RSS FeedSmall Metro Track Fires + Power Outage *Updated*
There are a few downtown inconveniences this morning. Several Metro stations have no power and the Red Line is delayed due to a now extinguished small track fire near Dupont. Here’s the word from the WMATA website:
Red Line trains are moving again along the Red Line after emergency responders put out a small fire along the track near Dupont Circle headed in the direction of Glenmont. The fire was reported at 7:24 a.m., and initially trains were single-tracking around the incident.
People traveling along Connecticut Avenue should consider taking the Metrobus Connecticut Lines of L1, L2, L4, L7 and L8 to get around the Red Line problem, but they too can expect delays due to the traffic signals being out.
In addition, there are power outages reported at Dupont Circle, Shaw-Howard, Farragut North, Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations due to this regional power problem.
This writer pulled into two darkened stations, McPherson Square and Farragut West, on the Orange/Blue line – station managers are waving people through the gates which are locked open. Columbo reported a power loss in his downtown office building, as has gpliving. This writer’s downtown office building has power.
The Pepco outage map shows greater than 10000 customers without power in DC zip codes. WaPo is also reporting on the story.
Your mileage may vary.
*10:15 am Update* Pepco issues a press release indicating 12,000 downtown customers without power due to an equipment problem at a downtown substation. They expect power to be restored before noon.
*10:51 am Update* Metro Center is closed due to another fire. WMATA issued the following:
WaPo has an updated story with more coverage.
*11:26 am Update* Dupont and Metro Center are now open with single tracking in place at Metro Center. Pepco outage map shows power as being restored to the majority of downtown customers.
*3:16 pm Update* Everything is back to normal for Metro and Pepco.
Nando’s Conducting Job Interviews On-Site – Opening July 3rd!
While we still don’t have a solid opening date for Nando’s restaurant (819 7th St NW) is tentatively opening on July 3rd. We have observed over the past couple of days that job interviews are being conducted. The paper has come off of the windows and the liquor license hearing is scheduled for July 2nd.
We may be less than one month away from the grand opening!
Reference: Nando’s Restaurant Coming To 819 7th St NW (Old Skate Shop)!
Tips for Penn Quarter’s Taxi Riders
When Mayor Fenty announced the new metered cab system, most D.C. residents hailed the move. Many of us were sick of being cheated by unscrupulous cab drivers who used the confusing zone system to fleece customers. And it was a common belief that a meter system would ensure honesty.
Well, not quite.
I ride in a cab at least three times per day. Usually, I travel from Penn Quarter to the Capitol complex or to the Farragut North area. So, I am very familiar with the D.C. cab system and which routes are the most efficient. And while I understand that traffic flow and density can force a cabbie to alter his route, recently, I’ve noticed that more and more cabbies are taking the scenic route to my destination.
How Green Was My H&M
By the time you’re reading this the heat wave (they say) will be a distant memory. Maybe you’re thinking “well it really wasn’t all that bad.”
Only it was that bad, maybe worse. We love hot weather, but that was miserable. So it is with mixed emotions that we write about a business like H&M that props open their doors for the entire day, during those miserably hot days, to let the A/C blow out and cool part of the sidewalk.
Walking by, boy does that cold air on the sidewalk feel good. And I’m sure lots more people stop into their shop to beat the heat when reminded how cool it is inside.
But shouldn’t a company that has a corporate responsibility page dedicated to environmental issues show better judgment than this? Are we just being killjoys?