Ride Metrorail? Love it or hate it — if you are one of the estimated 640,000 people that ride the venerable white, silver, and brown-themed train, you have formed an opinion about it. From rude and ill-mannered people (that’s an entire other blog!) to delays and missed connections, getting to your destination using Metro is almost a guaranteed adventure.
Metro currently has five routes: Red Line, Orange Line, Blue Line, Green Line, and Yellow Line. There is talk of a new Purple Line that would run from the Bethesda/Silver Spring areas to New Carrollton. That had me thinking– what other routes could help lighten the rush hour madness? If you do not live in the DC metropolitan area (”Wamarva”-according to Ms. Allison Kaftan), then you probably don’t know that the Beltway traffic between 3 pm to 8 pm exponentially increases to the nth degree.
I’m sure you’re saying, “Hey, my area is no picnic either!” But trust me: when mild, mannered folks start to accelerate on the on-ramp to the Beltway, somehow they transform into evil versions of Supermen (or women) in a very bad way. Suddenly, they have the power to swerve within inches in front of another vehicle, narrowly avoiding a collision and higher insurance premiums. They can burn up fellow motorists’ ears with a steady stream of four-lettered words. If said motorists’ ears do not work for whatever reason, never fear. There is always the handy-dandy State of California bird. I’ll probably get a rash of not-so-nice emails from loyal Calis. But I digress.
Back to the point. There are some ideal routes that Metro could build. I came across an interesting article on DCist.com. The author, Colin Peppard, talked about how one blog called Rethinking College Park envisioned what Metro of the future would be like. This is their wish-list, of sorts:
Of course, Rethinking College Park has ulterior motives for the three too-close-to-each-other University of Maryland stations on the Purple Line, which they explained here. However, I approve the idea of extending the Green Line to Thurgood Marshall BWI Airport. Why should National and Dulles get all the attention?
An extension should also be built on the Red Line. I came across yet another fantasy Metro map:
Red Line running all the way through Germantown? What a dream come true. Yes, you’ve figured me out… I live in the general area. I also like the idea of the Brown Line running through Virginia, which is a foreign country to me. But this particular map has too many station stops for my taste. Can you imagine the commute time? And hearing the annoying ding-dong chime of doors closing? Whew.
Now back to the Purple Line. The Sierra Club came up with this idea:
Out of all three “dream” maps, I like this one the best. It really makes the cross-town commute a lot more effective. The Woodrow Wilson and American Legion bridges won’t suffer as much wear and tear.
Metro’s slogan is “Metro Open Doors.” Let’s see if we can help Metro open up even more doors. Get out your crayons, figuratively speaking, and tell me what your perfect Metro map would look like.
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13 Comments
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Agh, a beltway for the metro system? How horrendous… and efficient. ;)
For fun, here are the subway maps to other cities with international status. Look at them long enough, they take on a serpentine beauty:
London
NYC
Paris
Tokyo
I really like the second map. It has stops to everywhere possible especially to Bowie and Laurel. Those two stops will be really great. Bowie and Laurel has just bus stops, many deaf ppl needs rides more faster than buses. There’s a group home in Beltsville. No metro train there as well. That really sucks because when we are short on staffs, there are some staffs that rides the metro can’t get here. So I’m for Bowie, Laurel, and Beltsville metro stops.
I like maps 1 and 3. I’m glad to hear that the talk about the Purple Line is coming into fruition. Let’s see how they can dig through the swampland.
I’ve been spoiled by NYC train and London’s tube - they make DC metro look sterile and futuristic, and lack of personality.
If there was a purple line. i’d be riding it all the time.. to go from silver spring to gaithersburg. I actually miss the metro now that i drive to work….
The only thing I want with the metro is for more live messages to be typed on that board where the times of arrivals are due. Too many times there were delays on the metro, and I could hear the announcements but of course not know what the person was saying. Having more detail on that board would, I think, make it easier for everyone concerned.
Other than that, I’m always up for additions to the metro. Ones connecting to Dulles and BWI would be very beneficial in terms of customer convenience and local businesses.
I have to agree with you, DCBoots. Too many times, the arrival times disappear from the monitor board and then a crackling voice sound comes over the airwaves. I usually ask the person next to me what the announcement was.
How about a rainbow-colored line that goes all the way out to San Francisco, with stops in Saint Louis and Minneapolis and Denver and…
(Dream on, Gin!)
The WMATA Metro get real WORSE and WORSE and WORSE every time. The Metrobus drivers in VA are unbelievably RUDE and ILLOGICALLY PRAGMATIC. Poor visual communication within the Metro system when anything misfunction, ex. train line closed or emergency transfer to the shuttle bus when one of the Metrorail line shut down or train transfer thru another station.
Ever hearing people got shut out of basic communication or update information.
Having the Metrorail line go to Germantown or Fredericksburg isn’t a fanasty plan. It is originally conceived by the Metro board back in the late 50s, then aborted the line installation to either of those locations.
Moscow subway system have the similar circle link to the existing rail system.
Could you please kindly submit the Moscow subway system. Thanks. Moscow subway system have more class than the DC Metro.
Paris Metro is very filthy and unpleasant!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
I thought you were just high-tootin’ the commie life but this is actually worth a look!
Moscow
Actually, I love the Paris metro! It has character, and is actually very clean — cleaner than NYCs subway! Not to mention their ingenious “light-up” boards (that’s what I call them, anyway). You walk into a station and you push the button for your destinaton, and the route path lights up, showing you when/where to transfer. I had thought I needed to make two transfers to get somewhere, but when I pushed the button, it showed me a one-transfer route. Woo-hoo!
Now, BART in SF…needs some help. Heh.
I’ve always thought we needed a Beltway-style metrorail line. If any of you have ever been on the 495 stretch between Tysons Corner and Rockville during rush hour… GAAAAH. The reason I always drive to VA is that it’s quicker than taking the metro downtown and then back out into the suburbs. No thank you.
When was the last time you were in Paris, DC Deafie?
I went to the Paris subway system about last seventeen years ago. I never used it again. I probably went to the worst Paris subway station which seen trash rubbles inside the station.
RLM
A lot has changed in the last 17 years, RLM.
People dont always change, thats an important thing to remember 17 years or otherwise!