What's metro like these days?

[Anonymous]

Are people masking? How is the service? I read that a few new cars were coming back but still didnt seem like that many. Those old cars were always so gross and half the time the AC didn't work! I've been driving downtown but especially with the start of the school year traffic has picked up and the commute is a gruel. But worried about the reliability about metro and Covid. Just looking for some recent experiences...

[Anonymous]

It seems pretty normal to me, although the trains may be a little farther apart. I ride the Red Line; it's slightly less crowded, I'd say it's at about 50 percent masking in the morning and a little less in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems pretty normal to me, although the trains may be a little farther apart. I ride the Red Line; it's slightly less crowded, I'd say it's at about 50 percent masking in the morning and a little less in the afternoon.

I ride orange/blue/silver and about the same here. A bit less crowded than pre-pandemic levels, a bit longer between trains, about 50/50 masking with more masks in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Trains are further apart and often only six cars. Otherwise fine. Depending on when you travel, standing room only.

A little dramatic about the air conditioning in trains precovid. Occasional issues but not regular problems.

[Anonymous]

It was a can of sardines this morning on the Red Line. Less than 50% of riders were masked.

[Anonymous]

A bit off topic, but I WFH so I don't normally ride the metro, but a few weekends ago, my teen DD and I were on the red line to DC, and there was a guy there who seemed like a homeless person (had a shopping cart full of stuff), eating, and talking loudly to himself. Sounded a bit slurred, too. DD was getting nervous, and so was I. The car had a few other people, too, but if I was in there alone, I think I would've gotten off into another car.

Are there people like this during commute hours?

[Anonymous]

Pretty packed Tuesday-Thursday, less so Monday and Friday. The parking lot where I park is never near full so I think ridership is still down but the 6 car, less frequent trains makes it crowded anyway. I did actually ride in one of the newer trains today though, so progress?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bit off topic, but I WFH so I don't normally ride the metro, but a few weekends ago, my teen DD and I were on the red line to DC, and there was a guy there who seemed like a homeless person (had a shopping cart full of stuff), eating, and talking loudly to himself. Sounded a bit slurred, too. DD was getting nervous, and so was I. The car had a few other people, too, but if I was in there alone, I think I would've gotten off into another car.

Are there people like this during commute hours?

Sure. Homeless commute too. Seen trains full of homeless commuters heading into town for the day.

[Anonymous]

Silver and orange are packed. Little masking. Blue is a bit less intense, slightly more masking. Buses are not full. 50/50 masks.

[Anonymous]

Really? I took the metro to the fireworks in July 2021 and was packed.

[Anonymous]

Yellow and Green lines are fairly crowded during rush hours with less than 50/50 on masking. Monday and Friday are not as busy.

[Anonymous]

Orange/Silver were not too crowded. Parking at EFC was available with plenty of spaces.
Saw a scofflaw jumping the gate...yelled at him. That problem hasn't gone away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bit off topic, but I WFH so I don't normally ride the metro, but a few weekends ago, my teen DD and I were on the red line to DC, and there was a guy there who seemed like a homeless person (had a shopping cart full of stuff), eating, and talking loudly to himself. Sounded a bit slurred, too. DD was getting nervous, and so was I. The car had a few other people, too, but if I was in there alone, I think I would've gotten off into another car.

Are there people like this during commute hours?

Have you never been in a city before?

[Anonymous]

The orange/silver/blue lines are still running 20+ minutes apart, which is annoying. Parking at Vienna or WFC is plentiful. Masks are about 75 wearing/25 not in the AM and 40/60 PM. I always get a seat in the morning and get a seat immediately half of the time coming home.

I have not yet run into any cars without appropriate climate control - usually I get on a car with the heat on in August at least a couple of times per year. Feel like I missed out on the full metro summer experience this year.

They are not running many of the 7000 series, I think those are only running on red right now.

If you are looking for a luxury transportation experience, public transit is not for you. The floors will often be sticky, cars have trash in them, and it's a crapshoot on whether the train intercom is understandable. Part of this is WMATA, part of it is inconsiderate riders who don't follow the no-food/drink and pick up after yourself rules. Mass transit is also open to all other people, including those who are homeless, so, if you're too precious for that, stick with your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? I took the metro to the fireworks in July 2021 and was packed.

What? The national holiday where the metro is always packed was packed? Thank you for sharing this, it has great bearing on people who are looking to use metro for daily commuting or any other day of the year.