Fewer trains, longer wait times and crowding are what’s in store for Silver and Orange Line Metro riders through next month.

Metro’s latest SafeTrack “surge” began today and is expected to last through at least Dec. 21. Reston residents who depend on Metro for their daily commute are likely to feel the pain.

Technical problems — like the decaying rail ties that led to the Silver Line derailment over the summer — have caused a number of issues along the Metrorail system in the past year.

Metro officials are advising commuters to find other ways to get to around the D.C. Metro area as the system’s huge push to boost the system’s safety continues.

“Due to a severe reduction in service, Metro riders who have the ability to do so should consider alternate travel options and avoid traveling during rush hour if possible,” Metro’s latest announcement stated.

Here are other important facts Metro officials want riders to know during this time period:

• Silver Line Trains will be traveling approximately every 20 minutes between Reston’s Wiehle-Reston East and Maryland’s Largo Town Center East.
• Orange Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton in Maryland.
• Crowding is expected on all Orange and Silver Line trains.
• Crowding is also expected on Blue Line trains between the Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory stations due to reduced capacity on the Orange and Silver Lines.
• Weekend service may also be impacted due to track work on various lines. Weekend service announcements are posted online.

See Metro’s full announcement online, with more details and a list of alternative travel options for commuters.

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Fairfax County officials later this month are slated to officially break ground for a $44.5 million parking garage for the future Herndon Metro station.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and other local officials are slated to join in the groundbreaking ceremony at Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride Lot (12530 Sunrise Valley Drive) Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. Construction is expected to end by spring 2019.

“The 2,007-space parking facility is designed to assist in reducing congestion on Northern Virginia roadways by creating additional opportunities for ridesharing and the use of public transit,” county officials said in an announcement Tuesday.

The future Herndon Metro Silver Line Station will serve riders at ground level in the median on the Dulles Toll Road and will serve the existing Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride, with access from both sides of the road. Phase 1 of construction on the Metro station is already underway, and Phase 2 is expected to wind up at some point in the next five years, according to Metro officials.

Key features of the project will include a pedestrian bridge leading from the new garage to the future Metro station, as well as connections for both cars and pedestrians to the existing Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride lot, which contains 1,745 parking spaces.

The new garage also will have secure bicycle storage facilities, a spot for bus pick-offs and drop-offs and a “kiss-and-ride” area.

Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel said the town is excited to see progress on the future Metro station and parking facilities. Merkel, just re-elected for a third term as mayor this month, said the town has worked hard with state and county officials to prepare for the Silver Line to come to Herndon.

“Herndon will benefit greatly from Metro’s arrival and [the town] is working on infrastructure improvements necessary within the town limits for the Herndon Station,” Merkel said on Thursday. “And we are proud of the work we’ve done to secure funding from the state and other sources so that the burden doesn’t fall solely on our taxpayers.”

Images courtesy of Fairfax County and Google Maps/Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Metro officials acknowledged last week that slower train speeds and added travel times for riders across the system are the new normal for the foreseeable future.

Since the Silver Line train derailment in July, the transit agency has instituted an increasing number of speed restrictions throughout the system. These mandatory slowdowns have been issued to address a multitude of problems, from worn rail ties to missing fasteners that hold rails in place.

On the Silver Line, trains have reportedly been observed going 75 mph on straightaway stretches from McLean to East Falls Church and from Wiehle-Reston East to Spring Hill. Operators of the Silver Line trains were disciplined for the speeding, according to a Washington Post article. Additionally, new software is being installed on trains that would prevent them from going over 60 mph.

With all this news about trains moving too quickly or slowly, we want to know: How has your Silver Line commute been lately? Weigh in by taking our poll below:

Metro released on Sunday what it’s calling a “reality check” budget proposal that would increase fares and jurisdiction contributions while cutting jobs and services.

One of the more austere measures the FY18 plan proposes is downsizing Metro’s workforce by 1,000 positions in an attempt to close an estimated $290 million budget deficit.

“The most difficult part of this plan is the impact for Metro customers and employees,” Metro’s General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, said in a press release. “Tough choices are required to balance the operating budget.”

Peak-hour rail fares would increase 10 cents, with $2.25 as the new minimum and a $6 maximum one way. Off-peak rail fares would increase 25 cents to $2. Off-peak rail riders would pay the $2 boarding charge in addition to current distance-based fares. Other proposed fare changes beginning

July 1, 2017, include:

• For bus riders, one-way local bus fares would increase from $1.75 to $2.
• Express bus fares would increase from $4 today to $4.25, and daily parking fees would increase 10 cents.

In addition, the majority of rail service would be reduced, making trains less frequent during peak and off-peak travel times. Headway between trains would grow to 15 minutes during most off-peak periods. Other proposed changes to rail service include:

• Trains would run every 8 minutes in peak periods instead of every 6 minutes today.
  During peak periods, trains would operate every 2-4 minutes at stations served by multiple lines in the system’s core.
• Service would become more frequent for Blue Line riders, where trains are now scheduled every 12 minutes.
• Rush+ trains would be eliminated.

Also, about a dozen low-ridership bus routes are up for elimination.

Despite these severe cuts, Metro is still seeking an additional $130 million from the District, Virginia and Maryland. This would help offset a forecasted ridership drop of more than 20 percent from 2009, and rising maintenance costs.

“Metro has to face reality when it comes to what the region says it can afford and direct those resources to best serve the riders we have today,” Wiedefeld said. “This plan has Metro doing everything in our power to get major expense categories under control while improving safety and making the trains run on time.”

The proposal will go before the Board’s Finance Committee at its Thursday meeting. Metro’s Board of Directors will be asked at its December meeting to approve a public hearing, as well as other online and community-based outreach for consideration of the budget.

Community outreach and public hearings would begin in late January, and the full budget would take effect July 1, 2017 if approved.

Some changes are coming to Herndon-Monroe’s Park and Ride area.

On Monday, Oct. 31, the Park and Ride surface lot will be closed for Metro construction. Due to the surface lot closure, the Kiss and Ride area along with the slugline pick-up will be temporarily relocated to the Level 1 of the parking garage.

Commuters are encouraged to consider the Reston South Park and Ride as an alternative to parking at Herndon-Monroe during construction activities.

To stay informed of the construction activities at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride, sign up for text and/or email “Commuter Alerts” (under the “Transportation” category) at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts.

See the attached graphic below for more information.

Herndon Monroe Park and Ride by Karen Goldberg Goff on Scribd

Metro recently floated the idea of possibly closing rail stations during off-peak hours as part of a wider cost-cutting measure. The proposal to shut 20 under-used stations midday and late night is part of a solution to a projected $275 million budget shortfall.

Now the transit agency is saying it was not serious. Metro now says the map was meant only to illustrate the transit agency’s dire financial situation.

The proposal, released two weeks ago in advance of Metro’s budget talks, mentioned several Silver Line locations, including Spring Hill, Greensboro, McLean, and Virginia Square-GMU, as well as several on the Prince George’s side of the line (Addison Road, Benning Road, Stadium-Armory, and Capital Heights)

The agency received criticism that the Maryland stations, which are located in lower-income neighborhoods, would affect people who needed public transportation most.

Now Metro says it was not serious, reports The Washington Post.

Metro heard from many community members during a nearly 10-hour long meeting on Thursday. Residents were livid, reports the Post:

Following the backlash, Metro said the map was meant only to illustrate the transit agency’s dire financial situation. But critics questioned the wisdom of circulating the idea if there was no formal proposal. Some said it was merely an attempt to threaten the District, Maryland and Virginia to contribute more money to close the budget gap. …

Metro board Chairman Jack Evans applauded riders for taking a stand but said he had no problem with [Metro GM Paul] Wiedefeld’s decision to use the map as a way to illustrate the budget realities facing the troubled system.

“What Paul is trying to do is say, ‘Okay, if the jurisdictions don’t put the money [to cover the budget shortfall] in, then we have to do service cuts,’ ” Evans said. “And what do service cuts mean? . . . It means no bus routes, it means no stopping trains at the lowest-attended stations. That’s service cuts. Service cuts are painful. They’re not abstract.”

Board member Leif Dormsjo said the station closure idea is “not something we are taking through a public process right now.”

“I found the map surprising at the time that it was introduced, and I think it contributes to people’s suspicion that Metro doesn’t have people’s best interests in mind,” he said. “I think that was probably a good indication of how serious the reaction would be to such a concept, if it was something that management was recommending.”

Wiedefeld is expected to release his budget proposal in November.

Metro is considering closing some Silver Line stations during off-peak hours as part of a cost-cutting measure.

That is one option — along with increased bus and rail fares, layoffs for workers and cuts to bus routes — outlined in a report released Tuesday to prepare Metro board members for upcoming budget negotiations.

Metro is facing a $275 million budget shortfall, the report says. The formal budget report will be released in November and the 2017 budget will be adopted in the spring.

The reductions in off-peak service would save the rail system $15 million annually, the report says.

Affected Virginia Silver Line stations would include Spring Hill, Greensboro, McLean, and Virginia Square-GMU.

Read more about cost-cutting options in this Washington Post story.

See the entire budget prep report on Metro’s website.

Metro has put out a Request For Proposals (RFP) to have a private company take over operations and maintenance of all of its parking facilities, including garages and parking meters on its property.

In exchange for a giant upfront payment equal to 50 years of parking fees, the concessionaire would have to operate and maintain almost 60,000 parking spaces. It’d also get to collect all the parking fees.

Metro has lots or garages at 48 stations in DC, Maryland and Virginia. That’s more than 59,000 parking spaces and 3,445 meters, Metro says.

Despite Wiehle-Reston East being listed on the original RFP, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has since amended that entry.

The Wiehle-Reston East garage, which has about 3,000 spaces and is the only station on the Silver Line with a parking garage, is owned by Fairfax County, so it is unclear what will happen at that garage.

“Metro wants to get back to its core base, which is operating running a safe rail system,” said Maggie Parker, spokesman for Comstock, which built the Wiehle-Reston East garage in a public-private partnership with Fairfax County. “But Wiehle-Reston East is not theirs to include [in the RFP].”

The RFP was put out in August and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 28. Metro says it will pick a contractor by the end of the year.

By giving over the parking garages to a private company, WMATA could get as much as $1 billion upfront, according to analysis by Greater Greater Washington. It also gets Metro out of the business of running parking lots so it can concentrate on running a transit system.

Under the RFP guidelines, WMATA would allow operators to change the parking garage hours and rates (subject to WMATA Board approval).

Says GGW:

WMATA and the funding jurisdictions would lose almost $50 million in current parking revenues per year, which is approximately half of the annual estimated budget shortfall WMATA has had at the beginning of the typical budget season for the past 12 years.

So in addition to the usual $100 million in budget savings, fare increases, and juridictional subsidy increases to close the typical budget gap, WMATA would have to find an additional $50 million a year to make up for the loss in parking revenue.

GGW also points out the deal could limit Metro’s freedom to boost ridership or redevelop stations. It also says bids could include proposals to charge for parking during nights and weekends.

Other caveats:

Paid weekend parking could affect overall ridership, which would affect Metro’s bottom line.

Metro could lose the ability to control prices or usage of the parking lots without financial penalties.

Trains were delayed due to police activity at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station Friday afternoon.

A citizen notified transit police about 3:45 p.m. of a threatening note left aboard the train, said Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.

Trains were held while the Metro Transit Police Department K9 K9 swept the train and deemed it safe.

The trains were given the all clear about 4:45 p.m.

The flurry of construction you see in the median of the Dulles Toll Road near Reston Parkway isn’t all the Reston Town Center Metro Station.

Designers of the Silver Line’s Phase 2 are planning way ahead — perhaps decades from now — when a possible new road will take vehicle traffic under rather than over the toll road.

Crews have started construction of a so­-called “land bridge structure” in the median. The bridge will enable the future connecter — a four-lane highway linking Town Center Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive — to be built without disrupting the toll road, said Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project spokeswoman Marcia McAllister.

The structure is being built in the median of the toll road near mile marker 4.8, approximately 500 feet west of the future Reston Town Center Station. That station is slated to open in early 2020.

The bridge was requested by Fairfax County as an element of the Board of Supervisors’ Six Year Transportation Priorities for FY2015 to FY2020. The county pledged $8.7 million for the $157 million underpass project in late 2014.

Building the bridge­-like structure in advance would minimize any impact to Silver Line Phase 2 service during future construction of the planned roadway, McAllister said.

Graphic: Rendering of land bridge on Dulles Toll Road/Credit: Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

This week (Sept. 19-23) is Try Transit Week in Virginia, and Fairfax County is hoping citizens get involved and get commuting by methods other than four wheels.

The county is even offering prizes for the most enthusiastic public transportation users. The county is holding a social media contest. If you take transit and post about it this week, you could win a $50 SmarTrip card or other prizes.

Here is what to do:

If you live or work in Fairfax County, celebrate Try Transit Week with us by liking Fairfax County Transportation on Facebook ( @fairfaxconnector) or by following them on Twitter @ffxconnector.

When you do that and mention them in a post, you will be automatically entered into the contest. Prizes include daily winners of  a $50 SmarTrip card and a Grand Prize winner who will receive two (2) $50 SmarTrip cards.

Visit this Fairfax County page for more details on what to post and how to tag.

Try Transit Week includes Car Free Day on Thursday.

Car Free Day is a free international event celebrated every September 22 in which people are encouraged to get around without driving alone in cars and instead ride a train, bus, bicycle, carpool, vanpool, subway, or walk. For those that have the ability to work from home, telework also counts. Car Free Day is open to all people in the Washington metropolitan area.

If you are going Car Free,  fill out the pledge form, then go car free or go car-lite on Thursday. Once you pledge, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win prizes, such one-year membershiop to Crunch Fitness, an annual Capital Bikeshare membership, and more.

Additionally, there is a Live More block party at Reston Town Center Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reps will be on hand for you to “discover how to live more by making a better commuting choice.” There will also be refreshments, exhibits and family friendly activities.

Work on utilities for Phase 2 of Metro’s Silver Line will affect traffic on Sunrise Valley Drive near the Polo Fields subdivision beginning today and lasting two weeks.

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews will conduct utility location work along westbound Sunrise Valley Drive and the sidewalk on the north side of the road in that time frame.

Be aware:

The right lane of Sunrise Valley westbound between Thunder Chase Drive and Hitchcock Drive will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Work activities along the sidewalk will take  place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The sidewalk will remain open for use, pedestrian traffic will be diverted around small work zones, and the Fairfax Connector bus stop just west of the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride facility will remain open.

Graphic courtesy of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Metro may be closing the rail system additional weekend hours in order to affect ongoing safety issues that led to the derailment of a Silver Line train near East Falls Church station on July 29, Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said Wednesday.

Metro is in the midst of a 10-month SafeTrack project to fast track needed maintenance and safety repairs. That has led to rolling Metro section shutdowns — as well as closings at midnight (weekdays) and 10 p.m. (weekends) — in order to make repairs.

But issues continue, including the July derailment, which was likely caused by faulty interlockings on the track, Metro said. There were no major injuries, but the Silver and Orange line were disrupted for several days.

“Safety trumps service, now more than ever at Metro.  The SafeTrack program is intended to make our tracks safe and reliable, and I have re-instructed the team to ensure we are addressing every issue out there, including interlockings,” Wiedefeld said in a statement. “I will continue to notify our riders of any service changes as quickly as possible, but we are not backing off of safety over service.”

Following the derailment at East Falls Church, Wiedefeld ordered a new round of inspections for all interlockings conducted by rail maintenance supervisors with track engineers participating. Those inspections have identified several interlockings that require work.

As a result, SafeTrack Surge No. 7 now includes a complete shutdown this weekend between Grosvenor and Shady Grove Stations so the interlocking at Twinbrook can be repaired.  The track maintenance team is reviewing the remaining SafeTrack schedule and will consider additional weekend shutdowns during Surges 8-15 to address conditions identified by the latest inspections.

Metro is also taking several steps to improve track safety and will upgrade inspection procedures and training of personnel. Read about those changes  on Metro’s website.

Federal authorities have arrested a Fairfax man who works as a Metro police officer on charges of attempting to aid ISIS.

Nicholas Young, 36, was arrested Tuesday on charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. His most recent alleged transgression was purchasing $245 in phone gift cards to help ISIS recruiters, FBI investigators said.

Young will have an initial appearance this afternoon in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan at U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

Metro Transit Police initiated the investigation and continues to work collaboratively with the FBI Washington Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force on the case, authorities said in a news release.

Young has been terminated from Metro, a Metro spokesman said.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Young has been employed as a police officer with the Metro Transit Police Department since 2003.  Law enforcement first interviewed Young in September 2010 in connection with his acquaintance, Zachary Chesser, who one month later pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.

Over the next several years Young had numerous interactions with undercover law enforcement officers and a cooperating witness regarding Young’s knowledge or interest of terrorist related activity, many of which were recorded. Law enforcement also interviewed Young’s family and co-workers.

Several meetings Young had with an undercover law enforcement officer in 2011 included another of Young’s acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to attempting a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol Building in 2012, authorities said.

According to the affidavit, Young told FBI agents that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011 and he had been with rebels attempting to overthrow the Muammar Qaddafi regime. Baggage searches revealed that Young traveled with body armor, a kevlar helmet, and several other military-style items. Read More