Bethesda Metro station escalator-to-stairs conversion update (Photos)

The wraps are off, and a wider staircase is now taking form where the plaza-to-bus-bays escalator was at the Bethesda Metro station. Half of this staircase is the stairway that was always parallel to that escalator, and the other side has been constructed in the space left behind when the escalator was ripped out earlier this year. WMATA was up against a Thursday deadline to complete this project, but has now extended the delivery date to December 31. But with the significant progress that has been made over the last two weeks, it looks like they'll be done much earlier.

Bethesda Metro station escalator-to-stairs conversion update (Photos)

We're 25 days out from the most-generous deadline for completion of the conversion of the plaza-to-bus-bays escalator to an old-fashioned staircase at the Bethesda Metro station. A large tarp is draped over where the escalator has been removed. 

But a closer look underneath finds just rebar, and some initial parts of forms for the eventual pouring of the new concrete stairs. WMATA has promised this project would be completed in the summer of 2022, and that still appears possible by the technical end of summer, the first day of autumn on September 22.

Bethesda Metro station escalator-to-stairs transition update (Photos)

The devolution back to the stone age continues at the Bethesda Metro station. WMATA chose to remove the oft-broken plaza-to-bus-bays escalator earlier this year, rather than build a canopy to protect the escalator from weather. It will be replaced with another staircase. The installation and opening of the new stairs is supposed to be completed by this summer, according to the transit agency.

Bethesda Metro station escalator removed (Photos)

Here's something you've likely never seen before. An escalator being entirely removed permanently from a Metro station. The removal is part of a project that is replacing it with a staircase. WMATA chose to remove it rather than construct a canopy overhead to protect the oft-out-of-service escalator from the elements. Charles Seeburger is spinning in his grave.

Mobility-challenged? "Deal with it," is WMATA's apparent ableist answer. A view from above, as seen in these photos, only accentuates the length of the staircase that must be climbed at this access point. This is not a move that helps develop a world-class image for our transportation system.

Bethesda Metro Center plaza escalator to be replaced with stairs (Photos)

In a setback for modernity and the less-mobile, WMATA is going to replace the oft-broken plaza escalator at the Bethesda Metro Center with another flight of stairs. The transit agency cites "code requirements" of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers that require outdoor escalators to have canopies installed above them. Rather than install a canopy, WMATA is just going to remove the escalator and replace it with another staircase. 

Artist's rendition of the new staircase,
courtesy of WMATA 

During the project, the plaza entrance will be closed to the public. Pedestrian detours will be in place, and access to the station's bus bays will be via Edgemoor Lane. The elevator located at the west side of Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane will remain open. Installation of the staircase is expected to be completed by sometime this summer, WMATA says.

Bethesda Metro station escalator repair, controlled blasting

WMATA is making "minor" repairs to the oft-broken escalator between the plaza and bus bays at the Bethesda Metro station. In related news, there is expected to be controlled blasting near the Metro station for the Purple Line light rail project between now and the end of the year.

When blasting occurs, Metro trains will be held outside the station for several minutes. Passengers inside the station will be directed to exit by personnel, and then re-enter following the detonation. WMATA says to "expect loud noises during this time."

One caveat to all of this, is that the Purple Line contractor has said it will abandon the light rail project in the middle of construction as of today, June 20, unless they are compensated for cost overruns. Stay tuned.

WMATA tries to fix Bethesda Metro escalator leak (Video+Photos)

Metro riders have noted water leaks over the underground escalators at the Bethesda Metro station for many years. Last night, WMATA contractors began a new effort to try and stop these leaks. In 2014, the transit agency cited the property owner above the station as the responsible party for the water - which sometimes becomes icicles in the winter. Saturday night, workers were focused on an area close to the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel.

A crane was brought in to lift heavy concrete. This required closure of the driveway and main entrance to the Hyatt lobby. "This is ridiculous," one arriving hotel guest exclaimed as he attempted to find another way into the hotel, while pulling a wheeled piece of luggage behind him. The Hyatt set up an outdoor front desk, complete with space heaters, in the 43 degree night air. Employees attempted to use the al fresco desk to sign in lodgers, and valet park vehicles.

Bethesda Metro escalators: Oh, no, not again!

I am shocked...shocked!...to report that some of the same escalators are out of service again at Bethesda Metro Center. The plaza-to-bus-bays escalator has been closed early this week for what WMATA calls a "major repair." WMATA also reports that a bus bays-to-mezzanine escalator will be out of service for at least part of today for an "inspection repair."

Riders have fled the system for their own personal vehicles or Uber, and only those who get free rides from the government or other employers are returning. The Washington Post has hilariously published recent editorials acknowledging that Metro is still terrible, and demanding that someone devise a way to force people to use it anyway. "Someone figure out how to keep those darn stagecoaches in business!" Good luck!

Breakdown! Oft-broken Bethesda Metro escalator offline again (Photos)

The plaza-to-bus bays escalator so often out of commission was back offline again during the evening rush hour last night...just weeks after being repaired yet again. It was functioning as a very expensive staircase. This breakdown appropriately came on a day in which the Washington Post revealed that WMATA inspectors not only falsify reports, but have gone as far as using old photographs to fool those reading their false reports. Sad!

Metro's surge and SafeTrack efforts have utterly failed to improve conditions in the system. Is there any truth to the rumor they are changing one word of their latest motto, so it will now be "Back 2 Bad?" Pay a new sales tax for this? Hell, no!

WMATA misses another escalator deadline at Bethesda Metro station (Photos)

WMATA promised the extremely-behind-schedule repair of the plaza-to-bus bays escalator at the Bethesda Metro station would be completed this week, and that it would be back in service yesterday. Wrong. The escalator was out of service Friday.

“SafeTrack has been very successful in terms
 of safety performance, work completed,
and schedule achieved.” - WMATA

Metro has been blasted by riders now that the final results are in for the "surge" and "Safe Track" efforts, and they have been an utter failure. They didn't even fix the water leaks at Bethesda, and are going to start another Safe Track-style extended station closure scheme this month to "try" to fix it. In fact, the end of Safe Track brought a complete meltdown on the Red Line this week. As I told you all along, Safe Track was nothing more than a way for Metro to save money by not running trains, while "looking busy." This from the transit agency that can't even get automatic train control operational with eight years to fix it. Eight years!

"This is an enormous achievement."
- Metro Board member Jack Evans

Forgive me for having a few chuckles while listening to our inept Montgomery County Council give equally inept Metro boss Paul Wiedefeld a "Heckuva job, Brownie!" warm welcome in Rockville this week. Perhaps in their shared incompetence, they find P.W. a kindred spirit of sorts. It's a match, folks.

There's also some new art in the Bethesda Metro station, and I have to say, I don't like it. I tried to contain myself when the first mural was done around the upper rim of the bus bays. But it basically looks like someone vandalized the station. It would be fine in a different context on its own, but it just doesn't fit with the Metro architecture. When you think of the great artistic triumphs of Greece and the Roman Empire, and then consider public art in downtown Bethesda...Good God, what's happened to
us? We need someone to Make Public Art Great Again!

"The remainder of the system
is in good shape."
- Paul Wiedefeld

“We’ll see a continuation of the
improvement of our infrastructure."
- Joe Leader, Metro COO

Troubled Bethesda Metro escalator misses yet another repair deadline as WMATA fails to show result for surge (Photos)

The plaza-to-bus bays escalator at the Bethesda Metro station has missed yet another repair deadline. WMATA had promised the frequently-broken escalator would be back in service by May 24. Oops, today is June 1. Now Metro says it will be repaired by Sunday, June 4.

Right.

Give these crooks $15 billion
more? HELL, NO!

Commuters this week may chuckle or curse when reminded of bumbling Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld's March 22 comment on escalators at the busy Bethesda station:

"Today, our escalators are the most reliable they've been in six years and an example of the investments we are making to improve service for customers."

Now Wiedefeld is asking for $15 billion more, with no new financial oversight to ensure it isn't just flushed down the WMATA toilet like all the money we've given them up until now. Please.

The "surge," "SafeTrack," and rider-gouging fare hikes have all failed to show any results in safety, reliability, or customer service. They couldn't even restore automatic train operation, after years to work on it. Until there is an independent financial control board in place, Maryland's response to any request for new taxes or funding should be, "Hell, no!"