickr pool photo by Amberture

Police, WMATA Investigating Possible Hit and Run By Metrobus

By ARLnow.com

Police and WMATA are investigating an apparent hit and run accident that happened in Ballston this afternoon.

The three occupants of the car that was hit and another witness told police that a Metrobus rear-ended a car at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and Glebe Road, then fled the scene by making an illegal right turn from the main travel lanes of Fairfax onto Glebe.

Jeffrey Nichols-Haining, the driver of the car, says the light had just turned green when he saw the bus barreling toward him.

“I did see it [coming] in my rear view mirror… I mumbled [expletive] then got hit,” he said.

“He waved us to go forward, then after we went forward he turned,” said Nichols-Haning’s sister, a passenger in the car. Nichols-Haining said another driver saw the accident happen and tried to help.

“Some guy… turned behind us, caught his bus number and called the cops,” he said. “We filled out a police report, and we have a witness report that was filed.”

A Metro supervisor showed up about an hour after the accident. A Metro spokesperson says the agency is investigating the incident.

Nichols-Haining says he was on his way back home to Morgantown, W.V. after picking up his sister, who had just completed an internship. Although the car appears drivable, he said he couldn’t get his camera to take photos of the damage because the trunk won’t open. He added that he hopes to get the accident behind him and get on with his travel plans.

“I’d like to keep going because I have a camping trip planned… hopefully we’ll be able to resolve this quickly and get on with it.”

Update at 4:25 p.m. — A WMATA spokesperson tells TBD.com that the driver of the Metrobus did not report the incident. The driver has been put on three days of leave and will undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing, TBD reports.

Update at 8:55 p.m. — The bus was out of service at the time of the crash. The driver was cited by Arlington Police, WTOP reports.

Utility Work Causes Pike Bus Stop Closure, Extra Walking

By ARLnow.com

The busy bus stop at Columbia Pike and South Buchanan Street will be closed for 15 months due to utility relocation work. Two new temporary stops have been set up on either side of the construction, but the closure will force some riders to walk an extra quarter mile to reach their destination.

The ART 41 and WMATA 16S buses will now use a temporary stop at the Pike and South Columbus Street, just before the Four Mile Run bridge. The ART 45 bus will now stop at South Thomas Street, about a quarter mile up a hill from the Buchanan Street stop.

One resident who emailed us about the closure complained that the new Columbus Street stop was too far away and that too little notice was given about the changes. We’re told WMATA is in the process of producing a brochure to help explain the new stop locations.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Board Approves $250,000 in Art Grants — The county board voted unanimously last night to provide a quarter million dollars worth of grants to 19 Arlington-based arts organizations and three individual artists. The grants range from $44,600 to $1,240. See a list of recipients here.

Fisette Pens Green Jobs Op-Ed in Richmond Paper — In a column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette compares Thomas Jefferson’s far-sighted and, at the time, controversial Louisiana Purchase to proposed federal spending on clean energy. Fisette argues that investing in green jobs now will pay off in a big way down the road.

Metrobus Involved in Rush Hour Accident — A Metrobus was involved in a relatively minor multi-vehicle accident that tied up traffic on southbound Route 110 around 5:30 yesterday evening. The accident happened on the ramp from Memorial Drive to Route 110, near Arlington National Cemetery. Two people on the bus were reported to have minor injuries. The accident and the emergency response blocked lanes on the busy thoroughfare, causing delays for traffic coming from Rosslyn. It’s not clear what caused the accident. The Metrobus continued on its way shortly after police arrived.

Flickr pool photo courtesy philliefan99.

Should WMATA Pay When Metrobus Pass Holders Ride ART?

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s ART bus system may stop honoring Metrobus passes if WMATA doesn’t start sharing revenue, according to Michael Perkins at Greater Greater Washington.

While regional bus providers like ART are compensated when SmarTrip holders pay for individual rides, so far there is no revenue-sharing agreement for SmartTrip (and paper) “flash passes.”

Arlington County board member Chris Zimmerman, who also sits on WMATA’s Board of Directors, says that the current system is unfair to regional providers.

The county board has given ART the leeway to stop accepting the Metrobus pass if a revenue-sharing agreement cannot be reached. In that scenario, ART would instead issue its own pass, Perkins reports.

Woman Hit By Metrobus Faces Charge

By ARLnow.com

The woman hit by a Metrobus in Fairlington yesterday has been charged with careless interference with traffic.

Lisa Pope, 40, of Arlington leaned into the path of the bus while it was pulling up at a stop, police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal said. She was taken to a local hospital, bleeding from the forehead, as police and Metro personnel investigated the incident.

Pope was released on a summons, police said.

Woman Hit By Metro Bus in Fairlington

By ARLnow.com

A woman was hit by a Metrobus while waiting at a bus stop on South Buchanan Street in Arlington’s North Fairlington neighborhood around 10:00 this morning.

The woman was leaning over near the curb when the bus struck her in the head, Metro spokesperson Ron Holzer said.

She suffered minor cuts and was taken to a hospital, according to Holzer.

Witnesses said the woman was bleeding from the forehead when paramedics arrived.

A small crowd of commuters gathered near the scene, waiting for the bus to go back in service as Arlington police officers and Metro personnel talked to the driver and took notes.

Holzer could not say whether the driver was put on administrative leave after the accident.

Limited Metrorail Service Today

By ARLnow.com

Those hoping to ride the Blue, Orange or Yellow line from Arlington toward Alexandria or Fairfax County are out of luck. Metro has announced that it is running limited rail and bus service today.

Trains are running between the following stations:

  • Orange Line: Ballston to New Carrollton
  • Blue Line: Reagan Airport to Largo Town Center
  • Yellow Line: Reagan Airport to Mt. Vernon Square
  • Red Line: Medical Center to Glenmont

All stations are open on the Green Line.

Metrorail will close at midnight to allow crews to continue clearing snow-covered track.