The SafeTrack repair program has shut down Metrorail lines for much of 2016—and the price for the repairs to the system keep going up.
"Metro’s SafeTrack maintenance program will cost significantly more than anticipated and take at least three months longer to complete," reports Martine Powers, based on the information provided in a progress report released last week.
"The report by the Federal Transit Administration estimates that the total cost of the project will be $118.8 million — nearly twice the $60 million price tag Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld floated in June," adds Powers.
The article goes into detail about where the WMATA's cost estimates and the cost estimates of the Federal Transit Administration differ. Then there is this other detail that will disappoint, but probably not surprise, transit users in the Washington, D.C. region: the progress report estimates that the program will end in June, rather than the originally estimated March completion date.
FULL STORY: Metro’s SafeTrack could cost twice as much as expected and likely won’t conclude until June
D.C. Metro System Ridership in Free Fall
Track repairs and inconsistent service have lead to a 14 percent decrease in ridership, enough to wipe out the year's gains of all other U.S. rail systems put together.
D.C. Metro Will End Late-Night Rail Service for Two Years
A tough decision that has been on the table since the summer has now been made official by the WMATA's board of directors.
D.C. Metro to Consider Reduced Rail Service Hours After SafeTrack Concludes
What was thought to be a temporary end to late night weekend service could become a permanent reality on the tracks of Metrorail.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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