MTA Snowstorm Update

[Baltimatt]

30 minute headways on light rail tomorrow, North Avenue to Hunt Valley. 40 minutes headways North Avenue to Camden Station. My guess is that only a single track is available downtown, so that's why the route was split.

Metro will be operating its full legnth at 15 to 20 minute headways. Some single-track running is involved.

[NeoCommuter]

I wish I were a bodybuilder. The last few days have been interesting, to say the least. Saturday, I managed to cut a path in front of my home yesterday. Sunday, I cleared my car's windows and depended on the sun to melt the rest, which it did at an OK rate.

Someone in the neighborhood was going from door to door encouraging residents to shovel part of the street, so I figure that I'd do my part and see how much street I could clear beside my car. I managed to open up a three-foot path beside my car. At the bottom of the pile, the snow had transformed into a dense layer of ice. After some heavy lifting, I found that I couldn't do anymore, so I quit. Not many others were doing much to the street. After thinking for a while, I came to the realization that it probably is better to have a clear sidewalk than a clear street; people in the city can walk to where they have to go if they had to. There's way too much tonnage on the asphalt and too little space to put the scooped snow anywhere.

Someone in the neighborhood decided that their SUV had the ability to get back to the space in front of their home. The person spent about two hours learning otherwise. This is farm equipment weather.

Looked at the MTA's web site, and saw that the agency is having its problems with the snow also. It is likely that tomorrow I'll have to call out of work: the site is just outside a heavily residential zone, and the MTA couldn't run a bus line there today. (Locust Pointers: how are you doin'?)

I expect to be parked this week, just like in 2003.

Did anyone have trouble getting food today?

[Baltimatt]

http://mta.maryland.gov/status/index.cf ... ocal%20Bus

On Monday limited service will be provided on the following Local Bus lines: #3, #5, #8, #10 #13, #14, #15,
#17, #19, #23, #35, #36, #40, #44, #52, #54, and #59. All other lines will not operate. Customers are advised
to call the Transit Information Center at 410-539-5000 to confirm the status of their bus.

Looks like the same list as today.

[jfruh]

Anyone have a sense as to how "limited" limited service on #3 will be -- any guess as to what sort of headways you'll see at rush hour? Will it be stopping everywhere or just at major stops? What's the strategy for making yourself visible if the bus stop area at the curb isn't plowed out?

[Baltimatt]

The 3 was running Cromwell to Pratt Street today, so I assume it will be the same Monday.

[Baltimatt]

Just saw a coach going south on Eutaw Street at State Center. Didn't know if it was in service, testing the roads, or what..

[M1MilfordMill]

went bus riding
Had to wait 40min for the 52 Mondawmin seen three 52 going to Milford Mill or (Randallstown) had to be 12min/15min part. Got on the 52 standing load from liberty height & garrison to Mondawmin. Then took the number 5 to Baltimore & Charles st. The bus went straight down Druid Hill had about 12 - 15 people on board. Well waiting for the NO.8 seen two 23s back to back. Took the 8 from Downtown to Northern Pkwy. Had about 15 passengers, then going past North ave and Greenmount had about 35 - 40 passengers. Waited for the 44 to Cedella, had about 6-8 people. Got off at Loch Raven waited for the 3 about 40min, same like forever. Took that to Baltimore St had about 20 people on aboard, did not like that bus ride. Damn nabi...Walk to the subway station didnt have to wait that long for the subway. Half of the light was out on the first car, arrived at Mondawmin. About 30 people was waiting for the 52 my friend said she waited for an hour. 5min later 52 arrived, pulling off with a standing load well another 52 came into the Sta.

Same like i same alot of 9700s 8-9728,9749. 19-9730

[M1MilfordMill]

Anyone have a sense as to how "limited" limited service on #3 will be -- any guess as to what sort of headways you'll see at rush hour? Will it be stopping everywhere or just at major stops? What's the strategy for making yourself visible if the bus stop area at the curb isn't plowed out?

The no. 3 really didnt have limited service.. today the 3 seen like it was running every 25min - 30min.. well waiting for the 3 Inner Harbor, two Cromwell went up seen to be 25min apart. When i got off at downtown another NO.3 was coming.

If the sidewalks are not clear you have to stand on the street, they stop at every bus stop

[Baltimatt]

Looks like the 14 is running to State Center. I caught one at Howard and Baltimore. Howard was blocked north of there, so he went Baltimore to Park to Fayette to Eutaw. I got off at Lexington Market.

After stopping in the market, I was waiting for a 5 to continue my trip up north, but saw another 14 coming straight up Eutaw (not turning from Fayette), so I caught that. It looks like Eutaw is practically impassible north of Madison, so we went up McCulloh, MLK, Howard, Dolphin, to Eutaw. I got off on Eutaw. The driver said he was going around MLK to Baltimore, so I guess they run to State Center and then run out of UMTC.

City streets are still in bad shape.

Just came across the Weatherbug:

... Winter Storm Warning In Effect From Noon Tuesday To 7 PM Est
Wednesday...

The National Weather Service In Sterling Virginia Has Issued A
Winter Storm Warning For... Which Is In Effect From Noon Tuesday
To 7 PM EST Wednesday. The Winter Storm Watch Is No Longer In
Effect.

* Precipitation Type... Snow.

* Accumulations... 10 To 20 Inches.

* Timing... Mid-Afternoon Tuesday Through Wednesday.

* Temperatures... Temperatures Near Freezing At The Onset Tuesday
Afternoon. Temperatures Will Drop Into The Upper 20s Tuesday
Night And Wednesday.

The watch is now a warning and accumulation predictions have doubled: 10-20 inches.

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

We better not get 20 more inches of snow. Especially with the fact we are in a recession and the streets may not be plowed immediately. Plus many are starting to lose their jobs because of inclement weather. Not all employers will close because of a blizzard. And the Maryland State Government is one of them. And Im close to being out of vacation leave. And cannot afford to take leave without pay. And not to mention my car payment is going to be late because of the weather and chances are they may not extend the deadline for this month which is the 12th. So that means I as well as many may have a bad credit history as the result of snow.

[79MetroExtraMD]

The service details for tomorrow have so many typos and it's confusing. Another example of lack of quality control.

Example 1: Where the heck is this bus going?
#5 Mondawmin Metro Subway Station to Moravia Loop

From Sinclair Lane, local buses will travel on Edison Highway, Madison Avenue, Holliday Street, Lexington Street, Frederick Avenue, Fayette Street, Eutaw Street, McCullough Street, North Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Reisterstown Road, Druid Park Drive, Liberty Heights Avenue into Mondawmin Metro Subway Station.

Example 2: Martin Lutherville King?
#14 State Center to Cromwell Light Rail Stop

From State Center local buses, will travel on Baltimore Street, Greene Street, Westport, Manokin St, Annapolis Road , Waterview, Potee Street, Frankhurst, Hanover Street, Ritchie Highway, Crain Highway, Baltimore & Annapolis Boulevard, and Cromwell Station Drive.

From Cromwell Station Drive local buses, will travel on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard., Crain Highway, Ritchie Highway, Hanover Street, Russell Street, Conway Street, Howard Street, Lombard Street, Martin Lutherville King Boulevard, Baltimore Street to State Center.

Example 3: So the 15 goes this far?
#15 North Avenue and Gay Street - Overlea Loop

From North and Gay local buses will travel on Gay, Belair Rd to Overlea Loop.

From Overlea local buses will travel on Belair Rd, North Ave, and Patterson.

[NeoCommuter]

We better not get 20 more inches of snow.

From the National Weather Service: "ACCUMULATIONS...10 TO 20 INCHES."

Plus many are starting to lose their jobs because of inclement weather.

Any employer who is flighty enough to let people go over a significant weather event is not an employer to stick with!! If the reason wasn't weather, it would be something else fairly trivial.

NewFlyer, if you anticipate problems with keeping up with your car payment call your lending institution NOW. Explain your situation and see whether it can grant you an extension. Keep your lending institution up-to-date on your status. Second, work on building up an emergency fund so you eventually don't have to worry about not meeting your obligations.

[Baltimatt]

Yes, those instructions can be rather confusing. I think they mean "Madison Street," "Frederick Street," and "Patterson Park Avenue" in the three examples posted.

What gets me is that additional routes have not apparently been opened since Sunday. I realize the city streets are still in pretty bad shape, but I would have anticipated that things would have improved since then.

[HwyHaulier]

NeoCommuter -

In yours of 0216 HR: Mighty good advice!

You note a very important points about the financial, "...it's that time of month..." blues. When in doubt, call the creditor and explain. Usually works.

It doesn't hurt to keep in mind that, when making such a call, the "helpful associate" at the other end has troubles of their own. They know they are sitting on a large "book" of accounts (customers) where there is little hope they will ever collect! Whoever may pick up the phone at the the other end has a great deal of incentive to work with the caller...

Also, in caller "secret strategy" plans, one can't hesitate to work the "brazen" card! Just reasonably explain, if needed, "...well, doesn't look like there's much room to work on this deal! When would you like to come and get the car? I just want to see you nice folks don't get hurt..." The creditor really doesn't want to go to the troubles, just to make their own (kinda' dumb) point...

....................Vern......................

[NewFlyerDE60LFR08030]

Even with the snow we have been getting. State offices NEVER close. Even for State of Emergency. And the Liberal leave policy. We can only use vacation leave. Personal leave. As well as comp time or leave without pay. And I cant afford to do leave without pay due to economic reasons. And personal leave is the only leave available if I need to call out later in the year. And I only have 25 hours of vacation time at this point and only accumulate 3 hours and 5 minutes per 2 week pay period. And the post office. They require employees to be in work no matter how bad the weather is and they get in trouble for calling out as well. I know a postal worker who is in risk of being terminated after having to call out many times because of the snow. Even that time we got almost 2' in December he got in trouble for calling out of work. Then my car payment. Im sure the credit union will accept it being late due to the weather since they are also being snowed in. Since they are in Mechanicsburg PA. But my credit card. The place that bill has to be mailed to is in Florida and hopefully they will accept my bill being late if it happens to be. And thats due the 15th. My car payment is due the 12th.