Robert Thomson

Former Dr. Gridlock at The Washington Post. I'm interested in traffic, transit, biking and walking issues.

[Faiz Siddiqui @faizsays]

New from me: GM heralded this plant as a model for its electric car future. Then its batteries started exploding. "It’s a terrible thing that has happened,” GM's director of electrification strategy said. https://t.co/uO63eg2CB5

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

New safety order is another setback as Metro tries to recuperate from its worst crisis in six years and lure back riders. #wmata ⁦@iduncan⁩ https://t.co/bpZ4cu3lG9

[Justin George @justingeorge]

Metro has just said its pausing the reintroduction of the 7000 series cars to start a process of daily inspections on the car -- though the agency said there's no issue that is causing them, just a consultant recommendation. Seeking more of an explanation as this is new. #wmata

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

#getaway

[Katherine Shaver @shaverk]

As omicron quickly spreads, millions begin traveling for Christmas, New Year’s. Enjoyed speaking with experts about how we are weighing risk almost 2 years into a pandemic. https://t.co/dJbG3PDrgM

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

Collisions involving children are part of a deadly rise in crashes on DC streets. The District has recorded 40 traffic fatalities this year, 3 more than occurred in all 2020, & is poised to end the year with a 13-year high in deaths. ⁦@luzcita⁩ https://t.co/Hw5yPNtyhT

[Justin George @justingeorge]

Metro: Will slowly phase in 336 cars, wait 90 days to assess and then seek to incorporate the rest. Expect to start seeing the familiar all-silver 7K series cars from now til the end of the year. And yes, you can ride them.

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

“Dave Thomas Circle” in DC to be redesigned. Planners say it will increase safety for all road users and reduce driver confusion. #dctraffic https://t.co/pgchwOjvG9

[Justin George @justingeorge]

We were just given a demo of how Metro measures wheelsets on the 7000 Series railcars, which remain suspended after a defect that can cause derailments was discovered in some of the cars. #wmata couldn’t talk about the @NTSB investigation but a lot of good context. Story coming.

[Justin George @justingeorge]

New insight into the #NTSB investigation of Metro cars: Investigators suspect the widening wheels on 7000 series cars are a progressive defect that surfaces after time or use & not likely caused by maintenance or repairs. https://t.co/DkAo5iQEJP

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

Metro crisis: After Blue Line derailment triggered a safety investigation & removal of more than half the rail fleet from service, leaders worry about damaging the fragile recovery of the transit system. #wmata ⁦@justingeorge⁩ ⁦@iduncan⁩ https://t.co/2nDRx2eTR7

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

Post transportation reporters ⁦@justingeorge⁩ & ⁦@iduncan⁩ did a Q&A with readers about the problems with Metro’s 7000 series rail cars. #wmata https://t.co/cIBEkOy0Qb

[Justin George @justingeorge]

Many questions as to how Metro will have enough trains. The 6000 series, Metro's next to last model, is also suspended after two train separations last year. Only recently have they started putting those cars back in. Just a handful of 184 are in service. https://t.co/yuzkRBTQHB

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

Metro pulled more than half of its rail cars out of service before the Monday morning rush after an investigation discovered multiple axles out of compliance with 7000 series manufacturer’s specifications. #wmata ⁦@justingeorge⁩ https://t.co/TE4tdBq9VY

[Justin George @justingeorge]

Metro is seeing big spikes in rail usage, going from 200k daily trips on 9/24 to 230k on 10/1. Rode yesterday at 4-5:30 pm from Wiehle Reston East to L’Enfant Plaza and up to Petworth & seats on most cars were occupied. #wmata 1/3

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

As ridership hovers near historic lows, Metro’s leaders are hopeful federal workers soon will return but acknowledge they need other options if that group stays away. ⁦@justingeorge⁩ #wmata https://t.co/zCmWpiDxfd

[Katherine Shaver @shaverk]

Maryland says it will spare a century-old African American cemetery to widen the Capital Beltway,
after radar detects hundreds more unmarked gravesites. https://t.co/GLMnMgmbaY

[Justin George @justingeorge]

Metro said it expects 'substantial completion' of construction of the Silver Line phase two extension to occur in November. That's a formal timeline marker that could lead to Metro taking control of the project, currently being built via @MWAAHQ #wmata

[Michael Beschloss @BeschlossDC]

Overhead photograph of March on Washington as Martin Luther King speaks, Lincoln Memorial, today 1963: #AP

[Robert Thomson @RT_Thomson]

@AdamTuss @WTOP I fondly remember that day with my transportation-covering colleagues. We all felt those beats were a great way to be useful to the DC region’s travelers.

[Mike Semel @semelm]

The relentless pursuit of the truth by @TomJackmanWP in this case is a primer in accountability reporting. We would know nothing about Bijan Ghaiser without him.
https://t.co/cFJ4qJM7kU