Updated: 04/09/2010 @ 18:38
[Reposted from Metro ADA eNews] DCPTI comments at the end
Mt. Vernon Square Station will be closed from 9 p.m., Sunday, April 11 through Tuesday, April 13; Metrobus, MetroAccess riders expect lengthy waits, detours
The Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail Station (Yellow and Green Lines) will close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14 due to security concerns associated with the international Nuclear Security Summit scheduled during that time at the Washington Convention Center. Trains will be able to pass through the station, but passengers will not be allowed to access the station.
A map of street closures and parking restrictions is attached – National Security Summit map.
Several streets around the convention center will be closed for security purposes. As a result, MetroAccess will not be able to provide paratransit service within the security zone and customers who use MetroAccess in this area should expect major delays due to detours associated with the road closures. Additionally, 13 Metrobus routes are expected to be impacted by the road closures. They are routes 42, 63, 64, 70, 71, 79, 80, D4, G8, P6, S2, S4, and X2. Metrobuses will continue to operate on detoured routes. Specific Metrobus detour information will be available later this week on Metro’s Web site at www.MetroOpensDoors.com
Metrobus riders whose routes are impacted by the street closures should plan for their bus trips to take a significant amount of additional travel time starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 11. Regular Metrobus service will resume on Wednesday, April 14.
All Yellow Line trains that typically operate between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station between 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and from 3 to 7 p.m., will instead terminate at the Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail station on Monday, April 12, and Tuesday, April 13. At all other times, Yellow Line trains will operate to the Fort Totten Metrorail station.
Metro encourages everyone to purchase a SmarTrip card or round trip farecard before entering the Metro system.
Parking at Metrorail Stations during the Summit
Metrorail parking facilities and 60,000 parking spaces will be available and free on Sunday, April 11. Regular parking rates will apply on Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13. Due to the road closures around the Washington Convention Center, Metro anticipates parking will be extremely tight at all Metro parking facilities during this time frame.
Metro Transit Police Security
Customers will see a strong Metro Transit Police presence throughout the entire Metrorail system during the Nuclear Security Summit. This includes members of the police special response teams carrying additional weaponry and patrolling with specially trained dogs.
During the Nuclear Security Summit, all Metrorail station restrooms will be closed for security reasons.
Customers are asked to report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity or unattended items to a uniformed Metro employee, police officer, or by calling the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.
Metrorail Service for Sunday, April 11 Credit Union Cherry Blossom race
The Metrorail system will open two hours early, at 5 a.m., on Sunday, April 11, for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-mile race and will close at midnight. Metrorail will operate its normal hours, 5 a.m. to midnight on Monday, April 12, and Tuesday, April 13.
Due to security precautions related to the Nuclear Security Summit, the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station on the Yellow and Green lines will close at 9 p.m., Sunday, April 11, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14. All Yellow and Green Line trains will be able to pass through the station, but passengers will not be allowed to access the station.
For more information and service updates related to the Nuclear Security Summit, visit Metro’s Web site at www.MetroOpensDoors.com or call (202) 637-7000.
DC ParaTransit Info Responds:
When we saw this press release, we had a few questions and forwarded them to Selene Faer Dalton-Kumins, WMATA‘s Director of the Office of MetroAccess Service in email:
- How will MetroAccess handle subscription trips that start or finish within the security zone?
- Are they being auto-cancelled, and if so, are affected riders being notified *directly*?
- Will trips be provisioned where the destination is in the security zone and the rider will be dropped off somewhere nearby?
- If a rider is unaware MetroAccess will be unable to enter the security zone and their ride can’t get there, will they be classed as a rider no-show, a van no-show, or … ?
Right now there’s nothing on IVR from the main MetroAccess phone number warning riders about the disruptions.
We’ll update when we hear anything more.
We received the following information in response to our questions above:
- How will MetroAccess handle subscription trips that start or finish within the security zone? Are they being auto-cancelled, and if so, are affected riders being notified *directly*?
- Customers are being identified, and contacted personally via phone by a supervisor for all trips that start or finish within the security zone. The supervisor will handle each situation on a case-by-case basis, and provide alternate pickup/drop-off locations with the closest proximity (outside the security zone) to the customer’s original pickup/drop-off location. This information will be placed on the booking and manifest, and communicated to the driver on the day of service.
- Will trips be provisioned where the destination is in the security zone and the rider will be dropped off somewhere nearby?
- This will be handled on a case-by-case basis, however, customers will not be penalized for trips that fall within the security zone.
- If a rider is unaware MetroAccess will be unable to enter the security zone and their ride can’t get there, will they be classed as a rider no-show, a van no-show, or … ?
- Information regarding the summit was placed on the IVR Tuesday April 6, and will remain until all road closures are complete.
Our thanks to Selene and Omari June at the Office of MetroAccess Service for their time getting the answers to us.
Sphere: Related Content
Talked with a MetroAccess driver this morning – no one has told the drivers about Monday's and Tuesday's disruptions by the Nuclear Summit.
If they tell the drivers before all chaos breaks loose, said drivers might come up with good ideas on ways to handle it – can't have that!