washington metro washington metro commonly called metro branded rapid transit system serving washington metropolitan area united_states administered operates service metro district metro serves jurisdictions maryland virginia maryland metro provides service montgomery prince george counties virginia arlington counties independent city alexandria combined independent virginia cities metro service area largely inner ring washington metropolitan area system currently expanded virginia operates subway district suburban tracks surface level elevated opened network includes lines stations miles route metro second busiest rapid transit system united_states number passenger trips new_york_city subway million trips trips weekday metro fiscal year june metro set monthly record trips weekday vary based distance traveled time day type card passenger riders enter exit system proximity card called metro distinction having longest single tier station feet long history 1960s plans laid massive freeway system washington chaired thought rail transit system self sufficient low density land uses general transit decline plan met fierce opposition altered include system plus rail line received funding funding ambitious inner system partially construction metro system federal government created develop rapid rail system bill creating passed federal government district_of_columbia virginia maryland planning power system transferred approved plans mile regional system construction began groundbreaking ceremony december secretary transportation maryland governor tossed dirt judiciary square portion system opened march miles available stations district_of_columbia virginia linked system july maryland february maryland november virginia alexandria virginia december underground stations built cathedral like arches concrete highlighted soft indirect lighting metro suggested designed subway maps new_york_city subway mile station system completed opening green line segment branch avenue january mean end growth system mile extension town center opened december fill station time called florida station opened november construction began march extension airport built phases opening phase stations connecting corner avenue opened july metro construction required federal dollars originally provided congress authority public law cost paid federal money local money act amended january public law known stark harris act authorized additional funding billion permit completion miles system provided terms funding grant agreement executed july required paid local funds november public law authorized additional billion federal funds construction remaining miles mile system completed execution funding grant agreements federal local matching highest single day day inauguration barack_obama january riders broke previous record set day riders june set records set single month record total riders record highest average weekday weekday trips highest days exceed trips february metro officials chose car employee virginia record new doors opening doors closing stand clear doors thank announcements winning open contest replace messages recorded doors closing contest attracted contestants country october crowd fear broke year record saturday trips previous record set june trips rally opening dates architecture metro stations designed chicago architect examples century modern architecture heavy use exposed concrete repetitive design motifs metro stations display aspects design stations reflect influence washington architecture overarching ceiling worked cambridge massachusetts based lighting designer indirect lighting system metro original stations found downtown washington neighboring urban corridors arlington virginia newer stations incorporating simplified cost efficient designs design metro vaulted ceiling stations voted number america favorite architecture list compiled design win place selected public survey january announced present year award washington metro system architectural design enduring significance stood test time architectural excellence years announcement cited key role conceived implemented common design kit parts continues guide construction new metro stations quarter century later albeit designs modified slightly cost reasons system opening metro network grown include lines stations miles route rail network designed according spoke hub distribution rail lines running downtown washington nearby suburbs system makes extensive use running service track operating lines system iconic official map designed noted graphic designer partners design firm new_york_city miles metro track underground stations track runs underground district high density suburbs surface track accounts miles total aerial track makes miles effort gain revenues started allow retail ventures metro stations authorized dvd rental machines ticket old town tours seeking additional retail tenants financing metro relies extensively passenger appropriated financing maryland virginia governments represented metro board directors system dedicated revenue stream city mass transit systems critics contributed metro recent history maintenance safety problems fiscal year estimated recovery ratio fare revenue divided operating expenses percent based approved budget infrastructure stations stations district_of_columbia second phase add new stations virginia feet surface station deepest system high speed elevators seconds travel street station platform station station longest continuous usa feet station deepest station feet street level station features second longest continuous metro system feet ride street level level takes nearly minutes system centered single station intersection station location main sales office metro designated core stations high passenger volume including transfer station plaza transfer station orange blue silver green busiest station passenger order deal high number passengers transfer stations metro studying possibility building pedestrian connections nearby core transfer stations example foot passage gallery place stations allow passengers transfer going stop tunnel west north stations allow transfers lines decreasing transfer demand metro center estimated pedestrian tunnel physically implemented added virtual form effective october system interprets exit station entrance single trip allowing card holders transfer foot having pay second fare rolling stock metro fleet consists rail cars feet long trains maximum speed mph average mph including stops operating rules presently limit speed mph cars operate married pairs numbered odd systems shared pair metro currently operates cars rush hours cars active service cars permanently removed revenue service use money train remaining cars compose gap trains serve backup train experience problems metro rolling stock acquired phases version car identified separate series number original order rail cars operation june manufactured final delivery cars numbered mid-1990s manufactured second order cars delivered cars numbered early 2000s new_york order cars delivered cars numbered early 2000s order cars numbered delivered fifth order cars manufactured spain cars numbered delivered sixth order cars numbered delivered cars body shells built barcelona spain assembly completed new_york series cars currently built japan delivered site testing winter entered service april new cars different previous models operating married pairs cab car removed essentially turning car new design allows increased passenger capacity elimination redundant equipment greater energy efficiency lower maintenance costs metro plans eventually purchase cars increase system capacity replace older rolling stock investigation fatal june accident led conclude series cars unsafe unable protect customers crash result july metro voted purchase series cars replace remaining series cars additional series cars ordered serve new airport phase metro placed order series cars replace series cars june plans exercise remaining options purchase additional series fleet expansion bringing total number series order plan replace problematic series cars built early 2000s new series cars risk older cars funded federal money requires approval signaling operation normal passenger operation revenue tracks trains designed controlled integrated automatic train operation system brakes trains automatically operator intervention trains manned train operators open close doors station announcements supervise trains system designed operator manually operate train necessary june trains collided killed people system metro trains manually operated current state manual operation led heavily degraded service new manual requirements absolute blocks speed restrictions end platform stopping leading increased trains increased time worse time performance metro begin october train doors originally designed opened closed automatically doors open object blocked elevator doors immediately system opened metro realized features safe efficient operation disabled present doors opened automatically manually door tries close meets operator open door hours begins service monday friday saturdays sundays ends service midnight seven nights week trains leave end stations half hour times trains run frequently rush hours lines scheduled peak hour minutes minutes lines longer midday evening weekend midday minute based combination lines route run minutes case train bound terminates instead night weekend service varies minutes trains generally scheduled minutes board directors considering adopting new policy maximum acceptable minutes peak hours minutes peak service occur system rush hour service train bound terminates addition alternating mentioned trains trains originating springfield bound fort terminate mount square primarily instituted limited supply rail cars locations pocket tracks system metro ended service midnight night weekend service began year began late night service saturdays encouragement businesses closing time pushed plans floated end late night service costs met resistance riders discontinued late night rail service metro conduct extensive track rehabilitation program effort improve system reliability special service patterns metro runs special service patterns holidays events washington require additional service independence day activities require metro adjust service provide extra capacity national mall makes similar adjustments events presidential metro altered service stations entrances exits help manage congestion rush plus announced enhanced rush period service implemented june rush rush plus rush plus service occurs portions peak service monday friday rush realignment intended free space portal tunnel operates capacity service began trains routed tunnel trains town center diverted bridge trains running way green line select trains running south diverted springfield opposed normal yellow line terminus start service excess capacity additional trains traveled blue line opposed normal terminus new rush additional effect giving number passengers transfer free journeys severely increasing portion blue line running pentagon passenger information systems passenger information display system installed stations displays located track platforms entrances stations provide real time information train arrivals delayed trains emergency announcements related information provides current train related information customers conventional web users mobile devices metro began sharing data outside software developers use creating additional real time applications mobile devices free available public major mobile device software platforms android windows phone palm began providing real time train information phone fare structure riders enter exit system stored value card form paper magnetic stripe proximity card known fare balance card paper new balance printed exiting system purchased primarily machines station paper hold value reused value card reaches zero card contains exact fare needed exit leaving card zero balance card returned exit gate cards purchased station machines online retail outlets store value metro vary based distance traveled time day entry peak hours opening friday saturday nights midnight closing effective range depending distance traveled times range based distance traveled customers paper add additional fee ride discounted available school children disabled elderly metro charges reduced federal holidays passengers purchase passes machines passes way grant riders unlimited travel system certain period time passes gate activated period validity starting use pass paper versions date pass printed pass exiting system end trip types passes currently sold day pass valid day unlimited travel pass end operating day july pass available paper pass prior time cost pass valid morning peak period june pass available paper card day short trip pass valid seven consecutive days trips costing maximum peak fare peak fare times trip peak hours paper applicable trip costs difference paid machine paper passes leaving cash balance card positive stored value required enter system available sold paper pass day fast pass valid seven consecutive days unlimited travel april users able purchase fast pass card day fast pass sold paper pass september accepted paper pass december july day fast pass available like version pass offered years ago thin plastic stripe convenience offering savings uses day fast pass users add value riders pay exit fare cost trip higher card balance riders transfer free provided exit users receive bus rail rail bus transfers october metro launched virtual tunnel north stations allows customers transfer ground free provided minutes contract metro fare collection system awarded current electronic fare collection started july little year stations opened prior electronic fare collection exact change metro paper system shared cubic won contract metro announced plans fare machines system cards paper fare cards eventually eliminate magnetic fare cards entirely completed early december paper sold stopped accepting paper march students district_of_columbia public schools ride free safety security security metro planners designed system passenger safety order maintenance primary considerations open vaulted ceiling design stations limited platforms allow opportunities conceal criminal activity station platforms built away station walls limit vandalism provide lighting station lights metro attempts reduce crime combined station environments designed crime prevention mind contributed metro subway systems united_states nearly video surveillance cameras system enhance security metro patrolled police force charged ensuring safety passengers employees transit police officers patrol metro system jurisdiction arrest powers square mile km2 metro service area crimes occur transit authority facilities feet stop police agencies local police authority state jurisdictions maryland virginia district_of_columbia city county metro service area similar regulate prohibit metro owned property prohibit riders eating drinking smoking metro trains buses stations reputation enforcing laws widely publicized incident occurred october police arrested year old eating french station opinion chief justice united_states upheld arrest answered negative publicity adopting policy issuing warnings juveniles arresting violations year metro zero tolerance policy food trash sources disorder embodies broken windows philosophy crime reduction philosophy extends use station facilities longstanding policy intended curb unlawful unwanted activity allow employees use metro station managers exceptions passengers small children elderly disabled metro allows use passengers gain station manager permission periods heightened terror random bag searches october announced plans immediately begin random searches bags transit police search riders random boarding bus entering station explained intent stop acting metro claims second circuit decision kelly upheld random searches new_york_city subway allows similar action metro transit police chief stated turn simply enter system elevator metro plan address suspicious behavior security expert characterized plan security theater movie plot threat believe random bag searches actually improve security recommended board directors metro hold public meeting search program december metro conducted single bag search metro announced implement random bag searches conducted searches december searches consist bags packages explosive opening packages turned positive day searches false positive explosives produced metro officials indicated occur variety reasons including passenger recently contact firearms firing range bill rights coalition circulated petition random bag searches taking position practice fourth amendment united_states constitution improve security january metro held public forum searches metro riders meeting riders spoke opposition searches meeting metro officials called random bag success claimed riders complained safety accidents incidents collisions occurred resulting injuries fatalities numerous injuries criticized safety warnings advice experts oversees regulatory authority metro safety department usually charge investigating incidents require metro departments implement recommendations collisions january metro operator killed train failed stop station car train overran station platform struck train awaiting assignment investigation found crash result failure train computer controlled braking system recommended metro grant train operators ability manually control braking system weather recommended metro prohibit parked rail cars tracks incoming trains november service train rolled backwards station hitting service train stopped platform rear car car standing train killed people injured month investigation concluded train operator likely alert train rolled backwards station safety officials estimated train people died train operator dismissed metro officials agreed add protection rail cars june trains collided southbound train heading stopped track short fort station southbound train collided rear car moving train rear car standing train passengers trapped people died injured dozens described walking wounded service suspended stations closed dead operator train collided stopped train november trains collided train yard train pulled collided train customers aboard minor injuries operators cleaning staff reported cars believed damaged repair january train crossover switch south federal triangle station attempting restore train rails failed notice car rail car slid track hit tunnel support killing people injuring coincidentally accident occurred minutes flight crashed nearby 14th street bridge major january construction new canopy national airport station metro began running trains center track constructed standard operations blue line train switch injuries resulted accident delayed construction number weeks january green line train carrying approximately people near station downtown washington trains single tracking time fifth car occurred train switching south northbound track accident injured people prompted rescue people tunnel person non life threatening injury mount square accident series involving series cars occurring tracks involving passengers june orange line train series stations february red line train left north station downtown washington leaving station train entered pocket track north station continued automatic end pocket track intentionally train safety measure train continued moving forward pocket track entered path oncoming train wheels cars car bound train forced tracks stopping train estimated passengers evacuated damaged train arrived accident scene noon minor injuries reported passenger taken ruled accident train operator failure follow standard procedures management failure provide proper supervision train operator resulted incomplete configuration train identification destination codes leading routing train pocket track april train bound springfield near injuries reported july green line train bound downtown branch avenue near injuries reported heat hot weather identified probable cause accident august non passenger train outside station track condition caused detected month earlier repaired safety measures july adopted zero tolerance policy train bus operators found hand held devices job new policy came investigations mass transit accidents found operators time accident policy change announced day passenger metro train operator operating train smoke incidents january early evening rush yellow line train stopped tunnel filled smoke departing plaza pentagon electrical event ahead tunnel board evacuated people taken hospitals person died march electrified rail caught fire square causing significant silver lines march decision close entire rail network following day inspect network entire electric rail power grid future expansion average million riders daily need increase capacity renewed plans add cars system trains alleviate congestion busiest stations population growth region revived efforts extend service build new stations construct additional lines prominent expansion corridor project dubbed mile extension virginia way rail discussed system opened current project formally proposed initially approved delays federal funding phase secured december construction began march line constructed phases phase virginia opened july second phase airport projected completion realignment trains share single tunnel trains cross current tunnel limits service direction creating choke point proposal rerouted blue line stadium stations building bridge tunnel virginia new station georgetown proposal later rejected cost metro started considering similar scenario extension announced jan begun work draft environmental impact statement corridor counties according officially named focus improving mobility interchange interchange allegedly includes station extension past vienna extension continue run median stations chain bridge road road near virginia route final report published june study analysis revealed extension minimal impact volumes study area roadways inside relieve congestion study corridor extensions announced shifting jobs virginia jobs maryland year plan anticipation local officials military proposed extending blue green lines service base proposed extension cost million mile million kilometer light rail extension estimated cost million proposal established planning construction station officials began explore possibility adding station called area alexandria blue stations approved portion proposed million construction station council final budget construction start station scheduled open late early new rail lines metro began studying needs system new metro rail lines extensions consideration long term plan include new line parallels new line friendship heights metro station maryland pass district extension national harbor maryland routing blue line district green line lines funded planning construction related non projects number light rail urban projects proposed extend supplement service provided metro like virginia proposed purple line planning 1980s project originally envisioned circular heavy rail line connecting outer stations branch system pattern roughly current proposal create light rail system maryland new stations way college park plan connect branches decrease travel time suburban metro stations corridor cities proposed miles bus rapid transit line link maryland northern station assuming anticipated federal state local government funds provided construction miles system begin maryland proposed light rail system connect areas especially rapidly growing area town branch avenue station green line project planning stages building new system improve transit district line connect station originally expected open routes proposed street corridor seven years construction district route known route opened february official websites washington metropolitan area transit authority official site channel youtube official videos metro transit police official site transit sites washington metro web transit center transit page washington retired employee reflects years insider experiences washington metro documents pictures maps washington metro archived original april home page john archived original infrastructure archived original april bus gallery metro maps google maps representation address alternate google maps representation showing lines drawn archived versions track map removed request stations shown single island platform actually separate inside platforms connected flying junction shown incorrect track platforms shown correctly fails tail tracks station track mile system track mile system archived original proposed track proposed track map washington metro degree photos station surroundings highly detailed local maps washington metro daily rail operations java unofficial equipment document describing line nomenclature operation signaling archived original february track added value engineered casting solutions november december archived original october websites maps photographs station metro passenger advocacy group building washington metro metro live status display great society subway history washington metro metro metro rider discussion forum metro documentary produced
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