Weather - Greater Greater Washington

And...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:48:00 EDT

The first 90-degree day in April since 2010 shuttered nine DC libraries. (Post) ... DC tries again to get a developer for the Franklin school downtown. (City Paper) ... Cicada Brood II will return from its 17-year hiatus this summer. (Post)

Comment

NOquester

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:41:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Though Snowquester didn't amount to much in many areas, there are still some closings and delays. You should also make sure sidewalks are clear of any snow you did get. (DCist, WTOP)

Comment

Snow

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:52:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Heavy snow has now started, and almost all governments and schools are closed. (WUSA9)

Comment

Prevents the descent after the maelstrom

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Freshly-mopped floors in Metro stations in winter conditions may seem odd, but that mopping actually makes the floors less slippery thanks to a chemical agent in the mixture. (Examiner)

Comment

Takoma tiles a success for Metro (Jun 2, 2009)

Snow in the Flickr pool

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:11:00 EDT

by Aimee Custis

Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region.

Eastern Market. Photo by caroline.angelo.

Dupont Circle. Photo by ekelly80.

Logan Circle. Photo by Joe in DC.

Eastern Market. Photo by caroline.angelo.

Lynn Street, Arlington. Photo by BrianMKA.

Got a picture that depicts the best or worst of the Washington region? Make sure to join our Flickr pool and submit your own photos!

Comment

Sitting around the Flickr pool (Jun 24, 2011)
A new year in the Flickr Pool (Jan 7, 2011)
Winter in the air over the Flickr pool (Dec 17, 2010)
Enjoying spring by the Flickr pool (Apr 22, 2011)
A snow-covered Flickr pool (Jan 14, 2011)

How New York recovered

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:48:00 EDT

by David Alpert

NYU created an interactive timeline of NYC transportation before and after Hurricane Sandy as part of a detailed report on Sandy preparation and recovery. One recommendation: keep the exclusive busways the city set up to route around flooded tunnels as permanent BRT lines. (Atlantic Cities, Streetsblog)

Comment

And...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:22:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Sandy damaged many of New York's bikeshare docks and bikes in a Brooklyn warehouse that flooded. (NYT) ... The Brookland and Shady Grove Metro stations get more bike parking. (PlanItMetro) ... Could the area get a high-speed ferry? (WTOP)

Comment

Metro proposes quintupling bicycle access mode share (Dec 6, 2010)
After price increase, bike locker usage plummets (Aug 5, 2011)
Metro trying new technology, communication with parking (Jan 24, 2011)
Metro tests secure parking with new "bike and ride" (May 15, 2012)
Metro closing Red Line for 8 months to accelerate repairs (Apr 1, 2012)

Storm gives New York temporary BRT

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, New York City quickly established a rapid bus line linking Brooklyn and Manhattan at frequent intervals. But bikes were even quicker. (BikePortland)

Comment

Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
Quantitatively compare New York neighborhoods (Apr 12, 2010)
Cuts spur new New York subway map (May 30, 2010)
New York sees similar bike and communication debates as DC (Mar 5, 2011)
Green along the blue (Jun 27, 2005)

No damage to Metro except pocketbook

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:29:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Metro suffered no significant damage from Hurricane Sandy, but WMATA will still pay a cost for overtime and lost revenue from a day and a half without service. (Examiner)

Comment

What do Metro employees really make? (May 12, 2010)
Should the federal government snowproof Metro? (Feb 11, 2010)
Metro doesn't need just any "monthly pass" (Jan 23, 2012)
Do more riders cost Metro more? (Jan 12, 2009)
ATU 689 responds to overtime article (May 15, 2011)

Roads get emergency money faster

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:40:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Under the latest transportation bill (MAP-21), it'll take much longer to get emergency aid to cities for transit systems than it will to give emergency road funding. (Streetsblog)

Comment

House GOP moves to decimate transit funding (Feb 2, 2012)
Oberstar bill includes more money for transit, complete streets (Jun 18, 2009)
When stocking up for the weekend, think about your long-term emergency kit (Aug 26, 2011)
House GOP would wipe out local control over bike/ped funds (Jun 8, 2012)
When will Oberstar's transportation bill drop? Place your bets now (Jun 10, 2009)

Teleworking: why just in storms?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by David Alpert

One-third of local federal government employees telework during storms like Sandy. But less than 8% do so on regular days. Why can't more telework in good weather? (Post)

Comment

Why can't the feds telework on extremely hot days? (Aug 10, 2011)
Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
Should the federal government snowproof Metro? (Feb 11, 2010)

Climate change does cause Sandy-like storms

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The Presidential campaign has ignored climate change, but Sandy reminded everyone; it's indeed fair to cite climate change for the kind of weather we've had. (Post)

Comment

COG climate change report briefing tomorrow (Aug 25, 2008)
Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
Around the network: We need a complete solution to climate change (May 28, 2009)

Why Sandy didn't flood Bloomingdale

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Bloomingdale actually didn't flood during Sandy. Is the flooding problem fixed? No, it's just that regular drainage could handle the sustained, less-intense rain we had, but not sudden heavy downpours. (City Paper)

Comment

Navy Yard sidewalks get sustainable stormwater systems (Sep 1, 2010)
Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
Bloomingdale is not Alaskan tundra (Jan 6, 2009)
I Wish This Were... in Bloomingdale/Eckington/Truxton Circle (Dec 12, 2010)
On the calendar: Kojo in McLean, Bloomingdale parking, Prince George's development, Anacostia streetcars (Mar 22, 2011)

Pepco does a bit better

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

The much-maligned Pepco performed better in this week's hurricane than the summer's derecho. Total outages among Pepco customers peaked below 42,000, compared with 483,000 in June's storm. (DCist, Post)

Comment

Use a market mechanism to push Pepco reliability (Dec 10, 2010)
When stocking up for the weekend, think about your long-term emergency kit (Aug 26, 2011)
What will it cost to bury power lines? (Jul 3, 2012)
With prodding, Pepco removes double utility poles (Mar 15, 2012)
Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)

Region still faces risk of flooding

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

The region is returning to normal today, having avoided the worst effects of Sandy. But waterways which received millions of gallons of sewage overflow still pose a health risk, especially if they overflow. (Post)

Comment

Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
Where does the water go? (Oct 30, 2012)

Sandy hits the Northeast hard

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

At least 40 people have died as a result of Hurricane Sandy, and millions are without power. In the DC area, 115,000 still have no electricity. (Post)

Comment

Breakfast non-links: Sandiest (Oct 30, 2012)
When stocking up for the weekend, think about your long-term emergency kit (Aug 26, 2011)
Many holidays look like weekends on Metro (Oct 29, 2012)

Where does the water go?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:43:00 EDT

by David Alpert

An awful lot of stormwater just fell on the Washington area. DC Water shared this 2011 video about what happens to a raindrop after it falls in a storm until it gets to a river.

Stormwater has to pass through the Combined Sewer Overflow system, which mixes water and sewage. That is, unless and until DC Water digs new tunnels for stormwater (and, unfortunately, has to spend a very large amount of money to do it).

36 comments

Navy Yard sidewalks get sustainable stormwater systems (Sep 1, 2010)
Impervious Area Charge is an integral part of sewer service (Oct 8, 2010)
DC Water increasing impervious area charge, water rates (Mar 9, 2011)
With DC stormwater, who pays, and for what? (Jun 22, 2012)
Where does your DC Water come from? (Jun 22, 2010)

Breakfast non-links: Sandiest

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:56:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Yesterday, a giant storm smashed into the mid-Atlantic. Virtually nothing else of note happened.

Photo by nevermindtheend on Flickr.

Sadly, a few people were killed in traffic crashes or from falling trees in the region, but it was far worse in New Jersey and New York.

The Ocean City boardwalk was damaged and a pier destroyed. Storm surge flooded Atlantic City Lower Manhattan, and parts of Brooklyn, including the New York City Subway, PATH, and tunnels.

Metro will reopen at 2 pm today on a Sunday schedule, and will return to normal weekday service tomorrow. There is no timetable about when the New York subway will reopen after facing what its chairman calls the worst disaster in its 108-year history.

There aren't as many traffic signals out in DC as some expected, but there are a number of of roads closed in Virginia and Maryland.

Finally, forecasters expect flooding in the Potomac over the next few days as all the water that fell yesterday makes its way downriver.

How did you and your homes hold up in the storm?

24 comments

When stocking up for the weekend, think about your long-term emergency kit (Aug 26, 2011)
Metro isn't the NYC subway, part 1: Rapid rail vs. subway (May 25, 2010)
Many holidays look like weekends on Metro (Oct 29, 2012)
New Jersey says no to FTA money. What would you build? (Oct 6, 2010)
A picture is worth a thousand activists (Jul 16, 2005)

Many holidays look like weekends on Metro

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:10:00 EDT

by David Alpert

WMATA's planning department has started posting more graphs and charts of ridership data, like one today changes in ridership over 5 years. A few recent charts show how holiday ridership compares to regular weekdays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

On holidays like MLK Day and Presidents' Day, when most offices are closed, Metro runs a Saturday schedule. That seems sensible, because the ridership pattern across the day closely resembles the typical Saturday.

Images from WMATA.

When the federal government is closed but most private companies still have work, like Columbus Day and Veterans' Day, Metro runs a Saturday schedule with extra peak service. Then, the ridership graph looks like a blend between the Saturday and typical weekday pattern:

On some of the holidays where virtually everyone is off and people generally travel, like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Labor Day, Metro runs on a Sunday schedule. The ridership pattern looks a lot like a typical Sunday as well, except Thanksgiving where it's even lower:

Even though the final numbers aren't in yet, we were able to get an exclusive look at the ridership chart for today, during Hurricane Sandy. Here it is:

Image not really from WMATA.

11 comments

Bus stop density correlates with speed (May 20, 2010)
Take a closer look at Saturday's Metro ridership numbers (Nov 5, 2010)
Infrequent airport buses offer a lackluster welcome (Dec 22, 2009)
Ask GGW: Why is Farragut Crossing longer on weekends? (Nov 16, 2011)
Metro undeservedly bore brunt of Sanity blame (Nov 8, 2010)

Sandy shuts down transportation

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:28:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

You shouldn't need to wait for the Breakfast Links to know there's a massive storm hitting Washington. Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess are all closed today, as are MARC, VRE, and Amtrak, local and intercity bus services, Amtrak, Capital Bikeshare and more. (DCist, City Paper)

Comment

Metrorail to run most service tomorrow (Feb 11, 2010)
Which DC-area transit agencies offer open data? (Jan 12, 2012)
WMATA directions now on Google Transit! (May 11, 2011)
Amtrak makes no little plans with Union Station vision (Jul 26, 2012)
Through-running isn't so easy for MARC and VRE, part 1 (Aug 21, 2012)

Dutch bike lanes may warm up

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:31:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Towns in the Netherlands are considering heating bike lanes, to prevent ice from forming. 4 weeks of frozen lanes correlates with 7,000 additional cyclist injuries. (BBC)

Comment

Study says bike lanes really work (Oct 20, 2008)
Contraflow lanes open on New Hampshire Ave (Aug 11, 2010)
Pennsylvania Ave bike lanes now have (some) pylons (Jun 20, 2010)
DDOT squeezes bike lanes into Pennsylvania Ave median (Jun 8, 2010)
Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes still have a few flaws (Jul 6, 2010)

DC feeling the heat

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:12:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

DC is currently experiencing the hottest year on record, bolstered by the 3rd hottest summer, 2nd hottest July, and 5th hottest August on record. (Post)

Comment

Video: DC cyclists get used to record heat (Aug 9, 2011)
Why can't the feds telework on extremely hot days? (Aug 10, 2011)

Even hotter?

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:12:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

The urban heat island effect doubles the effect of global warming in cities. Cities can mitigate this effect with urban green spaces and tree planting. (NPR)

Comment

Why can't the feds telework on extremely hot days? (Aug 10, 2011)
Boxer to ask for $50 billion more for highways (Feb 3, 2009)
Have an empty street tree box? Ask for a new tree now (Apr 25, 2012)
Greenbelt bus riders need some shade (Jul 2, 2012)

Flooding problems

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:36:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

In the wake of flooding in LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale on Sunday night, Kenyan McDuffie called for the DC government to establish a relief fund to help these neighborhoods with frequent flooding problems. (Post)

Comment

Kenyan McDuffie talks education and growth (Mar 1, 2012)
For Ward 5 Council: Kenyan McDuffie (Sep 10, 2010)
Spingarn remains the best option for streetcar barn (Jul 11, 2012)
For Ward 5 Council: Kenyan McDuffie (Apr 11, 2012)
I Wish This Were... in Bloomingdale/Eckington/Truxton Circle (Dec 12, 2010)

Are denser areas more resilient during bad weather?

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:33:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Denser areas less reliant on transportation may fare better during extreme weather. Much of this comes from a freedom from cars which can be shut down by the weather. (Streetsblog)

Comment

Why can't the feds telework on extremely hot days? (Aug 10, 2011)

And...

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:23:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Obama declares DC a disaster area after the derecho on June 29. (Examiner)... Mayor Gray broke ground on a new clinic in Ward 8. (NBC4)... DCist imagines the 2012 Olympics in DC. (DCist)... JDLand has pictures of construction at Canal Park.

Comment

Go to Gray's town halls (Sep 29, 2010)
Have DC's black unemployed become invisible? (Sep 8, 2011)
The scandal's serious, but the city's solid (Jul 14, 2012)
Vince Gray talks IZ, New Communities, and rent control (Jul 7, 2010)
Gray keeps Harriet Tregoning! And others (Dec 17, 2010)

Heat slows Metro

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:13:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Metro has slowed down trains above ground starting last night. We're in for more hot days, and heat caused a train to derail at West Hyattsville during the last heat wave. (DCist)

Comment

And...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:13:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Bikers in Portland spend more money at bars, restaurants, and convenience stores than those who arrive via other modes. (BikePortland)... Tuesday night's heavy rain caused more power outages across the region. (WTOP)... A Greenbelt co-op would allow residents to ban smoking by mutual agreement. (Gazette)

Comment

Bookstores create public places (Dec 1, 2010)
How did the derecho affect you? (Jul 2, 2012)
Obama endorses transit and bike lanes (May 27, 2008)
Portland gets excited about transit with a Mobile Music Fest (Nov 1, 2011)
Retail spaces "too big" or College Park population too small? (Nov 30, 2010)

Wave bye to heat wave

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:29:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

The heat wave finally came to an end Sunday night, but not before temporarily stranding a plane at DCA. Its departure also caused damage and power outages. (WT, DCist, Examiner)

Comment

Video: DC cyclists get used to record heat (Aug 9, 2011)
Cooling community in Petworth (Jun 9, 2008)

Heat may be damaging roads

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:09:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

The hot weather is also affecting roads. The Virginia DOT has warned drivers that the heat may cause roads to buckle. Evidence of such buckling has been found on Interstate 395. (Examiner)

Comment

Video: DC cyclists get used to record heat (Aug 9, 2011)
McDonnell transportation plan: Mortgage future, build roads (Dec 10, 2010)
Ties are a total waste; all gifts have to be video games (Jun 8, 2011)
Virginians: Ask your reps to oppose bad highway bills (Jan 20, 2011)
"My way or the highway" bill awaits VA governor's decision (Apr 4, 2012)

And...

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:09:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

The Chik-fil-A food truck will begin service in DC this Monday. (Post)... Amid talk about WV's MARC service, let's recall more ambitious proposals. (RPUS)... DC cleared almost 300 trees in the wake of last week's storm. (DCist)

Comment

Greater Baltimore & Washington Transit Future version 2 (Feb 25, 2008)
DoD begins encouraging transit for BRAC commuters (Jul 25, 2011)
MTA and CSX explain lousy MARC Brunswick performance (Oct 25, 2010)
ACT creates Montgomery County transit vision (Feb 16, 2010)
MARC will run more, shorter trains (Jan 25, 2011)

And...

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 08:37:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Airline passengers stuck in Chicago going to Milwaukee never considered the train. (Raschke on Transport) ... Yes, climate change probably has something to do with this year's weather. (Post) ... 2005's BRAC cost 67% more than estimated. (Federal News Radio) ... One Spanish city put a moving walkway on their sidewalk. (Atlantic Cities)

Comment

And...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:35:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

As of Tuesday morning, 200,000 DC area residences were still without power. (Examiner) ... Montgomery will integrate bike infrastructure with the Purple Line in Long Branch. (WashCycle) ... Arlington libraries return to Tuesdays. (ARLnow) ... National construction expenditures rise at the highest rate in 5 months. (HousingWire)

Comment

What's up with the Purple Line (Jun 4, 2008)
Gear up for the National Bike Challenge (Apr 13, 2012)
How the Purple Line will fit through the Silver Spring Transit Center (Nov 11, 2009)
Time to fast-track the southern Bethesda Metro entrance (Nov 2, 2010)
MTA to hold Purple Line open houses in November (Oct 18, 2011)

Mapping DC's power outages

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:27:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

DC's power outages from this weekend's storm lie predominantly on the edges of the city. In the ZIP code encompassing Chevy Chase 64% of households were without power yesterday. (Post)

Comment

Chevy Chase won't be a historic district (Oct 21, 2008)
HPRB might prohibit my rocking horse! (Sep 9, 2008)
False, alarmist flyer agitates Chevy Chase on zoning update (Apr 19, 2012)
Are bus shelters too "urban" for Chevy Chase? (Sep 15, 2008)
When stocking up for the weekend, think about your long-term emergency kit (Aug 26, 2011)

Gray criticizes slow Pepco

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:27:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

As more than 40,000 DC residents remained without power on Monday, Mayor Gray berated Pepco for its slow progress in restoring power after this weekend's storm. Gray's Hillcrest home was also without power. (Post)

Comment

Mayor Gray must refute mediocrity, or fall victim to it (Oct 14, 2011)
Should urbanists be nervous about Vince Gray? Part 2: Getting things done (Jul 22, 2010)
Mayor Gray should keep promises on education funding (Jan 17, 2012)
Pepco Benning Road site is perfect for the NFL or FBI (Feb 22, 2012)
Have faith in our ideas and vote Gray (Sep 13, 2010)