A SWITCH REPLACEMENT near the Medical Center station will slow Red Line trips over four upcoming weekends. Although trains will service the entire length of the Red Line, single tracking between the Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations will lead to the following changes, starting on Friday night:

» During the work periods, trains will run every 18 minutes through the work zone and on to the Red Line's Shady Grove terminal.
» During the day, alternating trains running from Glenmont and downtown D.C. will terminate at the Friendship Heights station before returning to Glenmont. During that time, trains will run at nine-minute intervals between Friendship Heights and Glenmont.
» After 9 p.m., all Red Line trains will run at 18-minute intervals, meaning that weekend warriors on Fridays and Saturdays, and those out on Sunday nights, will likely experience longer wait times for the Red Line.

The work periods will be in effect for the following weekends:

» Friday, Jan. 11, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Jan. 13.
» Friday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Jan. 27.
» Friday, Feb. 1, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Feb. 3.
» Friday, Feb. 8, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Feb. 10.

Image courtesy WMATA

WITH THE NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER in Bethesda predicted to see an influx in the coming years of 2,200 workers and double the amount of patients it serves, officials in Maryland are taking steps to improve transportation infrastructure near the site.

As The Post's Steve Vogel reports, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown presented the state's action plan to deal with the upcoming shift in military resources and personnel around the region, including the planned move for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center from the District to the National Naval Medical Center campus.

Reports Vogel:

Concerned about the impact of the Navy's plans to nearly double the number of patients and visitors at the hospital, Montgomery County officials have asked the state to pay for more than $70 million in road projects, including widening Wisconsin Avenue and adding turn lanes at several congested intersections.

Continue Reading "Md. to Pay for Much of BRAC Road Work" »

A PLAN TO MOVE parts of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center out of the District to the campus of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda would bring 2,200 extra workers — and double the number of patients currently served — to the large medical complex situated along Rockville Pike, one of Montgomery County's most congested corridors.

As The Post's Ann E. Marimow reports, the big question is about who's going to pay for infrastructure improvements such as expanded intersections along Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road.

The Navy plan doesn't spell that out. But local officials say that the state and county budgets are already stretched thin, and maintain that the federal government should shoulder some of the financial burden that comes with Base Realignment and Closure Commission-mandated facilities shifts.

Continue Reading "Navy Releases Plan to Expand Bethesda Campus" »

TELL THE TRUTH: When reading the seven "Harry Potter" books, didn't you want to believe his and his Hogwarts cohorts' magic was real? Even a little bit?

Well, it is and it isn't. Healing herbs can do just that, and alchemy existed long before "The Sorcerer's Stone" was released. Now, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institute of Health presents an exhibition that plunges into the myths and facts surrounding Potterian magic.

"Medicine and Magic in Harry Potter" features plants, characters and creatures based in history, with an emphasis on their contributions to ancient and modern medicine as well as magical lore.

Continue Reading "Exhibit: Muggles, Magic & Medicine" »

MORE BAD NEWS for Metro's Red Line: Ultrasonic testing overnight turned up another set of flaws on a different part of the heavily traveled corridor, a development that will continue the slowdowns riders have been experiencing throughout the week.

The flaws were detected in sections of track at the Forest Glen, Takoma and Fort Totten stations, Metro says. Those flawed sections of track come in addition to the imperfections discovered earlier in the week between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations.

The transit agency says that track workers will be installing new sections of rail while the system is closed — work that's expected to be completed overnight and into the weekend. Until it's finished, though, trains will operate at a reduced speed — 35 miles per hour instead of the usual 44 — in the spots where track flaws were found as a safety precaution. Those speed restrictions have been in place all week between Friendship Heights and Medical Center.

Metro's cautioning riders to be on the lookout for minor delays.

» "Rail Flaws Continue to Cause Minor Delays Today on Parts of the Red Line" [WMATA]

MORNING METRORAIL COMMUTERS may have seen an advisory that trains have been traveling at reduced speeds on the Red Line. Why?

From a Metro announcement:

A special ultrasonic testing machine detected the flaws last night in a section of track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations. Trains have been traveling at reduced speeds in the area since this morning. They are moving at a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour, instead of 44 miles per hour, until repairs can be made overnight.

Track workers made temporary repairs last night and plan to install a new 39-foot section of rail between Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations tonight, once the rail system closes.

The defects were detected by a special machine operated by Sperry Rail Services. The machine rides the rails and uses ultrasonic testing to detect cracks or other flaws. This type of inspection is conducted fives times a year, which is more than double the number of inspections from three years ago. Track inspectors also visually inspect the rails twice a week to ensure the reliability and safety of the rail system.

Image courtesy WMATA

TRACK WORK and rail car testing will lead to delays on the Red, Orange and Green lines this weekend. Here's what to expect:

» ORANGE LINE: This is where you'll find the heaviest of the weekend's work. From 10 p.m. Friday until midnight Sunday, trains will share the same track between Vienna and West Falls Church. Alternating trains will turn around at West Falls Church rather than proceeding to Vienna, so keep an eye on your train's final destination. Metro warns customers to add 30 minutes to their travel time.

» RED LINE: Track maintenance between Grosvenor and Medical Center could cause delays of up to 15 minutes, with trains in both directions sharing the same track. The work's scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

» GREEN LINE: New railcar testing between Greenbelt and College Park will force trains in both directions to share one track from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Add 10-15 minutes to your travel time.

» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red, Orange and Green Lines" [WMATA]

RED AND GREEN LINE passengers should plan ahead when taking Metrorail this weekend. With track maintenance scheduled for the Red Line in Montgomery County and railcar testing scheduled for the Green Line in Prince George's County, trains will share a single track in the following locations at the following times:

» RED LINE: Expect a 15-minute delay between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations. (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday)

» GREEN LINE: Give yourself an extra 10 to 15 minutes when travelling between the Greenbelt and College Park stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red and Green Lines" [WMATA]

SEVERAL METRORAIL LINES WILL experience delays this weekend for scheduled track maintenance. Only the Orange Line will escape scheduled delays. Trains will run share a single track in the following locations:

» RED LINE: Expect a 15-minute delay when traveling between the Grosvenor and Medical Center stations. (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday)

» BLUE AND YELLOW LINES: There will be delays of up to 30 minutes between the Van Dorn Street, King Street and Braddock Road stations. (10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday; 10 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m., Sunday)

» GREEN LINE: Give yourself an extra 15 minutes when traveling between the Greenbelt and College Park stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red, Blue, Yellow and Green Lines" [WMATA]

TRAVELING ON the Red, Blue, Yellow or Green lines this weekend? Be prepared for delays due to scheduled track maintenance and rail car testing.

Riders traveling on the Blue and Yellow lines to and from Reagan National Airport and Alexandria will experience major delays of up to 30 minutes between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations because of track maintenance. Trains between those stations will share a track from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Alternating Blue Line trains traveling to Franconia-Springfield station will terminate at Pentagon City and return to Largo Town Center, and alternating Yellow Line trains traveling to Huntington will terminate at Pentagon City and return to Fort Totten. Those traveling south of Pentagon City should plan accordingly, and build extra time into their schedules.

Those heading through Bethesda on the Red Line can expect 15 minute delays between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center stations due to track maintenance. Trains between those stations will share a track starting around 10 p.m. today through 10 a.m. Saturday, and again from 10 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday.

Riders on the Blue Line between the District and Prince George's County may face 15 minute delays between the Stadium Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant stations for track maintenance. Trains between those stations will share the same track starting today at 10 p.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday, and from 10 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday.

Those traveling on the Green Line in Southeast D.C. between Navy Yard and Southern Avenue stations should add 20 minutes to trips for scheduled track maintenance. Trains between those stations will share one track from 7 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

Also on the Green Line in Prince George's County, riders should expect 10-15 minute delays between the Greenbelt and College Park stations for regular rail car testing. Trains will share a track during testing, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.