INTERVIEW — ROBERT MCCARTNEY — The Washington Post’s senior regional correspondent, covering politics and policy in the greater Washington, D.C. region
- METRO NEWS:
- MCCARTNEY: Virginia Gov. McAuliffe taps Ray LaHood to head panel to study Metro. The Washington region took a step toward building a consensus on how to fix Metro on Thursday as Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) tapped former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood to head an independent panel to study the system’s governance and long-term financial needs.
- It’s official: Metro raising fares, cutting service. WASHINGTON — Metro fares will rise this summer as hours are cut and rush-hour train schedules are reduced. The Metro Board gave final approval Thursday to a budget that raises rush-hour rail fares and weekday parking fees by a dime, off-peak rail fares by a quarter, and regular and express bus fares by a quarter. Airport bus fares will rise to $7.50 when the changes take effect around July 1. At rush hour, trains will be scheduled every eight minutes at the ends of each line rather than the every six minutes they are scheduled today. Metro often fails to meet that goal. The rail system’s hours will also be cut back every day of the week — closing at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and only running from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
- Walking Up Moving Escalators Causes Damage, DC Commuters Told. Escalator riders should stand on both the left and right, Paul Wiedefeld said. Walk to the left, stand to the right? Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said please don’t. The head of Washington’s Metro system said Wednesday that the custom of standing on the right side of a Metro escalator to clear the way for people to walk on the left damages escalators. “We do not promote, obviously, the walking on the left. These are very sensitive pieces of equipment,” he said as officials unveiled a new escalator at the Bethesda station. It’s best for escalators when riders stand on both sides of the steps, Wiedefeld said. He seemed resigned to the notion that commuters will continue to follow widespread escalator etiquette.
