oh, brilliant idea. really.
Sep. 1st, 2009 06:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
acroyearMetro to Shut Reagan Airport Station This Weekend - washingtonpost.com:
Metro will shutter Reagan National Airport Station this weekend, forcing Labor Day weekend travelers to use shuttle buses or other forms of transportation during what could be one of the busiest holidays of the decade.
The transit agency plans to close the airport station, as well as the Crystal City and Pentagon City stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines, from 9:30 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Tuesday for extensive maintenance. Many of the last trains along the two lines will leave about a half hour earlier than usual.
The closures are the result of long-planned track work, Metro said. Regular service is expected to resume in time for Tuesday morning's rush hour.
Shuttle bus service will be provided between the Pentagon Station and the airport, but passengers should add 30 to 45 minutes of travel time to and from the airport "or they should consider using alternate transportation to the airport," said Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 12:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:14 pm (UTC)Um -- I don't believe that is even remotely the case for air travel. It's not Memorial Day, which draws people into Washington, DC for the stately affairs. It's not Independence Day (same issue). Thanksgiving through New Years is a massive family get-together time, so there is a lot MORE travel passing through the airports on those holidays.
Even the AAA is forecasting that travel is going to be big, but that's mostly automobile traffic due to the downturn in the economy and the fact that many kids will have to get back in time for school with Labor Day falling this late.
If you served in a capacity to plan for Metro and safety was the huge issue we know it was this year... I find it a perfectly good idea for them to a) fix whatever problems they feel are necessary to fix, and b) highlight on a relatively large travel day that despite the inconveniences, they ARE working diligently on repairs to bolster public confidence, if not for the DC commuters, for those from other parts of the country/world who fly into our airports.
Besides -- transportation isn't "shutting down". Just the Metro trains won't be available. Taxis, limos and busses will undoubtedly appreciate a little extra revenue in these hard times.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:26 pm (UTC)People don't "fly to grandmother's", or even make Disney trips around Labor day.
All of the holidays you mention are far more likely flying candidates.
As for metro specifically, while taxis will get some pick up, Metro is running free bus service from the pentagon to the airport, so they're not going to make any extra revenue on it.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:30 pm (UTC)If it is ME faced with "free shuttles" and having to transfer to the train, etc... (especially on business travel) I know I would opt for just paying to escape that "free" and additional time-consuming process. I imagine there may be at least a modest taxi revenue bump -- but, that's just my best guess.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 01:35 pm (UTC)