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Washington Metro

Washington Metro

, hub of the system]] The Washington Metro is the public transportation system of Washington, D.C., and neighboring suburban communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. In Maryland service is provided in Prince George's County and Montgomery County; in Virginia in Fairfax County, Arlington County, and the City of Alexandria. The Metrorail (subway) system, as well as Metrobus (bus) services, are owned and operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) - a multijurisdictional, quasi-governmental agency. WMATA also operates a paratransit service for the disabled called MetroAccess. However, the expression "Washington Metro" usually refers to Metrorail exclusively. Since opening in 1976, the subway network has grown to five lines, consisting of 86 stations and 106 miles (170.5 km) of track. The original plan of 83 stations on 103 miles (165.5 km) was completed on January 13, 2001. There were 190 million trips on Metrorail in 2004, meaning about 520,000 passengers use the system every day. The system is the second busiest in the nation – behind only the New York City Subway. Washington's Metrorail is well known for its design by Chicago architect Harry Weese. Weese's design is an exemplar of late-20th-century modern architecture. With its heavy use of concrete, and the repetitive nature of its design motifs, it demonstrates aspects of Brutalism, which, in Washington, is also exemplified by the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover Building. Simultaneously, however, with its coffered groin and barrel vaults (seen here [http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21102] in the Metro Center station), it reflects the neoclassical style of architecture that can arguably be described as the closest thing to an "official" federal style in Washington, D.C., as demonstrated in such buildings as the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the former U.S. Patent Office building (now the Smithsonian American Art Museum), by Robert Mills, the White House, by James Hoban, and the Beaux-Arts Lincoln Memorial, by Henry Bacon. The innovative design of Metro's stations additionally facilitates the cleanliness and safety which are are a hallmark of the system.

Metrorail network

Henry Bacon The network was designed with a spoke-hub distribution paradigm, which makes the subway ideal for getting from a suburb to any part of the city, or vice versa, but unattractive for suburb-to-suburb travel; a Purple Line has been occasionally proposed to remedy this (see below). The system is also noteworthy as a system with a limited number of lines that nevertheless makes extensive use of interlining (running more than one line on the same track). There are five lines, described from the south or west towards the north or east:
- Red Line: Runs from Shady Grove in Montgomery County, through downtown Washington, and back into Montgomery County ending at Glenmont. This is the busiest line and the only one which does not share its track with another line.
- Orange Line: Runs from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU in Fairfax County, through Arlington County and central Washington, ending at New Carrollton in Prince George's County. Shares the same tracks as the Blue line from Rosslyn (Arlington County) through Stadium-Armory (Washington).
- Blue Line: Runs from Franconia-Springfield in Fairfax County through Alexandria, Arlington County, and Washington, ending at Largo Town Center in Prince George's County. Shares the same tracks as the Yellow line from King Street (Alexandria) to Pentagon (Arlington), then shares the same tracks as the Orange Line from Rosslyn (Arlington) through Stadium-Armory (Washington).
- Yellow Line: Runs from Huntington in Fairfax County through Alexandria and Arlington, ending in Washington at Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center. Shares the same tracks as the Blue Line from King Street (Alexandria) through Pentagon (Arlington), then it crosses the Potomac River into Washington where it shares the same tracks as the Green Line from L'Enfant Plaza through the end of the line at Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center.
- Green Line: Runs from Branch Avenue in Prince George's County through eastern Washington, where it crosses the Anacostia River, and back out into Prince George's County ending at Greenbelt. Shares the same tracks as the Yellow Line from L'Enfant Plaza through Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center. Half of the system, including most of the stations in the District of Columbia, are underground, but most suburban stations are on elevated rails or at grade. In the case of the western Orange Line, the tracks run in the median of Interstate 66. However, the deepest stations in the system are not in Washington, but at the northeastern end of the Red Line, with Wheaton having the longest escalator in the western hemisphere at 230 feet (70 meters), and Forest Glen being even deeper than that; so deep, the only way to the surface is by elevator. Forest Glen 2000.]] The system is not centered on any single station, but Metro Center is considered the hub, as it is the busiest station, located at the intersection of the three busiest lines, and the Metro Information Center and Gift Shop are located there. Other notable transfer stations include Gallery Pl-Chinatown, which is located by the MCI Center; Stadium-Armory, which is located by RFK Stadium and has importance because the Washington Nationals and the DC United play there; and L'Enfant Plaza, the only station in the system with four lines, and supplies easy access between downtown Washington and Virginia. Smithsonian lies under the National Mall, and is the busiest station for tourists; however, it is closed down on July 4 every year since the September 11, 2001 attacks, due to its entrances being located within the security perimeter. Other stations of note for tourists are Capitol South, just three blocks from the United States Capitol, and McPherson Square is just two blocks from the White House. Even though Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan's name claims that it's the proper station to visit the National Zoo, Cleveland Park is not only a few feet closer, but uphill from the zoo, making it an easier walk. Several universities are accessible through the Metro, including the University of Maryland, College Park at College Park - U Md., Georgetown at Rosslyn, George Washington at Foggy Bottom, American University at Tenleytown, Howard University at Shaw-Howard, George Mason University at Vienna-Fairfax, and Catholic University at Brookland. Pentagon station offers direct access to the Pentagon; after the September 11, 2001 attacks, this entrance was closed and passengers must leave the station to get into the Pentagon. See also: List of Washington Metro stations.

History

List of Washington Metro stations] During the 1960s, there were plans for a massive freeway system in Washington. However, opposition to this freeway system grew and the funds to construct it were reallocated toward construction of the Metro system. Construction on the subway began in 1969, with groundbreaking on December 9. The system opened March 27, 1976 with 4.6 miles (7.4 km) available on the Red Line with five stations from Rhode Island Ave to Farragut North. The final 103 mile (166 km), 83 station system was completed with the opening of the Green Line segment to Branch Ave on January 13, 2001. This does not mean the end of the growth of the system, however: a 3.22 mile (5.18 km) extension of the Blue Line to Largo Town Center and Morgan Boulevard stations opened on December 18, 2004, the first in-fill station (New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U on the Red Line between Union Station and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood) opened November 20, 2004, and plans are being discussed for an Orange Line extension to Dulles Airport. The system began in the District of Columbia, with Arlington, Virginia being linked to the system on July 1, 1976; Montgomery County, Maryland on February 6, 1978; Prince George's County, Maryland on November 20, 1978; and Fairfax County, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia on December 17, 1983. The highest ridership for a day was June 9, 2004, with 850,636 trips; thousands of people went to Washington to view the funeral procession of Ronald Reagan, and to the U.S. Capitol to view his body as it lay in state. Also, since many streets in Washington were closed that day, many people may have felt it wiser to use Metro just to get around. The previous recordholding days were January 20, 1993 (the first inauguration of Bill Clinton) and October 16, 1995 (the Million Man March).

Safety and Security

Rules and Regulations

Metro strictly forbids riders from eating or drinking while on board a Metrorail train or while in a station. On October 23, 2000, a 12-year old girl was arrested, searched, and handcuffed for eating a french fry while in the Tenleytown-AU Metro station. She was taken downtown where she was booked, fingerprinted, and detained until her mother arrived to pick her up. Another widely noted case occurred on July 16, 2004, when an EPA employee was entering the Metro Center station. Before passing through the faregates, she popped the last bite of a Payday candy bar into her mouth, continuing to chew the candy bar while in the station. She was subsequently arrested by Metro Transit Police. While sometimes seen as excessive, Metro's zero-tolerance policy when it comes to food, as well as trash and other forms of disorder, embodies the broken windows philosophy of crime reduction. Supporters argue that this, combined with how the station environments were designed with crime prevention in mind, has contributed to the fact that Washington Metro is among the safest and cleanest subway systems.

Accidents

crime prevention crime prevention There have been three collisions reported on the Metrorail system since its opening.
- On January 13, 1982, three people were killed and many more were injured when a train backed up and derailed at an interlocking near the Smithsonian Station. Coincidentally, this accident occurred on the same day as Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge during a major snowstorm, producing probably the worst transit situation in Washington history.
- On January 6, 1996, during the Blizzard of 1996, a train operator was killed when a train overran the Shady Grove station and crashed into a parked train. See 1996 Gaithersburg Metrorail Accident for more information.
- On November 3, 2004, an out-of-service train lost its brakes, rolled backwards into the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Station, and hit a revenue train servicing the station. No one was killed, but 20 people were injured. The 2004 accident reinforced the finding from the 1996 accident of the tendency of Metro rail cars built or rehabilitated prior to 2001 to telescope when involved in a head-on collision. The system is not immune from passenger suicide. There have been a number of suicides over the years; one was 18-year-old Victor Zoubak, who lay on the trackbed of the Blue/Orange Line in Metro Center in 2004 until a train came, which struck and killed him. According to Zoubak's sister, the young man would lose consciousness and would be dazed and disoriented when he returned to his normal state of mind. Officials later determined that he did not know what he was doing at the time . There have also been deaths at Grosvenor-Strathmore, Forest Glen, Union Station, Brookland-CUA, and Minnesota Avenue, among other stations.

Accountability

Since the turn of the century, Metrorail has been plagued with deteriorating quality of service and excessive delays, caused in part by the system's aging infrastructure. In addition to the November 2004 accident, other serious incidents included an electrical fire on March 18, 2004 during morning rush hour. The fire occurred deep underground, on the Red Line between the Woodley Park-Zoo and Dupont Circle stations. This caused a major disruption in service that sent thousands of stranded passengers onto Connecticut Avenue, with no good plan by authorities to deal with the situation. Occurring just days after the Madrid train bombings, this incident highlighted Metro's shortcomings when it comes to emergency preparedness. On July 27, 2004, storms flooded a control room that is located at the Silver Spring station, damaging electronic equipment that is used for operating Red Line trains between the Takoma and Forest Glen stations. As a result, Red Line trains were manually operated for two weeks, with speed reductions through the affected area, which caused delays for passengers. With aging infrastructure, the Metrorail system has experienced numerous incidents of rail cracks that have required single-tracking (trains in both directions sharing the same track) during rush hour. Unlike the New York City Subway and other systems, the original design of the rail system provides just two rail tracks (one in each direction) throughout the entire system; Therefore, when an incident occurs (no matter how minor, such as a sick passenger), trains will be single-tracked, causing trains to back up behind the affected train, and become significantly delayed. Another cause for delays are the frequent mechanical break-down of Metrorail trains, while they are in service. This causes the entire train to be offloaded, with passengers attempting to reboard onto subsequent trains that are often packed during rush hour. Further controversy surfaced in 2004, when it became known that employees of Penn Parking, the company contracted by Metro to collect parking fees at Metrorail stations, had stolen substantial amounts of cash. Metro terminated the contract with Penn Parking, and on June 28, 2004, implemented a cashless parking system, where customers are required to pay for parking with SmarTrip cards. These stored-value cards cost five dollars, available at Metro sales facilities, and are sold for ten dollars (five dollars for the card and five dollars in fare) at vending machines near the farecard machines. As the card is reloadable, customers can add additional money to the cards using SmarTrip-equipped farecard machines. As well, SmarTrip cards can be used to pay fares for Metrorail and Metrobus, saving time while entering stations and boarding buses. In 2005, WMATA CEO Richard A. White has led efforts to improve accountability and dialogue with customers. This has included independent audits, town hall meetings, online chats with the CEO and other management officials, and improved signage in stations.

Funding

While fares and advertising provide some revenue for Metrorail, the bulk of funding is contributed by each jurisdiction that is served by Metro, as well as by the states of Maryland and Virginia. Washington Metro is unique among major public transportation systems, in that it has no dedicated source of funding. Instead, each year, WMATA must ask each local jurisdiction to contribute funding, which is determined by a formula that equally considers three factors - (1) population density, as of the 2000 Census; (2) average weekday ridership; (3) number of stations in each jurisdiction. Under this formula, the District of Columbia contributes the greatest amount (34%), followed by Montgomery County (18.7%), Prince George's County (17.9%), Fairfax County (14.3%), Arlington County (9.9%), the City of Alexandria (4.7%), the City of Falls Church (0.3%), and the City of Fairfax (0.3%) . It is often argued that this formula places disproportionate burden on District of Columbia taxpayers. WMATA and District officials have pleaded that the Federal government should contribute more funding, reflecting the fact that a substantial portion of the Federal workforce use Metro to commute from the suburbs. Tourists also comprise a significant portion of ridership, and Metro provides an instrumental role in transporting people during special events, such as inaugurations. As well, a substantial number of stations located in the District serve these purposes, rather than serving local residents. In 2005, a bill has been introduced in Congress that proposes $1.5 billion, over ten years, for WMATA. This offer is contingent upon WMATA implementing more accountability measures and providing the Federal government two seats on its board of directors.

Future expansion

board of directors board of directors, 2004.]]Rumors have abounded for years about transit service out to Dulles and points west either by Metro or other systems. There was even a study in the early 1990s that proposed a series of civil tiltrotor stations as a possible commuting option from places such as Reston, Manassas, Leesburg, Columbia, and other points in the greater Washington area. Like many other plans, this stopped at the initial assessment stage for fiscal and political reasons. Light rail systems and express bus lines have also been floated as a possibility within the District or Northern Virginia. Plans to extend Metrorail to Dulles have been in the works since the beginning of the system's construction. A test station was built at the airport around 1970 and was located some 28 feet below the parking lot area, but until recently, rail transport there was not a reality. Finally, in 2002, plans were formalized to bring a 23-mile extension to the Orange Line from the West Falls Church station to Route 772 in Loudoun County, Virginia. This would mean a mass transit connection from Washington proper to the important business centers of Reston and Tysons Corner, and most importantly, provide a link to Dulles Airport. On June 10, 2004, the Federal Transit Administration approved the first phase of the project to begin. See also: Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project. Controversy has attended proposals to build a Purple Line (now designated the Bi-County Transitway by state planners), linking Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland, thereby connecting the two branches of the Red Line to the north of the city by rail. It would later be possibly extended around the whole district, linking the Metro endpoints together, as seen in a proposal from the Sierra Club. This line has been conceived as a light rail line traveling along a private right-of-way for at least some portion of its length, and also as a rapid bus line. The proposal has met fierce opposition from some of the residents along the certain areas of the line. Others have noted difficulties in obtaining the funds to build it. Metro broke ground on a light rail line in the Anacostia area on November 13, 2004. The project is a demonstration to examine the usefulness of building a light rail line that would help people who live too far away from subway stations by ferrying them to the main Metro network. The line consists of 2.7 miles (4.3 km) and six stations centered. Service is expected to begin in autumn 2006.

Rolling stock

2006 Metro's rail fleet consists of 952 75-foot rail cars, delivered in five shipments. The original order of 300 Metro cars was manufactured by Rohr Industries, with delivery in 1976. These cars are numbered 1000-1299, and were rehabilitated in the mid-1990's by Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie and WMATA at their Brentwood Shop in Washington, D.C. These cars originally used cam-controlled DC propulsion and contained rollsigns which have since been changed to flip-dot technology. The rehabilitation added exterior speakers in place of one rollsign on each side and also marked the first set of cars to have AC propulsion. The bulkhead windows on the ends of the cars are also distinguished by windows with aluminum frames that extend the full height of the train compared to other shipments. The interiors have a white grained appearance with orange and brown seats. Finally, the cars have 81 seats. Future orders would have seating reduced to 66 or 68 since seats next to the doors would be removed for additional standing areas. The second order, of 76 cars, was through Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie (Breda), with delivery in 1982. These cars are numbered 2000-2075, and were rehabilitated in 2003 and 2004 by Alstom in Hornell, New York. The cars as part of the rehabilitation project have received brand new AC propulsion systems with IGBT technology which replaced the original cam-controlled DC propulsion systems. Also included are new railcar monitoring systems, advanced ATC/ATS control systems, new exterior LED destination signs, new interior LED next stop signs, and improved emergency exit signage. They also received the new red, white, and blue interior found on the 5000-series cars. The third order consisted of 290 cars, also from Breda, with delivery in 1987. These cars are numbered 3000-3289 as originally delivered, and are currently undergoing rehabilitation by Alstom in Hornell, New York. The cars as part of the rehabilitation project have received brand new AC propulsion systems with IGBT technology, which replaces the chopper-controlled DC propulsion system. Also included in the rehabilitation is the addition of new railcar monitoring systems, advanced ATC/ATS control systems, new exterior LED destination signs, new interior LED next stop signs, and improved emergency exit signage. They also received the new red, white, and blue interior found on the 5000-series cars. Hornell, New York The fourth order consisted of 100 cars from Breda, numbered 4000-4099. These cars were delivered in 1991. They use all the original systems that the 2000/3000-series cars had prior to their rehabilitation. The only difference between these and the pre-rehabilitated Breda cars is that the bulkhead windows are rounded compared to squared. They still have the original flip-dot exterior destination signs, chopper controlled DC propulsion systems, and the original cream, orange, and yellow interiors. Rehabilitation of these cars will occur around 2011 at the earliest. The fifth order consisted of 192 rail cars from Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain. These cars are numbered 5000-5191, with delivery in 2001. These cars were the first shipment to have all AC motors from the start. They were also the first to have LED destination signs on the exterior and LED next stop indication signs on the interiors. Along with these improvements, they were also the first to have intercar safety barriers (which have since been added to all other rolling stock) and railcar monitoring systems. The 5000-series cars premiered the new red, white, and blue interior which contrasts to the original designs on earlier cars. This new interior design has since been used on the 2000/3000-series rehabilitation project. Most recently, Metro has ordered 182 rail cars from Alstom, the same company that is rehabilitating the Breda cars. Delivery is expected to begin in late 2005 with initial service expected in early 2006. These cars are currently undergoing acceptance testing. They will look nearly identical to the 5000-series cars built by CAF, but seat 66 instead of 68, and have two additional interior LED next stop indicators at the center of the car. They will also use the same propulsion systems and advanced cab signaling systems used in the Breda 2000/3000-series rehabilitation, which is also being performed by Alstom. Finally, the 6000-series cars from Alstom will feature a return to a [http://www.castsolutions.com/archive/feature_article_1105.html] cast truck design which is similar to the Rohr 1000-series and CAF 5000-series cars. All other cars in the 2000-, 3000-, 4000-series used fabricated trucks. The new cars will have their body shells built in Barcelona, Spain and have assembly completed in Hornell, New York. More information about rolling stock is listed below.

1000-Series


- Car Builder: Rohr Industries, Winder, GA, USA
- Rehabilitated by: WMATA Brentwood Shop/Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Washington, DC, USA
- Dates Built: 1973-1976
- Rehabilitated: 1993-1996
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 1000-1299
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: General Electric AC Traction with solid-state controls
- Seating capacity: 81
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars

2000-Series


- Car Builder: [http://www.alstom.com/pr_corp/2005/corp/30167.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/pr_corp/2005/corp/&idRubriqueCourante=15445 Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy]
- Rehabilitated by: Alstom Transportation, Hornell, NY, USA
- Dates Built: 1981-1983
- Rehabilitated: 2003-2004
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 2000-2075
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: [http://www.transport.alstom.com/home/Products_and_Services/RAIL_VEHICLES/Subsystems/traction_systems/7647.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/home/Products_and_Services/RAIL_VEHICLES/Subsystems/traction_systems/ Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters (post rehab)]
- Seating capacity: 68
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars

3000-Series


- Car Builder: Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy
- Rehabilitated by: Alstom Transportation, Hornell, NY, USA
- Dates built: 1984-1988
- Rehabilitated: 2004-2006
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 3000-3289
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters (post rehab)
- Seating capacity: 68
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars

4000-Series


- Car Builder: Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy
- Dates Built: 1991-1993
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 4000-4099
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: [http://www.swigercoil.com/tractionMotorTransitMotorRepair_experience.asp Westinghouse 1462 DC motors with chopper controls]
- Seating capacity: 68
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars Alstom

5000-Series


- Car Builder: CAF/AAI, Zaragosa/Bessain, Spain and Hunt Valley, MD, USA
- Dates Built: 2001-2004
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 5000-5191
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: [http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=1_0&lang=en&file=/en/1_0/1_0.jsp Bombardier Mitrac DR1000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters]
- Seating capacity: 68
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars

6000-Series (On Order)


- Car Builder: Alstom Transportation, Barcelona, Spain and Hornell, NY, USA
- Dates Built: 2005-2008
- Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
- Car Numbers: 6000-6181
- Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
- Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
- Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
- Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
- Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
- Propulsion System: Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters
- Seating capacity: 66
- Total Capacity: 175
- Minimum Train Length: 2 cars
- Maximum Train Length: 8 cars

Signaling and Operation

During normal operation on revenue tracks, trains are controlled by an automatic train control system (ATC) which accelerates and brakes the train automatically without operator intervention. However, all trains are manned with train operators who operate doors, make station announcements, and supervise their train. The operator can switch a train into manual mode and drive by hand if necessary. Fixed signals are only present at interlockings. They show a red over red aspect for "Stop and Stay", a lunar (white) aspect for "proceed" and a flashing lunar aspect for "proceed on diverging route" (only present on newer interlockings; older interlockings are being updated with signals that show this aspect). Tracks are divided into block sections, which can only be occupied by one train at a time, a method to protect against collisions used by most railway systems worldwide, but there are no fixed signals to protect block sections. Virtual signal aspects are transmitted to the train by a cab signaling system and displayed to the operator in the cab, as well as transmitted to the ATC system. Entering of an occupied block is prevented by an automatic train protection system (ATP), which supervises both manual and ATC operation and stops the train well before it would enter an occupied block. Alstom Non-revenue tracks (storage tracks, yard tracks) are not equipped with ATC. Green signs with letters reading "START ATC" and "END ATC" mark the beginning and ending respectively of ATC (Automatic Train Control) territory. At switches entering into pocket tracks in a direction reverse to the normal operating direction, there is a "P Signal". The P Signal is a single lunar signal that displays the letter "P" and is found at the entrance to some but not all pocket tracks and other selected main line interlockings in the reverse direction of the normal flow of traffic. Below the P signal on the same post is a punch box to allow the train operator to manually set the switch to the diverting direction (reverse) when the P Signal is lit. The P signal is only lit when a train occupies the two track circuit approaching the P Signal and all possible routes into the interlocking are not occupied. Two trackside signs exist: The "S"-Sign is posted at revenue tracks and indicates to the operator that a station is ahead. It is located at a distance no greater than 1200 feet (365.75 m) before a station platform. The "TB"-Sign is posted to indicate to the operator that an eight-car train (the longest used in the system) is clear of an interlocking when the train front is flush with the sign, and that the train can turn back in the direction from which it came on the opposite track. Trains are usually four or six cars, usually six cars during rush hour and four cars during weekends and late evenings. Eight car trains are used on special event days or to help move more people past a major delay, while two car trains are sometimes used for very low ridership days like major holidays. Two car trains are only used in certain parts of the system, because each rail car has only one "shoe" or power coupler, connecting the train to the third rail carrying 700 volts of DC power, used to provide power to the trains. The third rail may be on one side of the track or the other depending on where the train is, but the rail will only be on one side; there are no places where there are overlapping third rail coverage. On a two-car train, both cars are placed so that the operator controls for each train face in the direction away from the other car; this allows the train to be driven forward in either direction depending on which way it has to go. However, this means that in some parts of the system, there are "gaps" in the third rail sufficient that the shoe from one car could leave connection with the third rail on its side before the other car reaches connection with the third rail on its side. This would result in the train being trapped "dead", between third rails and without power.

Intermodal transport

third rail WMATA has a stated goal of integration of its rail and bus networks. In 2004, SmarTrip readers were installed on all buses, enabling paperless transfers between lines and with the rail system. In December 2001 Metro initiated a relationship with Flexcar, a private company which operates car sharing networks in several North American cities. A competitor, Zipcar, began service in the region contemporaneously. With either service, cars are parked at major Metrorail stations and made available for rental on an hourly basis, with the goal of reducing car dependency and increasing transit ridership. Metrorail connects with both commuter rail and intercity rail systems.
- Connections to Amtrak are offered at Union Station in Washington, at New Carrollton Station in Prince George's County, at Rockville in Montgomery County, and at King Street Station in Alexandria.
- Virginia Railway Express trains terminate at Union Station in Washington. They also share stations with Metro at L'Enfant Plaza, Crystal City, King Street, and Franconia-Springfield.
- All three lines of Maryland's MARC train system begin at Union Station in Washington; service is also provided to New Carrollton, College Park — University of Maryland and Greenbelt stations in Prince George's County; and Silver Spring and Rockville stations in Montgomery County. Metrorail's Yellow and Blue Lines serve Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Express bus service from L'Enfant Plaza, West Falls Church and Rosslyn is provided to Washington Dulles International Airport. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is served by express bus from Greenbelt, and by rail from Union Station by MARC and Amtrak. Additionally, several Metrorail stations offer connections to HomeRide, a bus service which connects Virginia Tech, Radford University, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia to the northern Virginia area. Many students at these schools are originally from the northern Virginia area, and especially for freshmen and other students without cars, HomeRide offers an attractive method for getting home on weekends.

See also


- List of Washington Metro stations
- Congressional Subway
- SmarTrip
- Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project

References

# [http://www.wmata.com/about/metrofacts.pdf WMATA Facts] (PDF) # [http://www.wmata.com/about/history.pdf WMATA History] (PDF) # [http://www.clouse.org/metro.html#Dulles%20Airport%20Rail%20Tunnel Metrorail Track and Structures] at Clouse.org # [http://www.dullescorridorrail.com/default.htm Dulles Corridor] # [http://www.sierraclub.org/dc/sprawl/purple-line/ Purple Line proposal] from the Sierra Club # [http://www.gazette.net/200330/bethesda/news/169229-1.html Bickering over Purple Line could cause funding woe] — Gazette.net # [http://www.wmata.com/about/met_news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=569 WMATA press release — Metro and the District of Columbia break ground on the Anacostia light rail demonstration project] # [http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/1996/961029-2.htm Report of the 1996 crash] from the NTSB # [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17621-2004Dec21.html?sub=AR Man Killed by Train Identified as 18-Year-Old] — Washington Post # [http://transit.schuminweb.com/rail/washington/miscellaneous/miscellaneous.asp Information on the cars] from The Schumin Web Transit Center # [http://www.chesapeake.net/~cambronj/wmata/track_schematic/wmata_track_schematic_nomenclature.htm Full System Track Schematic Legend and Nomenclature] # [http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=466 WMATA press release — Entire Metrobus fleet now equipped with new SmarTrip fareboxes] # [http://www.wmata.com/about/metro_matters/subsidy_allocation.pdf WMATA Subsidy Allocation Methodology] (PDF)

External links


- [http://www.wmata.com/ Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
- [http://www.stationmasters.com/ Neighborhood Maps and Panoramic Views of each station]
- [http://www.metroriders.org/ Metro Customer Advocacy Group]
- [http://www.urbanrail.net/am/wash/washington.htm UrbanRail.net Washington Metro]
- [http://world.nycsubway.org/us/washdc/index.html world.nycsubway.org Washington Metro]
- [http://transit.schuminweb.com/rail/washington/index.asp The Schumin Web Transit Center (Washington Metro)]
- [http://www.chesapeake.net/~cambronj/wmata/track_schematic/sys_schematic_ars.gif Technical map of the Washington Metro, showing rail yards, track types, and line designations]
- [http://www.chesapeake.net/~cambronj/wmata/track_schematic/wmata_track_schematic_nomenclature.htm Document describing line nomenclature, operation and signaling]
- [http://www.chesapeake.net/~cambronj/ Various Documents, Pictures and Maps of Washington Metro]
- [http://dcrails.com/ DCRails.com | Google Maps representation of Metrorail with address lookup.]
- [http://www.dcist.com/map/ An alternate Google Maps representation showing all lines drawn in]
- [http://www.swigercoil.com/tractionMotorTransitMotorRepair_experience.asp Swiger Coil Systems]
- [http://www.castsolutions.com/archive/feature_article_1105.html Cast Solutions, Inc.] ja:ワシントンメトロ

Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. "D.C." stands for the "District of Columbia", the federal district containing the city of Washington. The city is named for George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity. It is known locally as the District or simply D.C. Historically, it was called the Federal City. The District of Columbia, founded on July 16, 1790, is a federal district as specified by the United States Constitution with limited—and sometimes contentious—local rule. The District is ruled "in all cases whatsoever" by the U.S. Congress, though its residents have no voting representative in that body. The land forming the original District came from the states of Virginia and Maryland. However, the area south of the Potomac River (39 mi² or about 100 km²) was returned, or "retroceded", to Virginia in 1847 and now is incorporated into Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The term "District of Columbia" is derived from an old poetic name for the United States, Columbia, which has fallen out of common use since the early 20th century. The centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in Washington, D.C., as well as the headquarters of most federal agencies. Washington also serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, among other international (and national) institutions. All of this has made Washington the frequent focal point of massive political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall. Washington is also the site of numerous national landmarks, museums, and sports teams, and is a popular destination for tourists. The population of the District of Columbia, as of 2003 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 563,384. The Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area includes the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, with a population surpassing 4.7 million. If Washington, D.C. were considered a state, it would rank last in area behind Rhode Island, 50th in population ahead of Wyoming, and 36th in Gross State Product, ahead of 15 states. __TOC__

History

Wyoming map of Washington, D.C.]] A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. The initial plan for the "Federal City" was a diamond, ten miles wide on each side, totaling 100 square miles (260 square kilometers). The actual site on the Potomac River was chosen by President Washington. Washington may have chosen the site for its natural scenery, believing the Potomac would become a great navigable waterway. The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City". Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited. On August 24, 1814, British forces burned the capital during the most notable and destructive raid of the War of 1812. President James Madison and U.S. forces fled before the British forces, who burned public buildings including the Capitol, the Navy Yard, and the Treasury building. The Presidential Mansion was also gutted. James Madison Washington remained a small city of a few thousand permanent residents until the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War in 1861. The significant expansion of the federal government to administer the war and its legacies—such as veterans' pensions—led to notable growth in the city's population. In July 1864, Confederate forces under Jubal Anderson Early made a brief raid into Washington, culminating in the Battle of Fort Stevens. The Confederates were repulsed and Early eventually returned to the Shenandoah Valley. The site, now called [http://www.nps.gov/batt/ Battleground National Cemetery] is located near present day Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Northwest Washington. The battle was the only battle where a U.S. President, Lincoln, was present and under enemy fire while in office [http://www.nps.gov/rocr/ftcircle/stevens.htm 1]. In the early 1870s, Washington was given a territorial government, but Governor Alexander Shepherd's reputation for extravagance resulted in Congress abolishing his office in favor of direct rule. Congressional governance of the District would continue for a century. The Washington Monument opened in 1888. Plans were laid to further develop the monumental aspects of the city, with work contributed by such noted figures as Frederick Law Olmsted and Daniel Burnham. However, development of the Lincoln Memorial and other structures on the National Mall did not begin until the early 20th century. Lincoln Memorial The District's population peaked in 1950, when the census for that year recorded a record population of 802,178 people. At the time, the city was the ninth-largest in the country, ahead of Boston and behind Saint Louis. The population declined in the following decades, mirroring the suburban out-migration of many of the nation's older urban centers following World War II. The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on March 29, 1961, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president and have their votes count in the Electoral College. The first 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) of the Washington Metro subway system opened on March 27, 1976. Walter Washington became the first elected mayor of the District in 1974. Marion Barry became mayor in 1978, but he was arrested for drug use in an FBI sting on January 18, 1990 and would serve a six-month jail term. His successor, Sharon Pratt Kelly, became the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance in the U.S. But Barry defeated her in the 1994 primary and was once again elected mayor for his fourth term, during which time the city nearly became insolvent and was forced to give up some home rule to a congressionally-appointed financial control board. On September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball officially relocated the Montreal Expos to Washington for the 2005 season, now named the Washington Nationals, despite opposition from Orioles owner Peter Angelos. A very public back-and-forth between the city council and MLB threatened to scuttle the agreement until December 21, when a plan for a new stadium in Southeast D.C. was finalized. The Nationals will play at R.F.K. Stadium until the new stadium is ready in 2008.

Geography and climate

Geography

2008, 2002. The axes bounding its quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building.]] Washington, D.C. is located at (the coordinates of the Zero Milestone, on The Ellipse). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 177.0 km² (68.3 mi²). 159.0 km² (61.4 mi²) of it is land and 18.0 km² (6.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.16% water. Washington is surrounded by the states of Virginia (on its southwest side) and Maryland (on its southeast, northeast, and northwest sides); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the Potomac River's southern shore both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River as it passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District of Columbia border. The physical geography of the District of Columbia is very similar to the physical geography of much of Maryland. The District has three major natural flowing bodies of water: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown. The highest point in the District of Columbia is 410 feet (125 m) above sea level at Tenleytown. The lowest point is sea level, which occurs along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore except the uppermost mile (the Little Falls - Chain Bridge area). The sea level Tidal Basin rose eleven feet during Hurricane Isabel on September 18, 2003. Geographical features of Washington, D.C. include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, the Three Sisters, and Hains Point.

Climate

Washington's weather is seasonal subtropical with some variations between summer and winter, although it is moderated by its proximity to the coast, making its climate more moderate than cities at a similar latitude further inland. Summer tends to be very hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s° to low 90s°F (about 30°C). Spring and fall are mild with high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s°F (about 20°C). Winter can bring cold temperatures and, on some occassions, significant snowfall. While hurricanes (or the remnants of them) occasionally track through the area, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington. The average annual snowfall is 17 inches (430 mm) and the average high temperature in January is 43°F (6°C); the average low for January is 24°F (−4°C). The highest recorded temperature was 106°F (41°C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918 and the lowest recorded temperature was −15°F (−26°C) on February 11, 1899. 1899

People and culture

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there are 572,059 people (2004 estimate: 553,523), 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,597.3/km² (9,316.4/mi²). There are 274,845 housing units at an average density of 1,728.3/km² (4,476.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 60.01% Black or African American, 32.78% White, 2.66% Asian, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 7.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race, with Salvadorans being the largest Hispanic group. A plurality of whites are of British ancestry. There are 248,338 households out of which 19.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.8% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% are non-families. 43.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 3.07. In the city the population is spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.1 males. The median income for a household in the city is $40,127, and the median income for a family is $46,283. Males have a median income of $40,513 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the city is $28,659. 20.2% of the population and 16.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. As of 2000, 83.2% of Washington, D.C. residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 9.2% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 1.8%, followed by African languages at 1.0% and Chinese at 0.5%. According to the 2001 [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf American Religious Identification Survey], nearly three out of four District residents self-identified as Christians. This breaks down to 72% Christian (27% Catholic, 19% Baptist, and 26% as some other form of Protestant), 13% stating no religion, and minor religions including 4% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, and 1% Jewish.

Housing

Due in part to the renewed expansion of the federal government, Washington has experienced a huge housing boom that has seen thousands of units constructed, along with thousands of people moving to the District. While the Census Bureau estimated in 2005 that the District's population will drop to 433,000 by 2030, city officials alleged systemic undercounting and released their own estimate that the District's population will rise to 712,000 by 2030.

Crime

During the violent crime wave of the early 1990s, Washington, D.C. was known as the murder capital of the United States. The number of homicides peaked in 1991 at 482, with violence declining drastically since then. Once plagued with violent crime, many D.C. neighborhoods, such as Columbia Heights, are becoming safe and vibrant areas as a result of gentrification. While not as intensely violent, crime hot spots have since displaced farther into the eastern sections of Washington, D.C. and across the border into Maryland. Although the eastern side of the city has developed a reputation for being unsafe, these crime hot spots are generally concentrated in very specific areas that are associated with drugs and gangs. Other areas east of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the city's wealthier Northwest neighborhoods, experience low levels of crime. Despite the declining trends, Washington D.C. crime rates (2004) remain among the highest of U.S. cities, behind only Camden, New Jersey, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, and Gary, Indiana. [http://www.morganquitno.com/cit05pop.htm#25]

Landmarks and museums

Gary, Indiana Washington is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. The National Mall is a large, open area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to American leaders, as well as connecting the White House and the United States Capitol buildings. Located prominently in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument. Other notable points of interest near the Mall include the Jefferson Memorial (see right), Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, National World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Albert Einstein Memorial. The world famous Smithsonian Institution, is also located in the District. The Smithsonian today is a collection of museums that includes the Anacostia Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Zoo. There are also many art museums in D.C., in addition to those that are part of the Smithsonian, including the National Gallery of Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Museum of Art, and the Phillips Collection. The Library of Congress and the National Archives house thousands of documents covering every period in American history. Some of the more notable documents in the National Archives include the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Other points of interest in the District include Arena Stage, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Blair House, Folger Shakespeare Library, Ford's Theatre, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, International Spy Museum, National Building Museum, Old Post Office Building, Theodore Roosevelt Island, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Washington National Cathedral.

Media

Newspaper

The Washington Post is the oldest and most-read daily newspaper in Washington, and has developed into one of the most reputable daily newspapers in the U.S., perhaps most notable for exposing the Watergate Scandal, among other achievements. The daily Washington Times and the free weekly Washington City Paper also have substantial readership in the District. On February 1, 2005 the free daily tabloid Washington Examiner debuted, having been formed from a chain of suburban newspapers known as the Journal Newspapers. The weekly Washington Blade focuses on gay issues, and the Washington Informer on African-American issues. Many neighborhoods in the District have their own small-circulation newspaper, usually published by the neighborhood association on a weekly basis. Some of these papers included the Dupont Current (Dupont Circle), Georgetown Current (Georgetown), In-Towner (Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, & Adams Morgan), Northwest Current (Upper Northwest), the Voice of the Hill, the Hill Rag (Capitol Hill), and East of the River (Anacostia).

Television

The metro area is well served by several local broadcast television stations, and is the eighth largest designated market area in the U.S., with 2,252,550 homes (2.04% of the U.S. population). Major television network affiliates include WUSA 9 (CBS), WJLA 7 (ABC), WRC 4, (NBC), WTTG 5 (Fox), WBDC 50 (WB), WDCA 20 (UPN), as well as WETA 26 and WHUT 32 (PBS) stations. Channels 4, 5, 20, and 50 are owned by the networks themselves. Public Access on Cable Television is also provided by the Public Access Corporation of the District of Columbia on two channels simulcast to both local cable TV Systems. One channel is devoted to religious programming and the other channel provides a diversity of offerings. Several cable television networks have their headquarters in the Washington area including C-SPAN on Capitol Hill, Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Northeast Washington, and Discovery Communications in Silver Spring, Maryland. Major national broadcasters and cable outlets including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN also maintain a significant presence in Washington, as do those from around the world including the BBC, CBC, and Al Jazeera.

Radio

Al Jazeera There are also several major radio stations serving the metro area, with a wide variety of musical interests. Rock stations include WARW 94.7 FM (classic rock), WIHT 99.5 FM (top 40), WWDC, 101.1 FM (alternative rock), and WWZZ 104.1 FM (alternative rock). Urban stations include WPGC 95.5 FM (Rhythmic CHR/Mainstream Urban), WHUR 96.3 FM (student-run Howard University Urban AC station), WMMJ 102.3FM (Urban AC), WKYS 93.9 FM (Mainstream Urban), and Radio CPR 97.5 FM (a popular pirate radio station broadcasting the area around Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights). Stations that concentrate on talk and sports include WJFK 106.7 FM, WMAL 630 AM (conservative), WPGC 1580 AM (Urban Gospel), WTEM 980 AM (sports talk), and WTOP 1500 AM (all news). There are also two NPR affiliates: WAMU 88.5 FM (usual NPR programs, community programming, and BBC news) and WETA 90.9 FM (round-the-clock news/analysis, broadcasting shows originating mainly from NPR, PRI, and BBC). Other stations include WASH 97.1 FM (adult contemporary), WMZQ 98.7 FM (country music), WLZL 99.1 FM (Latin/Hispanic), WGMS 103.5 FM (classical music), WPFW 89.3 FM (jazz and progressive talk), WJZW 105.9 FM (smooth jazz), and WRQX 107.3 FM (adult contemporary). XM Satellite Radio and National Public Radio are based in Washington. The Voice of America, the U.S. government's international broadcasting service, is also headquartered in Washington.

Performing arts

There are a number of venues for the performing arts in the city. Arena Stage, one of the first not-for-profit regional theaters in the nation, is rich with history and produces an eight-show season ranging from classics to world premieres, dedicated to the American canon of theater. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the Washington Ballet, and a variety of other musical and stage performances. Notable local music clubs include Madam's Organ Blues Bar in Adams Morgan; the Eighteenth Street Lounge in the Dupont Circle district; and the Black Cat, the 9:30 Club, and the Bohemian Caverns jazz club, all in the U Street NW area. D.C. has its own native music genre, called go-go, a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of R&B that blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms (that "go and go and go.") The most accomplished practitioner of go-go was D.C. bandleader Chuck Brown, who brought go-go to the brink of national recognition with his 1979 LP Bustin' Loose. Go-Go band and Washington natives Experience Unlimited hit the American pop charts in 1988 with their memorable dance tune "Da Butt". Washington was also an important center in the genesis of punk rock in the United States. Punk bands of note from Washington include Fugazi, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. Native Washingtonians continue to support punk bands, long after the punk movement's popularity peaked. The region also has a storied indie rock history and was home to TeenBeat and Simple Machines, among other indie record labels. There have also been a number of television series that have featured the District. Most of these have been related to government (The West Wing) or security organizations (The District, Get Smart). Other programs had the nation's capital as a secondary focus, telling stories on their own that were not always tied to the infrastructure of the government either in the district or for the country. For instance, Murphy Brown focused on the lives of the reporters of the (fictional) Washington-based television newsmagazine, FYI. The soap opera Capitol allowed for stories about political intrigue alongside the traditional class struggle sagas. The sitcom 227 portrayed the life of the African-American majority as seen through the eyes of residents in a Washington apartment building.

Sports

Washington Metro area is home to several professional sports teams: the MLS D.C. United, the NHL Washington Capitals, the NBA Washington Wizards, the WNBA Washington Mystics, the MLB Washington Nationals, and the NFL Washington Redskins (now based at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland). Other professional and semi-professional teams based in D.C. include the USAFL Baltimore Washington Eagles, the NWFA D.C. Divas, the Minor League Football D.C. Explosion, and the Washington Cricket League. It was also home to the WUSA Washington Freedom, and, during the 2000–2002 NLL seasons, the Washington Power was based in the city. There were two Major League Baseball teams named the Washington Senators in the early and mid-20th century, which left to become respectively the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers. In the 19th century, the town was home to teams called the Washington Nationals, Washington Statesmen, and Washington Senators on and off from the 1870s to the turn of the century. Washington was also home to several Negro League teams, including the Homestead Grays, Washington Black Senators, Washington Elite Giants, Washington Pilots, and Washington Potomacs. The MCI Center in Chinatown, Washington, D.C., home to the Capitals, Mystics, Wizards, and the Georgetown Hoyas, is also a major venue for concerts, WWE professional wrestling, and other events. Washington also hosts the annual Legg Mason Tennis Classic tennis tournament that takes place at the Carter Barron Tennis Center on 16th Street.

Economy

Carter Barron Tennis Center Washington, D.C. is first and foremost a company town, with the primary company being, of course, the federal government. A significant portion of the metro area's population has some sort of connection to the federal government. Also, the presence of many major government agencies, including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, or the Food and Drug Administration, has led to a significant amount of business development both in the District itself as well as in the suburbs of northern Virginia and Maryland. These businesses include federal contractors (defense and civilian), numerous nonprofit organizations, law firms and lobbying firms, catering and administrative services companies, and several other industries that are sustained by the enormous economic presence of the federal government. This arrangement has the effect of making the Washington economy virtually recession-proof relative to the rest of the country, because the federal government will still operate no matter the state of the general economy, and often grows during recessions. The metro area includes thirteen major Fortune 500 companies, including:
- Freddie Mac (McLean, Fairfax County)
- Fannie Mae
- electric utility Pepco Holdings Incorporated
- manufacturing company Danaher
- communications giant Nextel (Reston, Fairfax County)
- the credit card company Capital One (McLean, Fairfax County)
- AES Corporation (Arlington County)
- Gannett (McLean, Fairfax County), the publisher of USA Today
- SLM Corporation (Reston, Fairfax County)
- NVR Incorporated (McLean, Fairfax County)
- hotel services company Marriott International (Bethesda, Montgomery County)
- Choice Hotels (Silver Spring, Montgomery County)
- Coventry Healthcare Incorporated (Bethesda, Montgomery County) Defense contractors General Dynamics (Falls Church) and Lockheed Martin (Bethesda) are also in the metro area. In addition to Nextel, several other major network and communications companies are located in the area, including America Online (Dulles) and MCI Communications (Ashburn). Other media companies located in the DC metro area include the new XM Satellite Radio and Al Hurra (Springfield), a new cable new channel marketed towards Arabic countries. The Public Broadcasting Service is also based in suburban Alexandria, while Discovery Communications, the parent company of such cable networks as the Discovery Channel, is based in Silver Spring. The largest private employer in DC is the [http://wwww.bna.com Bureau of National Affairs], a publishing company based in the west end of the city since the early 1950s. The aerospace and commercial air travel industries also have a major presence in the area, in addition to the aforementioned General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and US Airways. Independence Air, based in Dulles, started service in 2004, and operates as a low-cost air carrier to many major airports in the United States. The regional airline Colgan Air, based in Manassas, also operates out of the DC area. Defense contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation is also based in Dulles and specializes in satellite launch and manufacture. Due to the proximity to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, the American genomics industry has recently sprouted in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. Prominent players are Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research (also known as "TIGR"), and Human Genome Sciences (all of which are in the city of Rockville). The gross state product of the District in 2004 was $75.264 billion, ranking it #36 when compared with the fifty states.

Infrastructure

Government

Local government

$ The city is run by an elected mayor (currently Anthony A. Williams) and a city council. The city council is composed of 13 members — a representative elected from each of the eight wards and five members, including the chairman, elected at large. The council conducts its work through standing committees and special committees established as needed. District schools are administered by a school board that has both elected and appointed members. There are also 37 elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions that provide the most direct access for residents to their local government. The ANCs serve as local councils, and their suggestions are required to be given "great weight" by the DC Council. However, the U.S. Congress has the ultimate plenary power over the district. It has the right to review and overrule laws created locally, and has often done so. The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution does not apply to the District of Columbia. D.C. residents do pay all federal taxes, such as income tax, as well as local taxes. The mayor and council adopt a budget of local money with Congress reserving the right to make any changes. Much of the valuable property in the District is federally owned and hence exempt from local property taxes; at the same time, the city is burdened with the extraordinary expenses related to its role as the capital, such as police overtime and street cleaning for D.C.'s frequent parades and festivals. These factors are often used to explain why the city's budget is frequently overstretched. However, the federal government also appropriates funds for the city. For instance, according to Public Law 108-7, the federal government provided, among other funds, an estimated 25% of the District's operating budget in 2003. Historically, the city's local government has earned somewhat of a reputation for mismanagement and waste, particularly during the mayoralty of Marion Barry. A front page story in the July 21, 1997 Washington Post reported that Washington had some of the highest cost, lowest quality services in the region. Prosperity in the late 1990s and early 2000s has lessened public pressure on Mayor Williams, who still faces daunting urban renewal, public health, and public education challenges.

Representation in federal government

2000s The U.S. Constitution gives Congress direct jurisdiction for Washington, D.C. While Congress has delegated various amounts of this authority to local government, from time to time, Congress still intervenes in local affairs relating to schools, gun control policy, and other issues. Citizens of the District also lack voting representation in Congress, though they do have three electoral votes in the Presidential elections. Citizens of Washington are represented in the House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate (currently Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC At-Large)) who sits on committees and participates in debate but cannot vote. D.C. does not have representation in the Senate. Citizens of Washington, D.C. are thus unique in the world, as citizens of the capital city of every other country have the same representation rights as other citizens. Attempts to change this situation, including the proposed District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, have been unsuccessful. The history of D.C.'s relationship with the federal government, as well as the arguments for and against increased representation, are covered in the article District of Columbia voting rights.

Education

Public schools

The public school system in the city is operated by District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and consists of 167 schools and learning centers, which breakdown into 101 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 9 junior high schools, 20 senior high schools, 6 education centers, and 20 special schools. :See also: District of Columbia Public Schools

Private schools

Other schools in the city include the British School of Washington, Emerson Preparatory School, the Georgetown Day School, the Gonzaga Prepartory School, the Edmund Burke School, the Field School, the German School, the Maret School, the National Cathedral School, Our Lady of Victory, Reformed Theological Seminary, Sheridan School, the Sidwell Friends School, St. Albans School, St. Anselm's Abbey School, St. John's College High School, and the Washington Theological Union.

Colleges and universities

The city also is home to several universities, colleges, and other institutes of higher education, both public and private. The University of the District of Columbia is the city's public university; UDC is the nation's only urban land-grant university and is counted among the historically black colleges. The Department of Agriculture's Graduate School offers continuing-education and graduate-level classes. The Department of Defense maintains the National Defense University at Fort McNair. Among private institutions, Georgetown University is older than the District itself, dating to the late 18th century. It is also the nation's oldest Roman Catholic body of higher education. The two other Roman Catholic universities in the District are The Catholic University of America and Trinity University. The George Washington University, founded by an act of Congress in 1821, is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital with its main campus in Foggy Bottom and its Mount Vernon campus in the Foxhall neighborhood of Northwest Washington. GWU is also the second-largest landholder and employer in the District, second only to the Federal government. American University, chartered by act of Congress in 1893, is situated on a 72 acre campus in upper Northwest Washington and is well known for the Washington College of Law, the Kogod School of Business, the School of International Service, and the School of Communication. Also known for international affairs, The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), is dedicated to the graduate study of international relations and international economics and is located near Dupont Circle. Other notable private colleges in the District include Gallaudet University, the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing; Howard University, a historically black university dating to the 19th century; and Southeastern University. The Corcoran College of Art and Design has an arts program attatched to the Corcoran Museum of Art, adjacent to the White House Complex. Strayer University, a for-profit career school, has a campus in Washington, D.C.

Transportation

Aviation

Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports, two of them located in suburban Virginia and one located in Maryland. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest — located in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Interstate 495—widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply as the Beltway—is a freeway-class interstate highway which circles Washington, DC and its inner suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. It is the basis for the phrase "inside the Beltway", used when referring to issues dealing with American government and politics.

History

politics The federal government gave final approval for the construction of the Capital Beltway (also known as the Circumferential Highway in the planning stages) on September 28, 1955. The first section of the 64-mile long Beltway (including the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River) was opened on December 21, 1961; the highway was completed on August 17, 1964. Originally designated I-495, in 1977 the eastern portion of the Beltway was re-designated I-95 when a proposed alignment of I-95 from New York Avenue in Washington, DC, through Prince George's County, Maryland to I-495 was cancelled. Motorists never fully adjusted to the two halves of the Beltway having different numbers, so in 1989 the I-495 designation was restored to the eastern portion, making it a dual I-95/I-495. Traveling clockwise, the Beltway is designated as the Inner Loop; traveling counter-clockwise, it is designated as the Outer Loop. The Beltway crosses the Potomac River twice, on the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge and on the American Legion Memorial Bridge.

Traffic congestion

Traffic volume on the Beltway can be as high as 225,000 vehicles per day. Despite numerous widening projects during its history, heavy traffic on the Beltway is a continuing problem. Two intersections on the Capital Beltway are ranked in the top 20 on a study of the "worst bottlenecks in the nation." They are the I-495 at I-270 interchange in Montgomery County, Maryland, ranked third overall, which receives 243,425 cars daily, and the I-495 at I-95 interchange in Prince George's County, Maryland, ranked 11th, with 185,125 cars. The Springfield Interchange, where I-395, I-95, and I-495 meet, was previously ranked fift