One person was hospitalized Wednesday after a car crashed onto the Metro track near Dunn Loring-Merrifield station, shutting down the Orange Line between West Falls Church and Vienna.
A driver lost control of his car while traveling on Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Feb. 11, 2026, and ended up on the Metro tracks.
(Courtesy Virginia State Police)
Courtesy Virginia State Police
Tire tracks are seen in a mound of snow on the shoulder of I-66 in Fairfax County, Virginia, where a vehicle lost control and ended up on the neighboring Metro tracks.
(Courtesy Virginia State Police)
Courtesy Virginia State Police
A car sits on the Metro track near Dunn Loring-Merrifield station in Fairfax County, Virginia, after crashing from Interstate 66 westbound on Feb. 11, 2026.
(Courtesy WMATA)
Courtesy WMATA
A driver lost control of his car while traveling on I-66 in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Feb. 11, 2026, and ended up on the Metro tracks.
(Courtesy Virginia State Police)
Courtesy Virginia State Police
One person was hospitalized Wednesday after a car crashed onto the Metro track near Dunn Loring-Merrifield station, shutting down the Orange Line between West Falls Church and Vienna.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to the crash at 11:24 a.m. in the area of Interstate 66 westbound, just before the Cedar Lane overpass. A car traveling on the interstate crashed onto the neighboring Metro tracks, and one person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the department said.
According to Virginia State Police’s initial investigation, the driver of a Honda Accord reached down to grab his EZ Pass device and ran off the left side of the road, driving onto a mound of snow and ice that acted as a ramp and launched the vehicle airborne, through fencing and onto the tracks.
The drive sustained minor injuries in the crash and was charged with reckless driving.
The Orange Line was shut down in both directions between West Falls Church and Vienna for more than two hours. Single tracking between those stations began around 1:40 p.m., according to an update from the transit agency. Riders experienced continued delays.
The HOV lane of I-66 westbound was also shut down for a time, Fairfax County fire officials said.
Federal officials unveiled a slew of charges Tuesday against two Coloradans accused of ripping off a program that provides free rides to Medicaid patients, the first criminal charges filed in response to a sprawling fraud bonanza identified by state officials more than two years ago.
The indictments allege that Ashley Marie Stevens and Wesam Yassin separately participated in the transportation program and fraudulently collected seven-figure payouts — more than $3.3 million for Yassin alone, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado. The two drivers, who ran separate companies, allegedly fabricated rides for appointments that didn’t exist. Stevens is accused of billing for rides for her husband while he was incarcerated, and Yassin allegedly billed $165,000 for driving a patient who was dead.
Both Stevens, of Mesa County, and Yassin, of Douglas County, were charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering and health care fraud for their participation in the driving service.
The program pays drivers to ferry Medicaid patients to and from doctor’s appointments, but it became a haven for fraud in 2022 and 2023, after state officials increased the service’s reimbursement rates. State officials told The Denver Post last month that an estimated $25 million was lost in the broader fraud.
Yassin’s indictment was still sealed Tuesday evening. In a statement, federal officials alleged that Yassin billed Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rides that never occurred between March 2022 and October 2023. She raked in $283,000 from rides for just one patient, most of which was paid to Yassin after the patient had already died.
Yassin allegedly used the proceeds to buy a home and furnishings, along with luxury vehicles, jewelry and cosmetic surgery. She was released on bond earlier this week, according to court records.
Stevens billed the state for more than $1 million between July 2022 and February 2023, according to the indictment. More than $400,000 came from rides she provided to herself or to her family members, for which there were “very few” actual medical appointments, federal authorities allege.
The trips included rides for her husband, who was incarcerated during some of the time when Stevens claimed she was driving him to the doctor. Another $150,000 was billed for rides that either never took place or were for trips that didn’t involve Medicaid services.
She was also paid more than $450,000 for rides that were at least 400 miles long, authorities allege. From east to west, Colorado is roughly 380 miles wide. Stevens allegedly used the proceeds from the scheme for travel and to buy a luxury car.
Stevens was already in Mesa County jail when she was indicted in December, according to court records. She remains in custody.
Yassin and Stevens are the first drivers to face any criminal repercussions for allegedly bilking the program. The fraud was in its heyday in 2023, state officials previously told The Post: A rash of new drivers entered the program then, shortly after the state increased the rate paid to transportation companies. Unscrupulous drivers, who were paid on a per member, per mile basis, allegedly packed their cars with patients and drove them across the state.
Some targeted homeless people in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, driving them to methadone clinics in metro Denver. Some patients were bribed with cash or drugs, state officials have said. Kim Bimestefer, the executive director of the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, told lawmakers last month that the fraud scheme was “international.”
LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE THIS MORNING THOUGH A CRISP AND COOL START. SO YOU’LL NEED THOSE JACKETS STILL THIS MORNING. BUT OVERALL A WONDERFUL DAY TO GET OUTSIDE. RIGHT NOW WE’RE IN THE LOW 50S IN OCALA AS WELL AS IN LEESBURG, ORLANDO ALSO THE LOW 50S AS WELL. I DO BELIEVE THESE TEMPERATURES WILL DROP A FEW MORE DEGREES JUST BEFORE DAYBREAK, SO WE’LL DROP DOWN INTO THE UPPER 40S AND COASTAL AREAS. YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE 40S AT 46 RIGHT NOW IN PALM COAST. SO THESE TEMPERATURES THAT WE’RE SEEING AND FEELING THIS MORNING, A HUGE IMPROVEMENT ALREADY FROM YESTERDAY. FRIDAY WAS A FRIGID START. RIGHT NOW WE’RE ABOUT 12 TO 25 DEGREES WARMER THAN WHERE WE WERE YESTERDAY. SO IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE COLD TEMPERATURES, WE ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 60S FOR INLAND AREAS ALONG THE COAST WITH THAT ONSHORE WIND LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON, HIGHS WILL ONLY BE IN THE MIDDLE 60S. AND WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A REINFORCING FRONT THAT’S GOING TO ROLL THROUGH TODAY. THAT’S GOING TO BRING ACTUALLY EVEN COLDER AIR COME SUNDAY MORNING. SATELLITE AND RADAR SHOWING CLEAR AND DRY SKIES OUT TODAY. SO A WONDERFUL DAY TO GET OUTSIDE. ALTHOUGH AGAIN WE’RE ONLY GOING TO SEE HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. SO IF YOU’RE NOT A BIG FAN OF THE COOLER TEMPERATURES, DON’T WORRY. TRANSITION IS ON THE WAY. SO WE DO HAVE A DRY FRONT THAT WILL BE ARRIVING TODAY, AND THIS IS GOING TO BRING IN SOME EVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR SUNDAY MORNING. BUT WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE SAW ON FRIDAY MORNING THOUGH. SO BIG HEADS UP ON THAT. LOWS WILL BE IN THE 30S AND 40S. BUT IN THE AFTERNOON WE’RE LOOKING AT COMFORTABLE SUNSHINE. SO SUNDAY MORNING WE COULD SEE FROST AGAIN FOR AREAS UP NORTH AND WEST OF ORLANDO, INCLUDING UP IN MARION COUNTY AND SUMTER COUNTIES, WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE HOVERING RIGHT AROUND RIGHT AROUND THE MID 30S. WHEN WE HAVE THE MID 30S, WE COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR FROST. SO AREAS BASICALLY SHADED YOU SEE IN TURQUOISE 37 TOMORROW MORNING, WEBSTER, 34, IN CITRA AND RIGHT NEAR FREEZING OR JUST ABOVE FREEZING IN WEIRSDALE. WE’RE LOOKING AT UPPER 30S UP NORTH IN FLAGLER COUNTY, AS WELL AS INTERIOR PORTIONS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY. SO AGAIN, THESE AREAS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME FROST OVERNIGHT. LAKE COUNTY, UPPER 30S AS WELL. AND THEN TOMORROW MORNING THE METRO WILL BE MOSTLY IN THE 40S. SO 40S ARE NOT GOING TO BE COLD ENOUGH FOR FROST TO DEVELOP FOR ORLANDO METRO AND SOUTH. TOMORROW AFTERNOON WE’LL SEE THOSE HIGHS UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S, GORGEOUS WEATHER AND THEN WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL THAT IS GOING TO KEEP US DRY. WE ARE LOOKING AT ACTUALLY AS THIS HIGH PRESSURE SLIDING OFF TO THE EAST ON TUESDAY, BRINGING MORE OF A SOUTH SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW. TEMPERATURES WILL ACTUALLY WARM UP QUITE A BIT BY THE TIME WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK, AND THAT IS DEFINITELY REFLECTED AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CENTRAL FLORIDA’S CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE SEVEN-DAY FORECAST. WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL. IT ALSO MEANS THINGS WILL BE DRY, SO NO SIGN OF RAIN IN SIGHT, AT LEAST THROUGH THE ENTIRE WEEK. NEXT WEEK, THE WORKWEEK. THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW RAIN SHOWERS COME SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OF NEXT WEEK, BUT RIGHT NOW WE’RE REALLY NOT IN TWO OF THE TIMING OF THAT. SO UNFORTUNATELY, NO RAIN IN SIGHT, BUT
Two people were injured Wednesday when a Metro driver lost control of the bus and crashed into a backyard in Lake View Terrace, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The crash was reported around 2:50 p.m. near Van Nuys Boulevard and Gladstone Avenue. According to police, the driver tried to start the bus after it stalled but it ended up taking off with no driver. The runaway bus went down the street and crashed into poles before coming to a stop in the backyard of a home.
Metro specified that the bus in the incident was an eastbound Metro Bus Line 233 that had a mechanical failure. It ended up crashing into a tree that fell on a pedestrian, the transportation agency said.
There were no passengers aboard the bus at the time.
Authorities said a 73-year-old man was hurt and a 35-year-old was treated at the scene.
As the unveiling of the long-awaited Automated People Mover (APM) at LAX approaches, the airport approved another project to provide for an easier travel day- this one costing more than $1 billion
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) unanimously voted yes to creating a new system of elevated roadways going in and out of the airport. These new roadways would be constructed to replace 4.4 miles of roads that enter and exit LAX, focusing on various “pinch points and traffic jams, particularly along Sepulveda [Boulevard],” according to Emery Molnar, an LAX executive.
John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), claims the project will make “traveling through LAX smoother and safer,” he said. “It’s about creating an elevated experience for our guests, team members and the local community, and we are doing it in a way that will bring millions of dollars in economic benefit to the local community members and businesses.”
LAX has famously been described as a difficult experience for travelers. There’s an entire Reddit thread dedicated to the airport titled: ‘The worst airport I’ve ever been to.’ Many of the qualms the public has are attributed to the difficulty of being able to reach one’s terminal, due to extensive car traffic. The main issue causing this traffic is the pick-up and drop-off areas in the horseshoe, which many residents of the Westchester area pointed out to airport commissioners before their vote on Thursday.
LAX previously attempted to address these growing complaints when it began creation of the APM, also known as SkyLink, described on the LAWA website as an electric train that would provide access to LAX terminals, parking and pickup and drop-off curbs, in addition to connecting guests and employees to the Los Angeles regional Metro rail system.
This train was set to be released for public use in 2023. The APM, also called SkyLink, was pushed back to being released in 2026, costing nearly $880 million more than initially planned.
One of the two companies selected to build the new roadways, FlatironDragados, a part of the larger LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), which the city hired in 2018 to design and build the APM. This raises concerns as to when the roadways project will actually be completed, and how much it will end up costing the city.
Work on ingress roadways is expected to be completed before the 2028 Summer Olympics, with egress roadways expected to be completed by 2030.
A young boy’s curiosity led to a career at Metro, thanks to the kindness of a bus driver who saw his potential.
Sam, Joy, and Sam’s sister Lucy Mencimer on their tour of the Northern Bus Garage, 11 years ago.(Courtesy WMATA)
Sam, Joy, and Sam’s sister Lucy Mencimer on their tour of the Northern Bus Garage, 11 years ago.(Courtesy WMATA)
When Sam Mencimer was 10 years old, he took the 54 bus from Takoma to L’Enfant Plaza daily. Every day, he would have a whole host of questions for bus driver Joy Kenley.
And every day, Kenley would answer him as best as she could. Then, one day, she had an idea: “How about a tour of the bus garage?”
“I was like, ‘yes, absolutely!’ I was over the moon!” said Mencimer, now 22. “As a 10-year-old, I thought that was the coolest thing ever.”
Fast forward 11 years, and Mencimer is now all grown up with a college degree and working in Metro’s signal engineering division. Kenley, now a station manager, realized she and Mencimer had the same employer now.
“I would think, ’11 years ago, and he found me.’ And I’m thinking, ‘He’s in a Metro uniform — awesome!’” Kenley said.
A lot has changed since 2014.
“The 54 bus, it would go from Takoma to, at the time, L’Enfant Plaza,” Mencimer said.
That bus route has transformed into the D50 in Metro’s reshuffling of bus routes this year.
Mencimer credited Kenley’s kindness and patience in showing him the ropes of a job he loves.
“People always say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. That’s how it is here,” Mencimer said. “And then I get to work with all these amazing people. So amazing.”
“I’m very proud of him,” Kenley said. “I’m glad I had that impact on him. If I get a chance to do it again, I will.”
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WMATA CEO Randy Clarke took WTOP on a tour of one of Metro’s oldest train control rooms, highlighting outdated technology that’s still powering the Red Line. Clarke stressed the need for funding toward modernization to ensure long-term reliability and safety.
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Metro GM says older rail equipment is ‘safe but not reliable long term’
On a tour of a Metro station’s train control room, General Manager and CEO of WMATA Randy Clarke looked around a room that seemed frozen in time, surrounded by equipment older than him.
“We are currently like an 8-track system … we want to move to streaming,” Clarke said, comparing Metro’s technological advancement to audio. “The reality is we’ve got some antennas up, trying to get local channels.”
Clarke noted that the trains are still safe, but the technology it runs on is “not reliable long term.”
“We’ve got to adapt to the modern age. We got to use data center technology to get us to that high-reliability system,” he said.
Out of Metro’s 165 train control rooms, the one at Farragut North is one of the oldest.
“When you go in that room, you can see the old wiring, the old relays,” Clarke said.
While standing in the room inside a tunnel in the station, you can hear the trains roaring by. The equipment looks like, if it was not being used by Metro, it would be part of an old railcar display in a museum.
WMATA Chief Infrastructure Officer Theresa Impastato was also on the tour and said a lot of the equipment was so old, it was impossible to buy replacement parts.
“Any repairs that need to be made have to be made in-house,” Impastato said.
A “Special Order” tag attached to part of a signaling system at the Farragut North train control room. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
Metro employees remanufacture parts from old equipment
One of the items in the room that Impastato pointed to looked like something Dr. Rudy Wells would have used on “The Six Million Dollar Man.”
Most of the technology came from the original 1973 control room, Impastato said.
“The Red Line moves more people than National Airport and Dulles Airport combined in a day,” Clarke said. “And this is the equipment that we are moving our trains through every single day.”
Like a lot of us, Clarke said inflation has taken a toll on Metro financially.
“We got dedicated funding in 2018 for $500 million … but that $500 million wasn’t indexed,” Clarke said. “So that $500 million is not worth $500 million today. In five more years, it will be worth even less.”
Clarke said the indexing would ensure that Metro’s funding automatically increases along with cost of living.
While he stressed that the older equipment is not unsafe, he doesn’t think it’s wise to wait until it all breaks.
“We’re trying to be very proactive, being good stewards of the public money to say, ‘Let’s make sure that we’re ahead of critical failures,’” he said. “We need an infusion of capital dollars to really do the whole system.”
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Fields, a standout member of Metro Transit Police, has earned the nickname “BOLO Hunter” for her uncanny ability to recognize faces from wanted fliers.
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Metro’s ‘BOLO Hunter’: Officer Kache Fields never forgets a face
In the D.C. region, conversations often start with, “What do you do?” WTOP’s “Working Capital” series profiles the people whose jobs make the D.C. region run.
If you’re wanted and a “Be On the Lookout” alert goes out for you, you better hope Officer Kache Fields isn’t the one who sees it.
Fields, a standout member of Metro Transit Police, has earned the nickname “BOLO Hunter” for her uncanny ability to recognize faces from wanted fliers.
With a photographic memory and a drive to serve, she’s helped crack over 1,000 cases across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
“I just put the BOLO photographs inside my brain. I have my own BOLO folder in there,” Fields said.
Her talent doesn’t just help Metro. It’s solving crimes for other agencies in the region too.
Assistant Chief Stephen Boehm said Fields’ talent is extraordinary.
“We’re not only able to solve our crimes, we’re solving a lot of crimes for other agencies in this region,” Boehm said.
Fields says she’s had this gift since childhood. She still remembers who took her favorite toy on the playground.
“I still do. I sure do,” she joked.
But she didn’t realize the full value of her memory until she joined Metro in 2018. Now, once she sees a wanted flier, the face is locked in.
“When I’m out on patrol, it’s like I have a ‘That’s So Raven’ moment. The image just flashes in my mind, and I know that’s the person from the BOLO,” said Fields.
Even if suspects try to change their appearance, Fields isn’t fooled.
“If they change clothes, their face doesn’t change,” she said.
Officer Kache Field has an uncanny ability to recognize faces from wanted fliers.
(WTOP/Matt Kaufax)
WTOP/Matt Kaufax
Fields next to her cruiser.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo
With a photographic memory and a drive to serve, she’s helped crack over 1,000 cases across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
She didn’t realize the full value of her memory until she joined Metro in 2018. Now, once she sees a wanted flier, the face is locked in.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo
Before law enforcement, basketball was her passion for 17 years. Now, she says, it’s BOLOs.
“Basketball was my niche. Now, it’s BOLOs. I just want to make my mark,” Fields said.
What drives her every day is the impact she has on victims.
“The gratitude of seeing so many victims smile when you give them the satisfaction of, ‘Hey, your case has been solved,’ means more than anything else in this world,” said Fields.
She also hopes her story inspires others.
“I’m a Black woman doing this in a male-dominated field, and I couldn’t be more thankful and blessed,” said Fields.
And to those who end up on a BOLO?
“No matter where you are, I’m going to find you, but I’ll treat you with respect,” said Fields.
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Metro has shared information on upcoming rail station closures for planned work from now through September 2026, with work impacting all lines of the rail network.
Metro has shared information on upcoming rail station closures for planned work through September 2026, with work impacting all lines of the transit system.
The closures are part of improvement and maintenance efforts to improve the reliability and safety of the nearly 50 year old system, Metro said in a post on X.
Upcoming closures on the Red Line include Union Station to Rhode Island Avenue on Oct. 18 and 19 and Friendship Heights to North Bethesda from July 2026 to September 2026.
Work at the Bethesda station will include connection to the upcoming Purple Line.
Upcoming closures on the Green and Yellow lines include Hyattsville Crossing to Greenbelt on Dec. 6 and 7; U Street to Georgia Avenue will single track this winter; and Fort Totten to Greenbelt will be closed from Jan. 10 and 11, 2026.
At the Crystal City Metro station, construction work to build a new entrance will take place over 10 weekends.
Further closures are below:
Click to enlarge. Metrorail closures from October 2025 to September 2026. (Courtesy WMATA)
For more information on Metro service and shuttles, visit Metro’s website.
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PORTLAND, Ore. – A Metro audit released Wednesday found that a Central Transfer Station employee violated agency ethics policies by taking electronic waste dropped off by the public, raising concerns about oversight and public trust in Metro’s recycling programs.
The audit stemmed from an anonymous tip to Metro’s Accountability Hotline regarding a laptop and other e-waste allegedly taken by the employee. A Human Resources investigation confirmed the events and found the employee believed they were acting within the agency’s Reuse Standard Operating Procedure.
However, the audit found the procedure itself — and how it was applied — conflicted with Metro Code and the agency’s Employee Ethics policy. Auditors said it also increased the risk of violating Oregon law, which prohibits public officials from using their positions for personal financial gain.
In multiple cases, employees failed to get required approvals before taking materials, and some had outdated liability waivers. The laptop and other items taken were not approved for reuse under existing policy.
Metro services promote e-waste recycling, not reuse, and the audit noted that public trust could be undermined if customers believe their discarded electronics are not being recycled as promised.
Metro management agreed with all audit recommendations, which include stronger oversight of the reuse program and improved clarity around approved materials and procedures.
A list of great restaurants in South Tampa, Florida. Includes Westshore, Downtown & Davis Islands (West of Channelside Dr. & South of Hillsborough Ave.)
District South Kitchen & Craft $$ 3301 S Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 999-8025 Elevated comfort food in a welcoming space. Known for the prime rib melt and meatloaf.
Graze South Tampa $$ 2219 S Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 819-2217 Refined American fare with breakfast all day and standout burgers in a modern setting.
Byblos Cafe $$ 2832 S MacDill Ave Website | (813) 805-7977 Chic Mediterranean spot with traditional Lebanese dishes, live entertainment, and full bar.
Pané Rustica $$ 3225 S MacDill Ave Website | (813) 902-8828 Fresh-baked breads and pastries by morning, hearty sandwiches by afternoon. Rustic charm.
Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse $$$ 1108 S Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 999-4332 All-you-can-eat churrasco with premium meats and sides. Ideal for group dining.
Water + Flour $$ 1015 S Howard Ave Website | (813) 251-8406 Health-forward Cali-Miami fusion with sushi, pizza, and pasta. Vegan and gluten-free options.
On Swann $$$ 1501 W Swann Ave Website | (813) 251-0110 Seasonal American cuisine from an open kitchen. Great for charcuterie and cocktails.
Meat Market $$$$ 1606 W Snow Ave Website | (813) 280-1113 Upscale steakhouse with top cuts, seafood, and elegant atmosphere in Hyde Park.
Forbici Modern Italian $$ 1633 W Snow Ave Website | (813) 251-8001 Vibrant Italian spot with shareable portions and crowd-favorites like meatballs and Bolognese.
Timpano $$$ 1610 W Swann Ave Website | (813) 254-5870 Italian classics meet lively bar scene. Stylish décor and rustic-modern menu.
Taco Dirty $$ 2221 W Platt St Website | (813) 314-7900 Fast-casual tacos with bold flavors and endless combos. Try the All-In Bowl.
Bella’s Italian Café $$ 1413 S Howard Ave Website | (813) 254-3355 Homemade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and classic Italian in a laid-back setting since 1986.
Bern’s Steak House $$$$ 1208 S Howard Ave Website | (813) 251-2421 Iconic fine dining with prime steaks, a massive wine cellar, and legendary dessert room.
Salt Shack on the Bay $$ 5415 W Tyson Ave Website | (813) 444-4569 Laid-back seafood shack with waterfront views. A local favorite for tacos and sunset sips.
Hula Bay Club $$ 5210 W Tyson Ave Website | (813) 837-4852 Waterfront bar and grill with live music, tropical vibes, and seafood favorites.
Union New American $$$ 1111 N Westshore Blvd Website | (813) 768-9989 Sleek, modern dining and lounge with chef-driven New American cuisine.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood $$$$ 4400 W Boy Scout Blvd Website | (813) 877-7290 Elegant seafood and steak with live jazz in a stylish, upscale setting.
Donatello $$$ 232 N Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 875-6660 Classic Northern Italian fine dining with white-tablecloth service and romantic ambiance.
Ocean Prime $$$$ 2205 N Westshore Blvd Website | (813) 490-5288 Modern steakhouse with seafood, truffle mac, and a standout wine list.
Ponte Modern American $$$ 1010 Gramercy Ln Website | (813) 582-7755 Luxurious modern American cuisine with French-Italian influences in Midtown Tampa.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen $$ 4914 S MacDill Ave Website | (813) 832-3037 Cozy British pub with hearty classics, craft beers, and old-world charm.
Cousin Vinny’s $$ 1331 W Cass St Website Family-friendly Italian-American spot with big portions and rustic charm.
Streetlight Taco $$ 4004 Henderson Blvd Website | (813) 217-9158 Fresh, bold, chef-crafted tacos with vibrant ambiance and local ingredients.
Izakaya Tori $$ 310 S Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 875-4842 Intimate Japanese eatery with sushi, skewers, ramen, and small plates.
Wright’s Gourmet House $$ 1200 S Dale Mabry Hwy Website | (813) 253-3838 Beloved local deli with legendary sandwiches, baked goods, and a loyal following.
Ava $$ 718 S Howard Ave Website | (813) 512-3030 Rustic-modern Italian with handmade pastas, wood-fired pizza, and vibrant energy.
Greater St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, Treasure Island)
Datz – St. Pete $$ 180 Central Ave Website | (727) 202-1182 Downtown staple serving comfort food classics like the “Roger’s Rockin’ Reuben” and “Memphis on My Mind.” Open daily with rotating specials and a popular weekend brunch.
Social Roost $$$ 150 1st Ave N Website | (727) 202-6113 Globally inspired menu with standout plates like Shrimp & Grits, Short Rib, and Red Snapper Escovitch. Small plates, bold flavors, and stylish ambiance.
Society Table – Don CeSar $$ 3400 Gulf Blvd Website | (727) 360-1881 Laid-back yet refined spot at the Don offering Florida Gulf fare all day. Favorites include fried green tomatoes, grilled ribeye, and seared scallops.
Maritana – Don CeSar $$$ 3400 Gulf Blvd Website | (727) 360-1882 Elegant fine dining with coastal sophistication. Veal ravioli, duck confit, and lobster gnudi highlight the upscale, regionally sourced menu.
Allelo $$ 300 Beach Dr NE Website | (727) 851-9582 Mediterranean-Aegean concept emphasizing shared plates and connection. Try the Rack of Lamb, Eggplant, or Meatballs with an extensive wine list.
Birch & Vine $$$ 340 Beach Dr NE Website | (727) 896-1080 Chef-driven menu inside The Birchwood. Ribeye carpaccio and fresh seafood shine. Great for brunch or a romantic dinner—reservations recommended.
Stillwaters Tavern $$ 224 Beach Dr NE Website | (727) 350-1019 Lively hangout with 20+ craft beers and a scratch American kitchen. Land & Sea entrees pair well with Pier views.
The Library $$ 600 5th St S Website | (727) 369-9969 Literary-themed space with elegant vibes and book-lined walls. Cozy yet upscale, offering refined American cuisine and craft cocktails.
Perry’s Porch $$ 335 2nd Ave NE Website | (727) 256-0121 Coastal café with wraparound porch and Italian-inspired dishes. Pays tribute to C. Perry Snell with charming waterfront views and relaxed vibes.
Fortu $$$ 97 Central Ave Website | (727) 256-0268 Sleek pan-Asian steakhouse with lantern-lit ambiance. Offers wagyu, seafood plates, and upscale energy perfect for a lively night out.
Juno & The Peacock $$$ 400 Beach Dr NE Website | (727) 258-4222 Retro-coastal setting with terrazzo floors and plush seating. Highlights include seafood towers, dry-aged steaks, and polished cocktails.
Concrete Jungle $$ 475 Central Ave Website | (727) 475-5440 Tulum-inspired underground spot with Latin cuisine, tropical cocktails, photo ops, and live music. Ideal for nightlife or weekend brunch.
Brick & Mortar $$ 539 Central Ave Website | (727) 822-6540 Rustic, cozy eatery with seasonal New American plates, house-made pastas, and curated beer and wine list.
Tiki Docks Skyway $$ 3769 50th Ave S Website | (727) 810-8454 Tropical waterfront spot offering seafood, burgers, rum drinks, and family-friendly vibes. Laid-back escape with water views.
Teak $$ 800 2nd Ave NE, 4th Floor Website | (727) 513-8325 Nautical-inspired rooftop with 360° views. Dishes like Paella and Sirloin complement craft cocktails in a serene setting.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille $$ 610 2nd Ave NE Website | (727) 857-8118 Casual seafood joint at the Pier. Highlights include Yucatan Oysters, Captiva Crab Cakes, and Panko Grouper, with scenic waterfront seating.
IL Ritorno $$ 449 Central Ave., #101 Website | (727) 897-5900 Italian for the discerning palate. Il Ritorno brings a new taste of fresh Italian cuisine to the community by. introducing new, interesting flavors and combinations. Open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
A Metro watchdog group said there has been a rise in the number of Metrorail door incidents, adding that Metro is taking steps to address the situation.
A Metro watchdog group is reporting a rise in the number of incidents in which Metrorail train doors open either on the wrong side of the train, or in a place where it’s not safe for riders to exit.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission found that, as of Sept. 1, there were 27 incidences where an “improper door event” took place and was reported “by Metrorail to the WMSC” this year. Compared to 2024, the figure marked an increase of 12 events.
Details released on the incidents highlighted that four of the mishaps were reported at the Pentagon, Rockville, Bethesda, and Franconia-Springfield stations.
In a statement to 7News, Metro said it was taking steps to address the situation, which includes the launch of Metrorail’s Automatic Door Operation system.
The agency also underscored that the issues only occurred on an extremely small percentage of door openings. “27 incorrect door operations represent 0.000002% of the 13 million door operations we perform every year,” it said.
Other steps taken to address the issue included a “refresher training” for employees who were involved in the incidents to ensure staff know the rules and procedures related to doors.
The latest comes over a month after the watchdog released a study that revealed Metro’s radio communication system proved unreliable.
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Metro reported significant delays on two train lines Tuesday due to a train derailment at a station in downtown Los Angeles.
Video appeared to show a train stopped at the 7th Street/Metro Center Station. The train derailed shortly after 3 p.m. at the station, but it was not immediately clear what caused the derailment.
It was not clear how many passengers were on the train, which remained upright.
LAFD firefighter-paramedics were at the scene. No injuries were reported.
Delays were reported on the A and E lines.
On the A Line, trains heading downtown from Long Beach were being turned back at the Grand/LATTC Station, while trains from Azusa were turning back at Union Station. Buses were being brought in to shuttle A Line passengers between the closed stations.
A & E LINES: Significant delays due to a train with an issue at 7th St/Metro Center Station in downtown Los Angeles.
Metro general manager Randy Clarke said the transit agency is “at an eight-year crime low, and we’re actually on pace to the lowest crime year we’ve ever had.”
Proposed platform screen doors integrated with
signal system on new automated Metrorail trains. (Courtesy WMATA)
Proposed platform screen doors integrated with
signal system on new automated Metrorail trains. (Courtesy WMATA)
Metro general manager Randy Clarke said the transit agency is “at an eight-year crime low, and we’re actually on pace to the lowest crime year we’ve ever had.”
The biggest drop was in car thefts at stations, which were down nearly 60%. Larceny cases fell by 33%, while robbery and assault each dropped by more than 20%. This continues a downward trend that began in 2023, with overall crime now down 50% compared to two years ago.
“We clearly want zero crime, society wants zero crime,” Clarke said, saying protecting passengers, employees, and property will be ongoing priorities. “The job is never going to be done.”
Clarke said improved safety against crime, “Quite frankly, its probably the indicators of why our ridership has come back so much at our system, is because people feel safe on the system.”
Meanwhile, ridership is on the rise, partially fueled by the return-to-office push in the D.C. area. Metro recorded 264 million trips over the past fiscal year, which is a 9% increase.
What can be done to improve on-time performance
The board discussed findings of recent dips in on-time performance for both Metrorail and Metrobus.
According to Tom Webster, Metro’s chief planning and performance officer, “There is a limit to our 1970s technology, and all the human factors that go into providing service,” in addition to “customer human factors as they ride our system.”
He told the board, “The next big leap in on-time performance in rail is reinvestment in Metro’s signaling system, to replace the legacy, 1970s technology — that is going to take a substantial capital investment by the region.”
On the bus side, Webster said the biggest fundamental challenge is congestion on area roads.
“The next level would be investment in infrastructure and technology to prioritize bus on roadways, particularly where we have high ridership, high frequency, high capacity service, that is competing with single-occupancy vehicles, and parked cars that slow our buses down,” Webster said.
Asked for an example of intermediate steps Metro has taken to improve bus performance, Webster cited its partnership in the District’s 11th St NW Bus Priority project, from Pennsylvania Avenue to L Street.
The painted bus lanes reduce the need of buses to merge out of and into traffic, while picking up riders.
“It’s a tactical approach that does speed up buses,” said Webster.
Other infrastructure and technology improvements would involve transit signal priority — technology that synchronizes a region’s traffic signals, to give priority to mass transit vehicles: “It allows buses to move faster through congested areas and intersections that tend to get bogged down in traffic.”
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As Metro wraps up a yearlong review of its service, the transit agency is reporting two major wins: a sharp drop in crime and a steady rise in ridership.
As Metro wraps up a yearlong review of its service, the transit agency is reporting two major wins: a sharp drop in crime and a steady rise in ridership.
According to Metro’s newly released FY2025 Annual Service Excellence Report, crime across the system fell by 43% between June 2024 and June 2025. The biggest drop was in car thefts at stations, which were down nearly 60%. Larceny cases fell by 33%, while robbery and assault each dropped by more than 20%.
This continues a downward trend that began in 2023, with overall crime now down 50% compared to two years ago.
Metro credits the improvement to several key efforts, which include more visible police and staff on trains and platforms, expanded use of surveillance cameras to solve cases and data-driven deployment of officers. Crisis intervention teams also played a role, helping to de-escalate more than 30,000 situations involving individuals in crisis.
Also last year, Metro introduced new fare gates aimed at preventing fare evasion on trains. Combined with stepped-up fare enforcement, including nearly 20,000 enforcement actions, these efforts are being credited for declining crime rates.
Ridership on the upswing
Meanwhile, ridership is on the rise, partially fueled by the return-to-office push in the D.C. area. Metro recorded 264 million trips over the past fiscal year, which is a 9% increase.
The report also provides a look at Metrorail’s new “Tap. Ride. Go” system, which allows riders to pay a fare by tapping a credit card at the fare gate. Early numbers for the payment system, which was rolled out in May, show it was used for 7% of weekday trips and 13% of weekend trips.
This year, Metro also implemented automatic train control on all lines, and since the switch was flipped on, the agency said the system is shaving an average of 51 seconds off each trip.
Some of the areas Metro looks to improve include bus system reliability, with buses being twice as likely to be late than early to a stop. Metro said the afternoon rush hour played a big role in that, but so did a bus driver shortage. Metro plans to address the shortage by hiring 560 bus operators in the coming months.
While seeing a rise in the use of the MetroAccess system for users with disabilities, the agency also saw satisfaction among users drop from 84% to 78%. Metro said the transition to a new contracting model used last year is to blame for the drop in on-time performance for MetroAccess. It has added a new provider to the mix to help meet demand.
Metro said the number of riders dissatisfied with safety on the rail system is also going down, from 17% last year to 9% this year. On buses, that number is down from 15% to 13%.
The report will be presented to Metro’s board during a meeting on Sept. 11.
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Federal immigration arrests in Colorado surged this summer as the Trump administration charged ahead with its plans to mass-deport undocumented immigrants.
But as arrests have spiked, law enforcement agencies increasingly have detained people without any prior criminal convictions or charges, internal data show.
Between June 11 and July 28, ICE arrested 828 people in Colorado, according to a Denver Post analysis of data obtained by the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley. That amounted to more than 17 arrests per day, a more than 50% increase from the first five months of the Trump administration, through June 10, a period covered in a previous Post story. The rate from this summer was also more than five times higher than the daily arrest average from the same time period in 2024.
Of those detained over the summer, only a third had prior criminal convictions noted in the records. Another 18% had pending charges, indicating that nearly half had been neither convicted nor charged with a crime and that their only violation was immigration-related.
That, too, is a shift: In the earlier months of President Donald Trump’s second term, two-thirds of the 1,639 people arrested in Colorado had either been convicted of a crime (38%) or charged with one (29%).
“That tracks with what we would have expected (and) what we’ve been hearing from community sources,” said Henry Sandman, the co-executive director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “The data and the reality disproves ICE’s talking points that they’re going after criminals. We’re seeing tactics increase. They’re trying to increase arrest numbers as high as possible, whatever the reason may be for detaining folks.”
Steve Kotecki, a spokesman for Denver’s ICE field office, did not respond to a request for comment late last week.
The data, obtained directly from ICE by the UC Berkeley researchers through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, offers the clearest look at immigration enforcement activities available, as ICE doesn’t post recent information online. For this analysis, The Post examined arrests that occurred in Colorado; arrests that were listed in the dataset as occurring in Wyoming but which took place in a Colorado city; and arrests lacking a listed state but which occurred in a Colorado town or county.
The Post removed several apparent duplicate arrests and a similarly small number of arrests in the region that did not have a specific location listed. The analysis also included a handful of people who appeared to have been arrested twice in the span of several months.
When listing a detainee’s criminal background, the data provides no details about the criminal charges or prior crimes. Illegally entering the country is typically treated as a civil matter upon first offense, but a subsequent entry is a felony criminal offense.
More info about July operation
The newly released data includes the same nine-day period in July during which ICE has said it arrested 243 immigrants without proper legal status “who are currently charged with or have been convicted of criminal offenses after illegally entering the United States.” The arrests, the agency said, all occurred in metro Denver.
But the data published by the UC-Berkeley researchers does not fully match ICE’s public representations.
During the same time frame, the agency arrested 232 people, according to the data. Most of those arrested during that time had never been convicted or charged with a crime, at least according to what’s in the records. Sixty-six people had a previous criminal conviction, and 34 more had pending charges.
Kotecki did not respond to questions about the July operation.
The Post previously reported that ICE falsely claimed that it had arrested a convicted murderer in Denver as part of the July operation. The man had actually been arrested at a state prison facility shortly after his scheduled release, state prison officials said last month.
While ICE claimed the man had found “sanctuary” in the capital city — a shot taken at Denver’s immigration ordinances — The Post found that state prison officials had coordinated his transfer directly to ICE. He was then deported to Mexico, and information matching his description is reflected in the UC Berkeley data.
It’s unclear if all of ICE’s arrests are fully reflected in the data, making it difficult to verify ICE’s claims. The researchers’ data is imperfect, experts have told The Post. The records likely represent the merging of separate datasets before they were provided by the government, increasing the likelihood of mistakes or missing data.
Some arrests in Colorado were listed as occurring in other states or had no state listed at all. Other arrests were duplicated entirely, and researchers have cautioned that ICE’s data at times has had inaccurate or missing information.
The anonymized nature of the data, which lacks arrestees’ names but lists some biographical information, also can make it difficult to verify. When ICE announced the results of the July operation, it named eight of the people it had arrested. Court records and the UC Berkeley data appear to match up with as many as seven of them.
The eighth, Blanca Ochoa Tello, was arrested on July 14 by ICE’s investigative branch in a drug-trafficking investigation, court filings show. But it’s unclear if she appears in the ICE data, as she was arrested in La Plata County and no woman arrested in that county was listed in the data.
To verify ICE’s July operation claims, The Post examined arrest data in Colorado and Wyoming, which jointly form the Denver area of operations for the agency. The Post also searched for arrests in every other state to identify any arrests that may have occurred in a Colorado area but were errantly listed under other states.
Federal agents detain a man as he exits a court hearing in immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Nationally, immigration authorities had their most arrest-heavy months this summer, according to data published by researchers at Syracuse University. Immigration officials arrested more than 36,700 people in June, its highest single-month total since June 2019, during Trump’s first term. More than 31,200 were arrested across the country in July.
The Trump administration has also set out to increase its detention capacity to accommodate the mass-deportation plans.
As of late July, ICE planned to triple its detention capacity in Colorado, according to documents obtained last month by the Washington Post. That plan includes opening as many as three new facilities and the expansion of Colorado’s sole existing facility in Aurora.
DHS officers watch from the parking lot as protesters gather at the entrance to the ICE Colorado Field Office on Aug. 30, 2025, in Centennial. (Photo By Kathryn Scott/Special to The Denver Post)
Over the course of this year, ICE arrested people in Colorado who were originally from more than 60 countries, according to the data. That included 10 Iranians arrested in late June or early July. Six of those people were arrested on June 22, the day after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. Three more were arrested over the next 48 hours.
The vast majority of the undocumented immigrants who were arrested and deported were returned to their home countries, though roughly 50 were sent somewhere else, the data show. Nine Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador in the first two weeks of the Trump administration, when alleged gang members were dispatched to a notorious prison there.
ProPublica identified roughly a dozen Coloradans who were sent to that prison. It reported that several were arrested in late January, which matches information listed in the ICE data published by UC Berkeley.
Advocates’ fears of continued arrests have escalated as ICE’s funding has surged. On Aug. 30, several immigration advocates picketed outside an ICE field office in Centennial after a number of immigrants received abrupt notices to check in at the facility.
Four people were detained, said Jordan Garcia, the program director for the American Friends Service Committee’s immigrant-rights program in Colorado.
Among them, he said, was an older Cuban man with dementia. Garcia and other advocates spoke with the man and his son before they entered the facility. The son later came out, Garcia said, and said that his father had been detained.
A new Metro rail station will open near Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, prompting a change in service for passengers who utilize the Metro C (Green) Line through the area and the South Bay.
With the opening of the Aviation/Century Station — at the intersection of Aviation and Century boulevards — the station will become the western terminus of the C Line. The westbound line previously continued south through El Segundo to Redondo Beach.
The four South Bay stations — Mariposa, El Segundo, Douglas and Redondo Beach — will now become part of the Metro K Line. Westbound passengers on the C Line who want to continue to the South Bay stations will have to exit the C Line at the new Aviation/Century Station, walk across the platform and board a southbound K Line train.
HEADS UP! Starting TODAY, SUNDAY, NOV. 3:
•The C and K Lines are being reconfigured. See map 👇
•If using Mariposa, El Segundo, Douglas or Redondo stations, transfer at Aviation/Century to C Line
Meanwhile, passengers in the South Bay looking to head east toward Norwalk will board a northbound K Line train and exit at the Aviation/Century Station, walk across the platform and board an eastbound C Line train.
The K Line will continue to have a rail gap between the Aviation/Century Station and the existing Westchester/Veterans Station, due to continuing construction on the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station between the two and near the airport. Until that station opens, passengers on the K Line will have to rely on shuttle buses to carry them through the area. Shuttle buses run every 10 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes in the evenings.
The northern segment of the K Line currently runs between the Westchester/Veterans Station and the E (Expo) Line at Crenshaw Boulevard.
When the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station opens, tentatively scheduled for later in November, the K Line will run from Redondo Beach to the E Line at Crenshaw. The LAX station will also connect passengers to the future People Mover that will provide access to the airport terminals.
Metro Ambassadors and TAP staffers will be on hand on both the K and C Lines during the transition, and at the new Aviation/Century Station, to help guide passengers to their destinations.
More information is available by calling Metro’s Customer Care Center at 877-812-0022 or by clicking here.
The Celebrate Petworth Festival, Gender Liberation March, DC Half Marathon and scheduled Metrorail work will make it difficult to get around the city this weekend. Here’s what you need to know about road closures.
This weekend, there are multiple events that will significantly impact how you get around D.C.
On Saturday, the Celebrate Petworth Festival — a free neighborhood festival in Northwest D.C. with music and activities for the whole family — will be shutting down the following streets from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to vehicle traffic and parking.
Upshur Street from 8th Street to 9th Street NW
9th Street from Upshur Street to Kansas Avenue NW
All motorists should find alternative routes to get to the festival and should expect further street closures and parking restrictions from city officials.
Also on Saturday, the inaugural Gender Liberation March will start at noon in Columbus Circle at Union Station in Northeast D.C. The march and rally plans to advocate for “reproductive freedom, gender-affirming medical care, and the civil rights of trans people.” Several LGBTQ celebrities and activists, such as actor Elliot Page and author Raquel Willis, are scheduled to attend.
According to the event’s website, the 1.5-mile march will begin at 1 p.m. and head towards the Heritage Foundation Headquarters and the Supreme Court before returning back to Columbus Circle by 3 p.m. Those planning to attend are encouraged to use public transportation.
On Sunday, the DC Half Marathon — an annual 13.1 mile-long scenic run around the Tidal Basin up through Georgetown and back down Massachusetts Avenue — has runners hitting the pavement at 7 a.m.
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by police from approximately 6 a.m. till midnight:
1200 block of Maine Avenue SW
Maine Avenue from I-395 Westbound to Independence Avenue SW
Southbound Potomac River Freeway Split to Route 66 NW
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge Ramp to Ohio Drive NW
Westbound E Street Expressway ramp to Southbound Potomac River Freeway NW
9th Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue SW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by police from approximately 6 a.m. till midnight:
Ohio Drive from 23rd Street to East Basin Drive SW
Independence Avenue from 14th Street to 23rd Street SW
Rock Creek Parkway from Ohio Drive NW to Shoreham Hill
East and West Potomac Parks
East Basin Drive SW
Raoul Wallenberg Place from 15th Street to Maine Avenue SW
Ramp from Memorial Circle to Ohio Drive SW
Homefront Drive SW
Daniel Chester French Drive from Independence Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle SW
Maine Avenue at ramp from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue SW
17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue SW
Parkway Drive, NW from Lincoln Memorial Circle to Rock Creek Parkway
15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue SW
Madison Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street NW
Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street SW
On top of road closures, Metrorail has trackwork scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on the Red Line. Work crews will be renewing rail fasteners and conduct third rail maintenance, the transit agency said in a release.
Free shuttle buses will replace train service between Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations on the Red Line.
Trains will run every six minutes between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations during the day, and every 10 minutes at night after 9:30 p.m. Trains will run every eight minutes between Medical Center to Glenmont stations during the day, and every 10 minutes at night after 9:30 p.m.
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The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission outlined incidents that led to close calls and several of the investigations found Metro workers reported being fatigued at the time.
The commission that keeps a watchful eye over safety concerns at WMATA’s Metrorail system said the transit agency needs to do more to make sure employees are trained, get enough sleep and are fit for duty.
During a Tuesday meeting, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) outlined incidents — from running red signals, to improper rail switches — that led to close calls. Several of the investigations found Metro workers had reported being exhausted at the time of the incidents.
The commission also criticized Metro for not doing enough to screen workers who might not be fit for duty. WMSC cited an incident from last September when a train operator who admitted to drinking the night before came into work on little sleep, then failed to let passengers off the train and stopped in between stations.
“I’m reading between the lines here, but essentially, for two hours, we had the risk of a collision — if the operator didn’t respond, didn’t stop, (and) continued to operate the train erratically, as he was,” said Commission Vice Chair Robert Lauby, reacting to the findings of the investigation.
According to the WMSC report, “inefficient duty checks” played a role in the incident and Metro is taking corrective actions.
Following the report, Metro issued a statement saying safety is one of its core values.
“As part of our commitment to safety, we value the observations made by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) and opportunities for improvement,” the transit agency said in the statement.
Metro also defended its record on screening for alcohol and drugs, saying its program is in compliance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and includes random and post-accident testing. Over the past three years, Metro’s positive test results have been below the industry average of 1.09%, the transit agency said.
“We are troubled by some of the misleading language surrounding this topic as it has led to sensational headlines that do not accurately describe the safety risk of the rail system and undermines the incredible work the 13,000 Metro team members do every day to deliver safe service for our region,” Metro said in its statement.
WMSC also looked into red signal running, and found that it’s on the rise at Metro. In 2023, it happened nine times. Through July of this year, there have been 11 cases of train operators not stopping when they should.
In another case, a train operator accidentally opened doors that were not near a platform when the train stopped to pick up Metrorail employees at an Alexandria rail yard.
“The investigation identified fatigue risk for this operator who had worked 12 consecutive days with a mix of shifts, which led to sleep debt,” WMSC investigations program manager Adam Quigley said.
The commission expressed concerns about the number of days a Metro train operator and other employees can work consecutively, since in one incident report an operator had worked more than 15 days in a row. According to the WMSC, to limit that, Metro and the union that represents workers would need to make a deal, which hasn’t happened.
“There’s nothing in place that restricts a train operator from working as many consecutive days as he wants. Is that what we’re hearing?” Lauby asked Quigley, with Quigley answering yes.
The FTA has indicated it plans to make rules that could put limits on how many hours and days in a row that train operators are allowed to work, but that will take time. Metro said it’s encouraged by the FTA’s plans and has provided formal comment to the administration to that end.
“Metro has also worked to lead the industry in the proactive identification and management of fatigue risk,” the transit agency said in its statement.
WTOP has reached out to Metro’s union, ATU Local 689, for comment.
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