Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Streetcar Begins Pre-Revenue Operations Today

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Streetcar operations move into a new phase today with the start of pre-revenue operation ("PRO") runs. These runs will continue as "DDOT prepares the system for safety certification to carry passengers." For now the streetcars will have 15 minute headways.

Residents accustomed to the intermittent operation of streetcars during the run up to PRO will see a noticeable increase in activity along the corridor for the next three weeks. The full complement of streetcars will operate simulating normal service from early morning to late night. DDOT will also increase the distribution of safety information to pedestrians, motorists, and businesses along H Street NE and Benning Road NE to ensure the public is adequately informed about this increase in operations. The PRO will run for at least three weeks and will be extended as needed. This is the second time that streetcar has initiated PRO.


The hours of operation are:

  • Monday-Thursday: 6am – midnight
  • Friday: 6am – 2am
  • Saturday: 8am – 2am
  • Holidays: 8am – 10pm (No service on Christmas)

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

When do you suppose our house values will go up more? Will they go up after the streetcar starts running with passengers? Or has the value of our houses already gone up as much as they will go up already, due to the streetcar already running up and down the streets, even without passengers, and with all the development already happening on H due to the streetcar? Any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

w/out the streetcar, home prices will inevitably rise in our neighborhood. the streetcar certainly couldn't hurt home values or it will add value. I think it will add value. Having convenient transportation benefits everyone. Our neighborhood has the only streetcar in DC. Unless it transports terrorists on a frequent basis, i don't see it taking away value to home prices.

Miss Hoover said...


I hear those things are awfully loud.

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to get excited. I've been a supporter for years, but all I've got left is apathy. I live right on this line, the streetcar was a main reason I bought where I did, and now I just. don't. care. I can't bring myself to believe in this project anymore. it doesn't make any sense. If I'm being honest, they blew it. The whole thing is ridiculous and we all know it.

Anonymous said...

They glide as softly as a cloud.

Anonymous said...

It's a reminder of the local government's dysfunction. That's why people hate the streetcar.

Apu said...

Is there a chance the track could bend?

Anonymous said...

Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

Barney Gumble said...

What about us brain-dead slobs?

Anonymous said...

You'll be given cushy jobs!

Anonymous said...

they should just refund us back our tax dollars, cuz it really makes no sense for the streetcar, unless the 'urban pioneers' are afraid to catch the the numerous buses that go down H st every 5 mins and dare sit with the locals coming from SE, seriously. this streetcar just screams separate and sure as hell not equal lol. home prices in the neighborhood could continue to skyrocket, but the real question is, who is going to buy it? DC isnt NY, most salaries are capped considering more than 75% of people are employed by govt. Sucks to hear but its the truth

Grampa Simpson said...

Were you sent here by the devil?

Anonymous said...

Home prices will go up as foreign investors buy houses to hide cash as in London and New York. The streetcar helps all of the home owners in the area. The renters benefit by paying more rent and this feel like they are in a better area. If you can't afford the rent the suburbs await

Doug said...

@anon1133 It is needed, I ride the X2 west every morning to work and they are often so full they can't fit all the people at the bus stop on to the bus. Some people have to wait for the next one. The capacity of the streetcar is needed on this route. With the limited length of the streetcar route though I'm not sure how many people will be actually able to use it and it doesn't seem like any work is being done on extending the line past Union Station or further down Benning Rd. At this rate that isn't going to happen until 2050 if it happens at all. Sad how incompetent the DC government is. It could have been a great system.

Anonymous said...

@anon1133 - what is wrong with having a "separate" and more "civilized" form of transportation to allow quick transport to Union Station along the corridor. I'm also a daily X2 rider. It is a miserable, horrid experience. Also, streetcar to Union Station to Farragut North (my disembarkation point) is a HELL of a lot faster than X2 from H and 8th to Gallery Place to Farragut North.

Anonymous said...

No, good sir, I'm on the level!

JMN said...

The Streetcar is racist. It's meant to put a bigger wedge between colored people and rich white people.
If you ride the street car you are a racist. There is nothing left to be said.

Chief Wiggum said...

The ring came off my pudding can!

pat said...

Putting aside the complaints about the X2 and the racism accusations, let's try and discuss the issues

1) The Streetcar is scalable. Extending the rails east to Benning and East Capital and West to
32nd and K streeet will provide a significant cross town capacity.

2) The Streetcar can handle a lot more passengers then a bus. Given the multiple loading doors and the broader platforms, each stop should be a more consistent 30 seconds. The X-2 can spend 5 minutes trying to load a wheelchair passenger, here on the streetcar they will load quickly.

3) The streetcar is essential infrastructure for apartment buildings. there are 1400 new dwelling units coming on H St, without some ability to move people around the corridor, we will choke on traffic.

I have high hopes the streetcar will make the neighborhood more valuable...The Developers need more rail line to K St and they need infrastructure east of the river.

Poo poo's iligitimate concubine twice removed said...

I was just AUMing out my key intuition chakras and thought I'd meditate for a while into our communal future to see what will be going on in a few years. I thought it might also help you lesser vibrational, scalar beings to chill out and stop with the random vagaries of your unilluminated "predictions". Jeez. So, after ascending and having tea with brother beyondananda, we descended on h street to view the glory of the city's crown jewel: the streetcar. Long story short, I thing we vibrated a bit too intensely. It ended up being 2023 and there was no streetcar. Maybe it was at the car barn for repair? I did see the tracks, albeit they were hazy from about four stories above the madness of the common sentient hum- so don't take my word for it. So, anyway, I guess I'll leave you all back to your wacky speculations. In a way, it's just a sort of breathing exercise, but, like, for monkeys in clothing. Lol! Namaste, plebes...

Anonymous said...

Will the bolt and mega now avoid H street will it become a tru corridor for pedestrians with lots of money who eat small plates. Will H street lead the nation in true multi cultural diversity (Although Angela Merkel said Multiculturalism has been tried and failed in Germany, what a shock!) I for one need the streetcar to avoid the street trash that are killing and thieving every night and day. I hope the west end develops faster so I dont have to ride the trolley deep into that eastend hipster jungle.

Anonymous said...

I don't like coons or crackers. Damn you all to hell.

Anonymous said...

Streetcar is best served as a shuttle service over a short distance. As soon as it gets extended then it will turn out to be just like the X2. The longer the route the more it is prone to delays, traffic congestion, accidents and unpredictability as a result of more variables. Currently the 2 mile distance is ideal. The streetcar is supposed to be an extension of metro allowing passengers to travel from Union station to 14th street and back.

Anonymous said...

Take my pen knife, my good man!

Lyle Lanley said...

I swear it's D.C.'s only choice!
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!

Anonymous said...

Streetcar . . .

Anonymous said...

Streetcars!!! Henry Ford said people do not know what they need, If I asked they would have said they wanted a better horse. Look at the world around you people have not made it better only a few select individuals have changed history while the rest of us were content to roll in our own poo.

Lyle Lanley said...

What's it called?

Anonymous said...

Streetcar!

Lyle Lanley said...

Once again!

Anonymous said...

STREETCAR!!!!

Anonymous said...

But H Street's still all cracked and broken...

Bart Simpson said...

Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!

Anonymous said...

Run over some ratchet jaywalkers while you're at it....

Anonymous said...

Beware large crowds of stupid people

pat said...

Portland has a 16 mile long system of Street Cars.
If the system in DC is extended out so the H St Line remains a major anchor, rolling all the way across the city and a few north south lines are added, we can look forward to it being a key part of city life.