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.

1 minute read

December 16, 2016, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


fisheye photo of DC subway in station

ChrisDag / flickr

"Metro’s board of directors voted Thursday to cut late-night service hours for a two-year period starting next summer," reports Martine Powers.

The changes to the schedule were enacted by a unanimous vote of the board, following an 11th-hour compromise, according to Powers. "Under a new amendment, Metro will be required to provide a progress report on its preventive maintenance program in May 2018." That report will address concerns by some on the board "that two years of automatic late-night service cuts would provide a 'carte blanche' to Metro management."

Late-night service on the WMATA system has been under siege for the better part of 2016. The SafeTrack maintenance program suspended late-night service in June, leading to concerns about drunk driving. The proposal for a longer-term suspension of late-night service came in July and was met with criticism and concern for the effects of the service reduction for low-income and minority riders.

Thursday, December 15, 2016 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Large brutalist building and skyscrapers viewed from middle of wide street in downtown Houston, Texas.

Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness

An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.

January 3, 2025 - Wired

Graphic illustrating street with various lanes designed in Streetmix.

Reimagining Your Street

How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.

January 3, 2025 - Urbanism Speakeasy via Substack

Sprawl

Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty

Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

January 6, 2025 - Science Blog

Aerial view of Olympia, Washington with state cpaitol dome in foreground on a somewhat cloudy day.

Washington Lawmakers Eye Rent Stabilization

Democrats are pushing for a statewide rent stabilization bill that would give renters some protections while offering more flexibility for landlords than blanket rent control policies.

4 hours ago - The Urbanist

Eaton Canyon trailhead in Los Angeles County on a cloudy day.

Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools

The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

5 hours ago - AP News

Close-up of person on bike wearing backpack riding on city street.

Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’

Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog California

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.