DC Metro is closed today. Not "running with reduced frequency," not "single-tracking between Ballston and Foggy Bottom." That would be normal operations. Closed for 29 hours, for unplanned emergency inspections of electrical cables before they kill any more passengers. Even the New York City Subway is making fun. I remembered the bike I stopped riding when it got cold last fall, put air in the tires, and had a great ride in. Despite a detour to tour Constitution Gardens and a stop for coffee, I still sat down at my desk at the usual time, more refreshed than usual despite a rumpled shirt. I think I'll give my metro card a break for a while.
Yes, the New York City subway is run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the D.C. subway is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In announcements they pronounce this "wuh-mata dot com." Amusingly, the web site melted down yesterday after the closure announcement so visitors were greeted with "Service Unavailable." Twitter is aflutter with wisecracks: "MAKE WMATA GREAT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME" "BREAKING: WMATA" And my favorite, the updated service map:
Have you seen the RepUnderwoodSC twitter? I hear the jokes from it re: WMATA are priceless. https://twitter.com/RepUnderwoodSC/status/709845597868728321