Could the DC Metro get a Loop Line?

[@stephenshaw7593]

BLOOP would solve 3 problems with 1 stone (so to speak) 1) It would add two new Potomac River crossings and one new Annacostia River crossing, which would be huge for alleviating congestion and adding connectivity, currently there are not enough river crossings. 2) It would add capacity and redundancy in Downtown DC, moving more people there while also mitigating the impact of delays or maintenance on one line that riders currently experience. 3) It would mean more trains to the suburbs in Ashburn, Vienna, Largo, and New Carrollton, that have seen reduced headways since the opening of the Silver Line in 2014 without reducing the capacity of the existing east-west line between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory (this is an additional benefit stemming from point #2 but worth mentioning on its own). It would also add coverage to National Harbor, MGM casino, Bowling AFB/Annacostia NAS, Buzzard Point, Union Market, and Georgetown while offering new connections to existing lines. Build it.

[@Thom-TRA]

This is a great overview of all the benefits!

[@Thom-TRA]

@@US_States_Weather_Radios_5293 stop showing everyone how dumb you are

[@Mrcake0103]

Build the bloop

[@abatall]

it would also let orange line get an extension which it needs because of right now too much too much pressure on rosslyn to foggy bottom

[@car_tar3882]

And alleviate crowding at navy yard

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

BLOOP just simply checks off all the boxes of a perfect Metro solution. Georgetown, second Union connection, more Southeast DC service, and National Harbor! I know the video is about the proposals, but man, the stations of the DC Metro are a sight to behold. The flashing lights, the hexagonal floor tiles, the waffles...chef's kiss design. Many Metro stations were designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese, and they not only have aspects of Brutalist design, but also reflect the influence of Washington's neoclassical architecture in their overarching coffered ceiling vaults. Weese worked with lighting designer Bill Lam from Cambridge, MA on the indirect lighting used throughout the system. Here's the Foggy Bottom lore nobody asked for: At the start of the 19th century, there were a couple of prominent residents that lived in the neighborhood, and many skilled laborers. As the city grew and developed, Foggy Bottom’s character was slowly altered. The population increased, and the character of the population changed. The number of industrial establishments increased, particularly along the western and southern edges. The change in population character may have been related to the increased industrial activity. Industries in Foggy Bottom included Godey’s lime kilns, the glass works, and the Abner/Drury and Christian Heurich breweries. It’s unclear when the name Foggy Bottom was adopted, though it’s said the fog from the riverbank combined with the smog from the gas works engendered the name.

[@Thom-TRA]

As someone who comes to foggy bottom a lot, I appreciate the history facts! It’s a mystery where its unusual name came from. Sounds like a euphemism for somebody who’s had too much taco bell, if you know what I mean…

[@vinhd15]

@@Thom-TRA tbf as a student at GW i just saw it as its literal meaning, as its the bottom of the hills (like the ones at georgetown and capitol hill) that are around dc and during the fall and spring especially it can get foggy during the night and mornings.

[@FrenchLeafA350]

We need the BLOOP

[@Thom-TRA]

BLOOP

[@locoooo8338]

I love that😂😂😂 BLOOP

[@theconceptualist8626]

That is the most elite name for a subway line that has ever existed

[@diegoyanesholtz212]

I wouldn't built the Bloop. I would build instead the Columbia Pike Metro towards George Mason University.

[@stanlivengood9500]

​ 12:10 12:10 @@theconceptualist8626 How about Bloopy McBloopface?😁

[@97nelsn]

The Bloop makes sense especially since it serves Georgetown which needs Metro service, a second connection to Union Station, extra service in southeast DC, and a connection to National Harbor which is home to many events that occur in the convention center and would be easier to get to than the current one way in and out via the beltway…all while looping back into Virginia.

[@Thom-TRA]

Georgetown will be nice. It’s not extremely far from Foggy Bottom and the buses are good, but still a direct metro connection would be so much better. And I’m very excited about multiple options to Union Station. That station is always so busy.

[@SigmaRho2922]

It would need to be accommodated by a Pink Line service between Rosslyn and Franconia via Union Station.

[@gotenhuggins270]

Interesting

[@Iloveswedes]

Georgetown never wanted to be part of Metro. You think it was never discussed? Great idea, but they didn't want "Metro riders" to come through, which is how it always is with these people until they want to be part of a group again.

[@stanlivengood9500]

​@@Iloveswedes Maybe attitudes are changing.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

I do think the Blue Line Loop would be the best option. It wouldn't really do much for me, personally (well, except relieving some crowding on trains), being stuck way out at the NoVa end of Orange, but I think it would be great for the city, the system, and the region. Heck, just connecting to National Harbor would be huge. I'd still love to see the Purple Line actually get finished, as I think that'll help some folks. But I'd love to see it extended, too, perhaps into a loop that essentially follows the Beltway. I often need to go to Silver Spring, and that would be such a big help. At this point, my trip there generally takes two or more hours. More loops. That's what I'm getting at.

[@Thom-TRA]

A purple line meeting the bloop somewhere would be awesome. Going through Largo. Let’s get the first part opened! I visited construction at U of Md the other day, the tracks are there!

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

I agree! I think last I heard extending the Purple Line would be hard (something about operators needing to relieve each other every X minutes/hours and Bethesda to New Carollton being the optimal length). But I know Montgomery County was pitching a 24/7 BRT line from Bethesda to Tysons-- LRT across a rebuilt Legion Bridge would be the dream though. I could see an eventual series of LRT lines that form a loop even if they're all separate, covering only major trips instead of the whole circle. Such as a PL1 from Bethesda to New Carollton, a PL2 from Bethesda to Tysons, a PL3 from Tysons to Alexandria via Seven Corners, a PL4 from Alexandria to New Carollton via SE DC, for example. And then there could be stops connecting to metro and more LRT routes connecting into DC and out along streets that aren't served by metro, like Columbia Pike in Nova, Benning Rd in SE, and Riggs Rd, Rt 1, Rt 29 in MD. It even works with the plan to build LRT to Waldorf.

[@kevinodom6783]

BLOOP, there it is, Thom! 😂 What an exciting possibility! I was a serious Metrorail commuter during my DC years from 1988-1993 when I lived in DC during my college years (shout out to NoMa-Gallaudet one of the best infill stations on the system 😆) I've always thought that DC needed a loop system, similar to the road's Capital Beltway. It's exciting that this is a thought in someone's mind. I hope it comes to fruitation. Great videos, Thom! I'm glad that you're in DC now. I get to see more about my old city. Keep up the great train videos!

[@Thom-TRA]

I hope you enjoy the videos down memory lane! Let us know if you’re ever in town

[@301jerm]

Do it. Georgetown and national harbor would give a lot of ridership and bring more people to national harbor

[@vuchaser99]

Geology may ruin the Georgetown station, over burden rocks in the vicinity are hard and thick... it is why there wasn't already a station. New technology may reduce the effort/cost... but I wouldn't be surprised if the BLOOP gets thr green light, this station still maybe last to make if at all

[@steveciccarelli3609]

@@301jerm Just a P.S. Georgetown didn't want a station when Metro was being designed. I don't know if opinions have changed over the decades.

[@rbrucebicknell5038]

Pro Tip: National Airport is on the blue line, and Franconia Springfield, as mentioned, is the extreme end of the blue line. Every variety of parking at National is almost inevitably always full. You can park for up to ten days in the FP parking deck for the standard one-day fee, five bucks. The signage is minimal, but the area is on the lowest level in row "J".

[@muhammadjameel8260]

Usually it is always full.

[@jonathanbott87]

Somewhat unrelated but imagine if Chicago built an outer loop Lawrence/Cicero/95th - the number of new communities that could be served and the better routing that it could provide (like to MDW & ORD from outer communities).

[@Thom-TRA]

Chicago needs that so bad

[@bkark0935]

Look up the “Mid-City Transitway” on Wikipedia. Basically a CTA rail line to utilize an abandoned ROW east of Cicero Ave. From the Montrose Blue Line all the way down to the Orange line’s eventual Ford City terminus.

[@godozo]

They put in a proposal for this and did a study…only to file it away and forget it, like so many other good ideas. Too expensive, they said…even as it proved to be very, VERY helpful for transit riders.

[@ianhorvath5791]

Lol I'm glad to see a Chicago comment here. It's incredibly ironic that in a city with a downtown area called "the Loop" there's not a single train line that actually runs in a loop

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Many people getting off at Franconia-Springfield does make a lot of sense considering it's right off the intersection of I-95 and the Franconia-Springfield Parkway and they probably drove there from the further suburbs. Like, why drive all the way to DC when you can just save on gas and take the Metro! The station is also a major bus terminal for Fairfax Connector buses and intercity buses. And a Metro extension to National Harbor makes a lot of sense as well (the BLOOP in general makes a lot of sense)! National Harbor is home to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center which hosts many conventions. While National Harbor has nice walkability, the way to get there is super car-oriented. The only routes in or out of National Harbor are several ramps north of the area that link it to nearby major roadways like Interstate 495/Capital Beltway, Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway, and Oxon Hill Road. So whenever there's a convention, you can imagine the traffic and overall how much of a headache it has been for those who live in the DMV. There is a water taxi service to National Harbor from Alexandria but that's not enough since it's a water taxi after all. A Metro station at National Harbor is very much needed to not only solve this congestion but also give more people the opportunity to attend a convention there as well as promote more development in the area.

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

I go to National Harbor about once a year, and yeah getting there can be a pain. It's frustrating how they designed it to explicitly have no other connections, such as to Oxon Hill Rd. For love of transit, I once got there by taking the NH1 bus from Southern Ave. It needs a better connection.

[@virginiansupremacy]

@@sebastianjoseph2828 its even more of a pain for people who live nearby, i have to take the d14 bus from the national harbor to get home and i usually end up waiting 30 minutes to an hour

[@thomasaly7624]

BLOOP for an equitable future for SE DC!

[@Kev4Kev]

@@virginiansupremacy the D14 doesnt even go to National Harbor so how did you get that bus from there ?

[@virginiansupremacy]

@@Kev4Kev it goes to the park and ride near it

[@IMAComedy]

Stations in national harbor and Georgetown would be absolutely massive

[@DanPackard]

Lol,! I love your sense of humor: where to go? The Pentagon spending billions, or a Metro stop with an Italian restaurant requiring a similar budget.

[@Thom-TRA]

Food in Alexandria is expensive! But I know an awesome pizza place in Georgetown that can feed us for a week for 10 bucks

[@kesschristopher]

Bloop. I'm old enough to remember when the Purple Line was meant to be a loop, with connectivity to National Harbor there. Perhaps MDOT MTA will consider extending the Purple Line there one day so that one doesn't have to enter DC to reach it via transit. Maybe there will be a joint Metro/Purple Line station there.

[@Thom-TRA]

I really hope the initial section becomes a raging success, and politicians in MD make the right decisions.

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

@@Thom-TRA Despite the constant local news dooming about it, a lot of people are excited about the Purple Line-- I sure am.

[@porkfriedsloths]

As someone who worked in Silver Springs but lived in Alexandria at one point, YES TO THE BLOOP. More suburb to suburb connections!

[@ArefDajani]

Um, actually, my hometown is called Silver Spring (singular) for a reason: just about two blocks northeast from the Metro Station on East-West Highway is Acorn Park: the Site of the Silver Spring. Open to the public, 24/7.

[@Kev4Kev]

How would this even help with that situation ? What you would need is a circular line around the Beltway or a Bloop line that crosses the Red, Green and Red Lines at places like Van Ness, Petworth or Takoma.

[@pacificostudios]

The biggest issue not mentioned in the video is operational -- where do trains get back on schedule when they are delayed? That is the reason the London "Circle" line is no longer a circle. My suggestion is to place the "ends" of the line at Huntington and the station on the other side of the Potomac, since they will receive the fewest passengers, and existing roads between these points are unusually time-consuming due to the lack of bridges, so a delay up to 10 minutes won't be unacceptable.

[@Thom-TRA]

The Yamanote line in Tokyo still has two stations where they can pull out trains or add trains.

[@pacificostudios]

@@Thom-TRA Sure, you "cancel" a late train just like late bus runs are cancelled. But getting them back on schedule is usually the preferred option, so schedules have "padding" built in.

[@hartstukken]

@@Thom-TRAYes but that's because the Yamanote line trains can exit their loop at Ikebukuro and Osaki would the bloop have such an option?

[@Thom-TRA]

@@hartstukken of course, there are yards

[@jacobbaer785]

I believe on the Yamanote line, trains are scheduled to hold at Osaki for a few minutes to catch up to any delay that has occurred. They could do a similar thing with the Bloop. I feel like National Harbor would make the best place for a 'catch-up' station with 4 tracks, with the side benefit of allowing trains to begin there during and after major events.

[@BirdInTheHouse]

Definitely Bloop. The traffic and bus service from SE DC and that part of Maryland is pretty rough and this would absolutely help solve for the issue. And you could also ask MGM to help subsidize the project or operating costs since it would bring a ton of foot traffic to their casino. If people don't have to worry about driving, maybe they'll gamble a bit later into the evening or drink that extra alcoholic beverage.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m sure MGM will want to buy naming rights

[@BirdInTheHouse]

​@@Thom-TRA Sure why not!

[@jasperjonkers3615]

BLOOP! Although I would actually like to see a slightly altered plan. Rather than letting the Blue line take over the Huntington branch of the Yellow line after coming back across the Potomac, i'd construct the tunnel to end slightly further to the North, and build a new terminus at King St - Old Town. The Yellow Line would continue to run to Huntington, the Blue line would run from Franconia - Springfield to King St - Old Town and throught to Rosslyn as it does now, from there run on the new 'BLOOP' tracks, which would terminate at the new terminus at King St - Old Town (different platforms, ofc). That way, you create something similar to the current Circle line in London. The reason the Circle line came to be the way it is now, is that a circular metro route is very difficult to operate, even more so when there is interlining, which is the case for both the Circle line and the future BLOOP. So I think it would be wise to learn from London rather than copy its mistake.

[@Thom-TRA]

I don’t think the difficulty to operate is inherent to loops, I think the circle line is a difficult case. Many many branches interlining with each other. There are plenty of global examples worldwide of loop lines that do work great. Even the Osaka loop line in Japan, which has a ton of interlining. What’s important is to have points where trains can enter and leave the loop.

[@Kev4Kev]

How would you do the signage and verbiage so as to not confuse people ? Imagine how it is now at stations like Metro Center, Gallery Place, L'enfant Plaza or Fort Totten transfer point to the so and so line. With your suggestion you could be on a Blue Line and being told this is a transfer point to the Blue Line.

[@jimmeade2976]

The BLOOP is ultimately the best solution, but I don't think WMATA will do that all at once. Building the second tunnel will be expensive and they'll move one of the lines over to that first. Then, depending on how that works out, they'll move the Blue line to it and extend the line south on the east side of the river. Finally, assuming the almost BLue Line Loop works out well, they will build the tunnel under the Potomac and complete the BLOOP. Overall, three distinct phases, each 5 or 10 years apart, so we're talking 20-30 years until the BLOOP becomes a reality.

[@unclebozo9845]

they should consider connecting the outer ends of the Red Line in a loop too, it's so annoying having to go all the way through DC just to get from Silver Spring to Rockville by Metro.

[@bradleygraves5915]

Franc-Spring was my jam years ago while living in Woodbridge. Especially since I travelled a lot! Franc-Spring has long term parking! 15-20 mins to National and I am on my way. Best station ever!

[@DMVRailfan]

Disclaimer: OPINION HAS BEEN CHANGED, I AM NO LONGER OPPOSING IT. I am for one, not supporting this. While we do need better connections in Georgetown, I don't really want a loop line. While a new tunnel under DC also does sound great, the idea of two Rosslyn stations close by is just a bad idea. However if these does get built, can we just use Rosslyn station instead? As in, the upper level of Rosslyn could be used for counter-clockwise trains and the bottom level could be used for clockwise trains? We need to sort this mess out first if we do end up building it. Why I'm against it? Number 1, I don't really want to see a loop line running like this, Number 2 is the Rosslyn mess, and Number 3 is because there would still be no trains running into the Shirlington areas which should get some better public transport links so the area can be developed more.

[@Thom-TRA]

Rosslyn would be the same station, just different platforms. Pretty normal for transit systems. What’s wrong with loop lines? They’re so effective and this would make trips shorter for so many people. A line to Shirlington can always be built later, doesn’t mean this shouldn’t be built.

[@DMVRailfan]

@Thom-TRA I did do some thinking and now I'm just neutral about this. I wouldn't really even use it anyway as I don't go to any of these places often (besides the current sections built) but if this is to be built, we need to answer some questions. Which I could probably give some QUESTIONS 1. Will we just go ahead and build this all at once, or are we building sections? Examples: Rosslyn to National Harbor heading east, Franconia to Navy Yard, we need to work it out 2. Will this line be better run by drivers or just run automatically? We could also just have something like London. 3. Where would the drivers change shifts? 4. Where would the depot be? 5. Should we use the 8000s or should we use a future 9000 series built separately for the Blue Lines? ANSWERS 1a. We could start off with the most needed sections that are actually the purpose of the loop, from Georgetown to National Harbor. If we are making it in phases, that is the best section to make it to. The line would head from Georgetown to Franconia, and then head to National Harbor. THEN we link up the line from National Harbor to Georgetown via DC. 2a. If this is loop line, we could do something like London where the driver is monitoring the train and just opening and closing the doors, or we could just automate it. 3a. Rosslyn is the most reasonable place to have driver changes, where the train wouldn't immediately go out of service, another driver would enter into the cab and take over. During the rush hours if this is manually operated, we could have some trains terminate at King Street and run empty to Alexandria Depot. The same thing would happen in the PM. 4a. Alexandria Depot would be the current one and if we just use a separate depot, National Harbor is the most reasonable place to make it. 5a. No answer because I'll let someone else answer that.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@DMVRailfan those are some very good questions!

[@DMVRailfan]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you. All projects, confirmed and proposed have some deep questions that need to be answered.

[@elshizzo]

the bloop is fine but I voted for the silver line to new carrollton option because it adds a bunch of spots in northeast which feels like a real up and coming part of the city. Atleast for me as someone living in ballston, getting better metro access to northeast feels more exciting than getting better metro access to southeast

[@Thom-TRA]

There should be a yellow line branch that covers that area instead

[@NightKnight787]

BLOOP! I actually love the plan a lot and think it is by far the best option and would add ridership and provide much needed relief. The only thing that bothers me a little about it is the complete reuse of VA stations. I would almost rather the loop expand west a bit or something new that could add capacity and ridership from new stations. It seems like all of the new stations would be MD and DC, and I just wish that there could've been something like National Harbor -> King's Street, then go west to new locations in Arlington and Fairfax that are not currently served. I really love the plan overall, I just think that could've been something they considered. But at the same time, my guess is the price was already so high that they had to choose what they could. Maybe in the future they could consider that.

[@michaelfrancistan]

I currently live in Oxon Hill, driving wise I can get to the national mall in 15-20 mins. Technically it's a great location because we are so close to the DC and we have the beltway, but it is soooo soo driving dependant. Unlike Alexandria, we have no train lines that pass by here and if I didn't have a car it would take me an hour or two to take multiple buses and finally hop on a line to get anywhere DC central. I think it just makes total sense, there are so much traffic here in the morning of people communicating into DC, the National harbor has been expanding and growing even more as a spot to see/visit on the Maryland side, and the community here just doesn't have access like it does In NOVA (Northern Virginia). I hope Oxon Hill can be a part of the train line system within the next decade and the community grow because of it.

[@jamesclark1001]

I lived in DC two different times and they were so different due to general access to the metro. The first time was in Ballston and I had a station one block away from my room and a station at my office. The second time it was at Bolling AFB and it was over two miles walk to the station in Anacostia.

[@goisert]

I like the idea of the BLOOP but living near the end of the silver line and having over an hour commute daily each way is why I'm for the express silver line. I waited over 30 years for the silver line and it was initially supposed to be part of the original metro system plan in the 60s. The 4 stops in the Tyson's/McLean area slows the trip a lot which makes an express train important to the western silver liners. It'd be nice if they could do both enhancements. People that fly from Dulles airport would benefit for a quicker trip there. But I understand why BLOOP would be great.

[@kwarkentien]

Interestingly, the Blue Line originally was going to go to Huntington with Yellow going to Springfield (Franconia and Springfield were to be separate stops) so the “BLOOP” would restore the original alignment for Blue and Yellow in Fairfax County. The big issue here is the cost and extensive underground tunneling needed to build a new line under the Potomac and through DC from G’town to Union Station and beyond. The original work in the 1970s was difficult and made for a real mess with streets and other spaces laid open to relocate utilities and build the tunnels. In high density downtown areas, the impacts can’t be overstated. Where you can build above ground, such as the connection on the eastern bank of the Potomac down past St E’s and Oxon Hill, that would be much easier and somewhat cheaper to do, but let’s be honest. Look at the Purple Line debacle. It’s still not open, not even a portion of it, and it’s been “under construction” for years now. I think this idea, while really appealing, is dead on arrival. Plus, fares would need to be raised dramatically to reflect what Metro truly is-a commuter rail connecting suburbs with downtown DC. Metro is not an intracity subway. More than half of the stations are outside of the city limits: 18 in MD, 32 in VA, 40 in DC. But we can dream.

[@Thom-TRA]

I think this is a pessimistic take. It fulfills both roles. I for one almost exclusively use it as an intracity metro, and it serves me quite well in that capacity. But I like that it also extends to the suburbs, so those people don’t have to drive into the city or use the lackluster commuter rail.

[@joetrey215]

Without retrocession, many of those VA stations would be in the "city" so jurisdiction is not a good distinction for DC or any other metro area. It is obviously relevant for support, approval, and funding, but not necessarily useful for system classification.

[@timturn]

I remember the original plans for the purple line were supposed to go around the beltway. I think the final plan now is from Bethesda to College Park

[@Thom-TRA]

The purple line is from Bethesda to New Carrollton. I think the extension around the beltline was more of a fantasy map than an actual plan because it is exclusively a Maryland project.

[@car_tar3882]

Something they didn’t mention is that the bloop could help prevent crowding after sporting events at navy yard and if mci center is replaced by a stadium in Arlington.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, anything WMATA can do to prevent overcrowding is good!

[@jyutzler]

Stadium/arena in Arlington? Forget it.

[@robif722]

I voted for the loop and I love that you call it the Bloop. That's what I call it from now on and hope that is what they pick in the fall.

[@SchuminWeb]

I was hoping to hear my voice somewhere along the way in your video (I'm a train operator). Disappointed but not surprised that I didn't hear myself. Ah, well...

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m sure I’ve heard you before. I tend to ride the metro a lot.

[@OuijTube]

BLOOP! As an Arlington resident it’s the clear winner for me in terms of connectivity. Better connections to intercity trains at Union Station. More capacity for dealing with crowds at Nats Park and Audi Field with a Buzzard Point station. Some overdue transit improvements for SE DC East of the Anacostia. One thing you didn’t mention about the silver line express is that Metro’s proposal involved boring deep tunnel lines from outside the Beltway, through Falls Church and Arlington, to the new Rosslyn Tunnel. All that cost to get a suburban express line is really hard to justify. Still, i hope it’s the genesis of a Crossrail/RER type arrangement where we have new deep tunnel Metros that go express across the region to link up the airports and intercity train stations.

[@baconmcbacon62]

I grew up in DC in the late 90s and early 2000s and they needed a loop even then! They really need to get cracking on an outer loop train all the way around, too, but I understand that's in contentious works rn. The sounds and sights of this video brought me back to the stations. I can even smell them in my memory!

[@Kelbo16]

Agreed 100%! Born and raised here and I’ve been saying for years we need a beltway line, no brainer!

[@jeffh5903]

I like the BLOOP idea the best too. Waste Management NYC trash train at 10:30. In the summer watching trains from Long Bridge park those trains can really hum headed south!

[@Boss42n]

The Bloop looks like a good idea. I'm old enough to remember when the blue line was extended fron National Airport to VanDorn St; early 90s.

[@qwite9309]

As someone in suburban car dependent Annandale, I think the next expansion after the blue line should be a very *expensive* revivial of the Columbia Pike metro stop, we need to expand in underserved communities and more infill areas in nova.

[@Thom-TRA]

I know the pike was supposed to receive light rail and got the lackluster Pike Ride instead. Breathing new life into the metro would be the best option. But can VA have the leadership needed to see it through?

[@qwite9309]

@@Thom-TRA I hope so there was some surprising bills introduced this session that was going to legalize mixed use housing on strip malls by a fairly moderate senator. The Dillion rule sadly makes localities dependent on the state to fund the metro funding or large scale projects with funding. I am hoping the next dem trifecta works towards a dedicated funding stream for WMATA. I believe in 2020 there was a study for the pike not sure if it went through or not. Youngkin said he was a YIMBY but hasn’t worked with the legislature yet on a ADU bill that actually got a few Republican senators and a Loudoun dem actually opposed (who also got the largest amount of money in the supply subsequently, 2 million), that’s getting shelved until next year. I think Spanberger is all but guaranteed to become governor I just hope it gets prioritized enough

[@w41duvernay]

There were Extension lines to current lines. I got to see this from my Uncle who was secondary engineer (as a designer) for the Red Line, as a kid in the early 70's. The loop line wouldn't surprise me.

[@Neal7891]

I wish that red line had continued to Frederick. Would've saved me having to drive to Shady Grove weekly.

[@donberg01]

I grew up in the area & used the DC Metro from it's opening in the 70's, it's a good system and I am infavor of more expansion - yes on the BLOOP!

[@captainkeyboard1007]

I am inclined to agree that making a Loop line for the Blue Line trains would make horse sense, thus freeing up one line, and leaving two train lines under District of Columbia. It would make itself for appropriate train schedules. This Loop will encompass neighborhoods that are untouched by Metrorail at this juncture. This plan could possibly improve ridership by attracting those neighbors to take distinctive advantage of using Metrorail. By the way, blue is my favorite color. Once again, beginning construction on the Loop for the Blue Line sooner just makes horse sense.

[@Thom-TRA]

Well said

[@captainkeyboard1007]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you for typing to me.💙

[@RealMattHaney]

Agree a circle line is a good idea. Wish there were more thought about where it could go within the city of DC. Nowhere should be more than a 10 min walk from a metro station, yet several pockets like Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Logan Circle, or many places east of the river, do not meet that criteria. It would require more tunneling perhaps, but the proposed loop would require new tunnels anyway. Mostly just want them to get started on it. Also, I’m not sure “bloop” is great branding…if there is ever an issue or delay or anything it would immediately be turned around. 🤷‍♂️

[@Thom-TRA]

I can’t fathom what would possibly be wrong with the name bloop. It’s playful, it’s easy, it has no connotations.

[@ArefDajani]

I dove into the comments before adding mine. I live in Greenbelt and am all for the BLOOP. In Old Greenbelt where I live, we have excellent Metrobus service that in one direction takes us to Greenbelt Station -- the terminus of the Green Line -- and in the other direction takes us to New Carrollton Station -- the terminus of the Orange Line. With the Purple Line run by the State of Maryland connecting three lines (Orange with New Carrollton, Green with College Park, Red with Silver Spring, and Red again with Bethesda), we have an excellent bypass around DC, though it will be slow going as it is light rail. I am all for the BLOOP for several reasons: access to Georgetown/West End, relief to BOTH Rosslyn and Union Station as choke points, and access to National Harbor. With regard to National Harbor, the real question is where such a station to be, as there are in fact three (3) National Harbors: the Tanger Outlet, the MGM Casino, and the Tourist Trap where they regrettably moved The Awakening from Haines Point. Tanger and MGM have free parking. The Tourist Trap has zero free parking and could use Metro more than either Tanger or MGM. However, MGM would likely be the desired terminus AND there is a free shuttle from MGM to the Tourist Trap part of National Harbor. The conundrum that I didn't see anyone talk about: NIMBY: Not In My Back Yard. One Chevy Chase Country Club is what set back the Purple Line like forever. I am not so worried about the part in MD as I am about the northern end between Georgetown and Union Station. DC is a litigious city already; the BLOOP could bring out all the lawyers...and psychiatrists to deal with all the NIMBYs! Still, I am all for the BLOOP. I just hope that the NIMBYs can take a chill pill and see the bigger picture: a more cohesive and connected DC Metro Area.

[@RonRova]

Good stuff! As a daily metro user it’s sort of weird to see so many positive comments on the DC Metro! Do you have any idea why some Green line trains stop at Mt Vernon Square? It would seem to make more sense for it to go all the way to Fort Totten.

[@Thom-TRA]

Why wouldn’t you be positive?

[@theknittingtourist]

Honestly the addition of a silver line plus express would drastically affect traffic in the beltway so positiviy and take my 2 hour train commute from greenbelt to Herndon down to 40 minutes

[@Thom-TRA]

In what world would an express that skips 4 stops reduce your trip by 100 minutes???

[@jyutzler]

The only way you'd get from Greenbelt to Herndon in 40 minutes is via a combination of HOT lanes (which of course don't exist in Maryland but could possibly get built) and 267 or by traveling between 8PM and 6AM. It's not even remotely feasible by any conceivable rail configuration.

[@worldwide4768]

DC can learn from Philly and use more light rail to support the main heavy rail system.

[@history_leisure]

You could also just remove the H/Benning Streetcar and send Silver Line trains from a new tunnel at Stadium-Armory to Rosslyn II. It would connect Union station to Largo (directly or maybe Silver Line short turns at Stadium-Armory like was originally planned), which would provide more options to get to Union Station East-West. I also made my old idea for the Bloop go a bit further North and East with a Pink line serving the west ends-with Oxen Hill being a transfer point where Blue would continue to National Harbor towards Alexandria

[@history_leisure]

Also Blue is 100% de-interlined with transfers at King St-Old Town (Blue would be underground), Pentagon City (cross-platform), Rosslyn (likely cross-platform), Georgetown [Pink], Dupont Circle, U St-Cardozo, Brookland-CUA, Minnesota Av, Benning Rd, and Naylor Rd, and Oxen Hill [Pink]

[@greshac.3634]

BLOOP! Georgetown needs Metro connection for pedestrians. For bikes, it's often easy to cross Key Bridge to get on at Rosslyn, but that's a pretty long bridge to have to walk across in anything else than good weather.

[@Thom-TRA]

Georgetown needs to be completely redesigned anyways so that the main shopping streets aren’t also major thoroughfares for cars. It’s horrible.

[@robertcarlson8867]

I can see them lining up all the reasons to build the BLOOP, getting this close to signing the papers, then realizing they couldn't label the directions the trains are traveling by the termini with a loop and scrapping the idea as more trouble than it's worth.

[@Thom-TRA]

You know there’s plenty of loop lines worldwide right? They’ll just do what they do for way finding

[@leslierivera742]

Im all for Bloop ❤ did they make a decision yet? You said they’d decide in fall of that year but i dont see anything online about what they chose

[@Thom-TRA]

Not yet…

[@steveciccarelli3609]

I think Metro's biggest need is to connect the Yellow/Blue lines near the Wilson Bridge to P.G. County. Why? All of the Pentagon workers could bus or drive to an Oxon Hill station, cross the Wilson and depart at Reagan Airport, Pentagon, etc. Better than them driving thru D.C., over the 14th Street Bridge to the Pentagon.

[@steveciccarelli3609]

Seeing cars with Maryland plates crossing the 14th street Bridge from the Pentagon into D.C. and into P.G. County has to be the commute from hell. A congested bridge and then congested freeways. Not an easy trip!!

[@daffquess7006]

Imagine this: A one seat ride between Union Station, Capitol-South, National Harbor, National, the Pentagon, Rosslyn, Georgetown, and Farragut. All in a single seat trip. In a loop. Watch them choose the turnback plan, I would cry.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s when we protest lol

[@PotomacMotorCars]

Red line needs some massaging, also a key candidate for a loop IMO with the existing terminus prox.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, if the population density up there can justify it

[@tnkl_4254]

​@@Thom-TRAit does, plus if you live in Damascus it's an hour plus bus ride(that only shows up every half hour) to even get to the nearest train station. Metro to somewhere like Germantown and Gaithersburg would be ridiculously helpful for those living in northern Montgomery County

[@joemotes]

Thom, another great educational video, Thanks.

[@ashantedula5696]

Out of towners can ride the bloop from DCA straight to convententions and mgm casino on the bloop

[@polepino]

just do it already, connecting national harbor and oxon hill makes so much sense.

[@SomeRamdomAhole]

I doubt it tbh considering how long the SV took and how the purple line is taking , this will probably take 40 years…

[@Thom-TRA]

Something tells me suburban Virginia may be more difficult to work with than the regions the bloop would go through

[@ChasMusic]

So, on the current system, if you're going from Franconia-Springfield to Downtown Largo, is it faster to stay on the Blue line, or transfer to the Yellow between King and Pentagon and back to the Blue at L'Enfant Plaza? And you make a good case for BLOOP.

[@Thom-TRA]

You will be a few minutes faster transferring to yellow, mostly because at L’Enfant you also have the option to take Silver to Largo.

[@tsmall07]

Sooooo.... What happened? I can't find any updates about these proposals.

[@Thom-TRA]

They have postponed the decision

[@tsmall07]

@@Thom-TRA I'm shocked

[@matthewknobel6954]

and yet the tens of thousands of people that live in Manassas, Gainsville, Haymarket and Warrenton have only upwards of a $100 toll per trip toll road instead of a orange line extension Every year more houses are being built with no public transportation options..

[@Thom-TRA]

The median income in Haymarket is over 120K. At that point, living away from transit is a choice.

[@Shredderbox]

If it happens it absolutely MUST be referred to as the “Bloop”, it’s just so ridiculous in a super serious place like DC.

[@michaelvelik8779]

It should get its own informal mascot.

[@TheBronxboy22]

I love that idea of the Bloop! Metro Needs you in their planning board!

[@Thom-TRA]

Where do I sign? Lol

[@davinp]

It would be nice and convenient to go from Union Station to Capitol South. It is a long walk from the Library of Congress to Union Station

[@byrons8956]

Having a station at National Harbor would be nice.

[@Thom-TRA]

Totally

[@rebeccawinter472]

The transfer at L’Enfant could be easier - it could be a cross platform transfer. 😊

[@Thom-TRA]

No it couldn’t. The lines don’t run that way. Plus that would lead to overcrowding.

[@ajjj4wood1]

i hope they will have platform screen doors

[@Thom-TRA]

Me too

[@alexw181]

Not Bloop? I think that the secondary tunnel through DC north of the B/O/S was more or less needed since the construction of the network. But I think that the loop allignment is a good idea from a network coverage standpoint, but from operations I'm a bit more iffy. Loop lines are much more operationally difficult than standard "back and forth" lines, and it fails to de-interline the yellow and blue lines, still allowing problems on the green/yellow cascade onto the blue, along with other operational difficulties. Not to mention that there's going to be much more demand on the line on the northern edge of the loop than on the southern edge, and it makes travel from one side of the city to the far side from that point harder, as the two ends of the line are pretty close to each other (The red line has this same problem IMHO). Off-city center loop lines often don't preform well for this reason. I think it would best instead to upgrade the B/O/S to some sort of CBTC to allow for more trains per hour, and spend it instead on upgrading Marc+VRE to s-bahn standard, electrifying the routes, buying back right of ways, through-running, and at least 4 trains per branch per hour all day service, and unfathomable ToD at all the currently suburban park and rides. If the blue line is still being expanded, I think it's worthwhile to build the blue line out into Arlington, and then have it follow the same tunnel alignment in DC, and then in the east chart out some sort of path in Maryland halfway between the green line and the orange line. This de-interlines it from both the orange and silver, along with expanding service.

[@kenmills4739]

When the DC Metro map was completed before/during operations and future expansions, the Blue Line 🟦 "originally" was supposed to have operated to/from Huntington while the Yellow Line 🟨 was to have went to Franconia•Springfield-also note when the entire system was planned for 101 miles (I still have the Metro Tabloid magazine when I sent away for transit maps in the early 1980s: subway maps, yes, bus maps, no-and even while visiting DC-I have kinfolk also- to ride the Metro from the early 1990s and early•mid 2000s, I was able to access the transit center on 5 Street NW and be charged a fee for the bus maps), the Yellow Line 🟨 also was to have operated like a twin sibling with the Green Line 🟩 all the way to Greenbelt; Franconia and Springfield were originally supposed to have been two separate terminals-both Yellow Line service. . .however, service to Huntington was opened and Yellow Line trains begin operations in the early 1980s; the Green Line trains operated from Cardozo (before being renamed) and Anacostia throughout the 1990s (original plans called for an extension to Rosecroft, humorously someone questioned/suggested an extension into Andrews Airforce Base), but the brunt of the line opened in bits-n-pieces finally to Greenbelt [with rush hour trains using a connecting 3rd track linking the Red Line 🟥 without touching Fort Totten Station], while Columbia Heights and Georgia Avenue/Petworth Stations opened up in the mid•late 1990s one weekend as I missed it, while service into the early 2000s sees trains operating to/from Branch Avenue to compensate; there was mention about running Blue Line service 🟦 under along M Street to decipher the bottleneck at Rosslyn Station, and the current imaginative Loop service to also link up with National Harbor with the possiblity of running trains along the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (Capitol Beltway), which the ideas transferred their allegiances to/with future Purple Line train service currently under construction 🟪.

[@Thom-TRA]

I love looking at the old metro plans and seeing how much was actually built

[@simonsv9449]

I can’t seem to understand why the Yellow Line doesn’t have a station in East Potomac.

[@Thom-TRA]

I know, they really should

[@jerrylsomani3638]

I'd love to see dots further out to my neck of the woods in MD on the Red line... Germantown, Clarksburg, Urbana, Frederick. Wishful thinking😥 I'll just have to buy a Tesla and use FSD to get into work.

[@Thom-TRA]

Technically I think the monorail plan up to Frederick is still “alive” lol

[@zeroone8800]

You showed a 9/9/8 ratio between the lines. I think this is incorrect. Isn't it in a 2/2/1 ratio repeating every 12 minutes? They run 25 tph because running 26 rph requires unrealistic precision. This also affects the yellow and green line because the blue and yellow interline. To avoid least common multiple conflicts with the blue, the yellow and green run at 2/5 of tunnel capacity. The loop would enable all lines other than red (already unhinded and can run at up to full tunnel/signal capacity) to run at 1/2 capacity (assuming equal loading).

[@Thom-TRA]

They're not running at 26 tph yet I believe, the map I showed was a hypothetical of how many trains could run with the current infrastructure.

[@db-wo9hi]

I worked on a land surveying field crew that was hired to determine the exact center of the inbound and outbound tracks of the tunnels for the blue line extension out to largo Maryland. They needed to know the exact center so they could determine how fast they could safely run the trains in the tunnels while accounting for the amount of sway and rocking from side to side and up and down the train cars would be subject to as they traveled on the tracks in the tunnel. Too fast and they could derail or hit the equipment in the tunnel or possibly the tunnel itself.

[@EvanStoneProductions]

11:15 what an epic sound

[@brycebundens6866]

B L O O P

[@Thom-TRA]

B L O O P

[@R162A-1-train]

⁠B L O O P

[@NWIndianaElevators]

BLOOP

[@Thom-TRA]

@@R162A-1-train BLOOP

[@Thom-TRA]

@@NWIndianaElevators BLOOP

[@airbus7373]

It’s nice to have a new tunnel in DC. However, they nixed the Columbia Pike metro in favor of this. VA has been neglected in favor of MD for too long in terms of rail transit, instead getting terrible BRT’s that don’t get the job done. Columbia Pike badly needs new transit, and it could use the new tunnel as well.

[@Thom-TRA]

You don’t suppose the slew of Republican governors and legislators VA has had in the last half century has anything to do with that? With all the wealthy inhabitants of NOVA, it’s not like WMATA is purposefully spiting the area.

[@GSU_Panther_Nation]

First WMATA line that could be renamed as the L line from the existing Blue Line, due to the loop around DC

[@smithw14]

Love the video - very well done!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@jet_lee2024]

Is the silver line extension to Dulles popular or losing money?

[@Thom-TRA]

Very popular

[@jyutzler]

@@Thom-TRA By what measure? It's way below projections and not nearly making up for operational costs (not that it is ever realistic for transit to be revenue-neutral).

[@Thom-TRA]

@@jyutzler ridership projections made before COVID you mean? Funny that reality would be lower for this specific line when ridership across the world is still recovering.

[@teuast]

"Maybe I want to go to the Pentagon to see where those $860 billion are going. Or I could go to King Street and Alexandria to spend a similar amount on some Italian food." OOF

[@Thom-TRA]

Where’s the lie? lol

[@samthomasjr6562]

BLOOP... THERE IT IS!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Love this!

[@MrChristheWise]

I actually prefer the Silverline express. This is based off the the GGW article where they analyze it based off of total capacity running under the patomic

[@Thom-TRA]

Silver line express wouldn’t make much of a difference. It just skips a few Arlington stations and serves only far Virginia commuters.

[@MrChristheWise]

@@Thom-TRA From the article's analysis: Blue Line to National Harbor, Additional Core Capacity (trains/hour) 13, Additional Potomac River Crossings (trains/hour) 26. Silver Line Express in Virginia, Additional Core Capacity (trains/hour) 26, Additional Potomac River Crossings (trains/hour) 26. The idea being that by fully separating the silver line (express and local) from the orange and blue trunk line in the core the full 26 trains per hour of the new crossing will be unlocked. Rather than only half of the new crossings being unlocked under the bloop.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@MrChristheWise I don’t think the silver line warrants frequencies that high to be honest. And there’s still the complexities of interlining with orange, not to mention the confusion for passengers. The GGW estimate of 13 blue is only if you assume yellow will be running at 13 tph. I see no reason why yellow should run that frequent if most of its route is shared. The benefits of regional connectivity and much higher revenue outweigh any capacity benefits for me.

[@elitettelbach4247]

Still holding out for the BLoop 💙

[@BigBlueMan118]

As an outsider to me if I had the billions of dollars, I would be spending them transforming the commuter rail network with a Crossrail style line - but it's a bind because, as commuter rail would become much more useful and successful, rail ridership across the board will grow massively and put much more pressure on the Metro lines. You could also consider running one of the Blue, Silver or Orange lines as a shuttle whilst securing the funds to build another city tunnel, right? Allowing you to run the full 26tph to the Silver and Orange lines. They must have known that opening the Silver line as a branch on existing services without planning for another city tunnel would overstretch the capacity...

[@jyutzler]

I don't know what the Crossrail is but if they make a 11-figure investment, it will be to electrify rail in VA and reconfigure Union Station so that you can cross without switching engines and integrate MARC and VRE together into a regional system.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@jyutzler it’s like you figured it out in your own comment

[@BigBlueMan118]

@@Thom-TRA Yeah, almost funny to read!

[@dakker5292]

I think they should build the BLOOP and its nickname would be 'Betty Bloop'!

[@CameronK665]

The bloop is the clear winner here. In the most ideal case, though, I'd want to see WMATA use the opportunity to build a new subway directly through Old Town Alexandria (under Washington St, perhaps?), since the King St station is 1-1.5 miles from most of the things to do in Old Town. The Blue line would just turn north off the Wilson bridge, serve central Alexandria under Washington St at Franklin, King, and Madison before turning northwest under Powhatan St, then meeting up with the yellow/VRE main line south of Potomac Yard. Just my two cents.

[@jyutzler]

Alexandria just spent the 16 months boring a tunnel around the city for wastewater management, carefully avoiding the historical part of Old Town. They're not going to turn around and bore a new tunnel under Washington St.

[@Zyir626]

Hello Thom! Tomorrow I Am headed to Washington DC Do you prefer anything I should check out Transit Related.

[@Thom-TRA]

I would definitely just spend some time riding the metro. Check out some big stations like L’Enfant. There are also countless good Railfanning spots, like NoMa, Long Bridge Park, or Potomac Yard. Anacostia station is cool as well.

[@Zyir626]

@@Thom-TRAOk Thanks I’m goin to check out these Places and also ride the Metro

[@arcc.1056]

Not living in the DC area and not vising it often, I probably wouldn't have right to vote here, but... BLOOP!

[@Thom-TRA]

BLOOP! No one in DC will deny you the right to vote, that would just be hypocritical lol

[@andrewharmon5843]

One question, is bloop still interlining with orange and silver at Roslyn?

[@Thom-TRA]

No it will get rid of interlining

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

@@Thom-TRA Correct. It will not be interlining. But my impression is that "Rosslyn II" will still be the same location and station to riders for all intents. It will essentially become a transfer station.

[@onorebakasama]

"Bloop" is such a wonderful name. Best option, by far.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you thank you

[@dondinero718]

BLOOP and can we also get MARC trains into Alexandria and VRE trains to New Carrollton? A man can dream

[@Thom-TRA]

I’d love to see a Capital region RER/S-Bahn system that blends the different commuter rails.

[@riccorich]

I agree with the bloop, a direct access from south Nova to PG County via National harbor will help long term , I would love to see a extention to Baltimore from Greenbelt at least to BWI

[@washingtondc9290]

@washingtondc9290 • 1s ago That will never happen DC and Baltimore are not a part of the same metro area, Baltimore, metro service, Baltimore, city and its counties & DC metro service the DC metro area,

[@washingtondc9290]

On top of that, it’s DC Metro it was originally built just to serve the city but now also serve the nearby counties so if Maryland and Virginia wants more of a connection that would probably be a conversation between the two governors of the two states 🤷🏽

[@riccorich]

@@washingtondc9290 doesn't matter, the mist common sense for the most common commute, ther is already likes via amtrack and MTA that route between DC and Bmore with common travel between city makes most sense for another line that benefits everyone and lesser car traffic

[@washingtondc9290]

@@riccorich DC & Baltimore, are two major cities that have their own metropolitan areas. Do you know how much would have to go into DC metro system connecting to Baltimore that would make Baltimore a suburbs of DC, which is impossible, because Baltimore is a major city within itself that have its own suburbs, are you OK my boy because something is off for you to not know that 😭🤷🏽

[@washingtondc9290]

@@riccorich That would be like New York metro system going to Philadelphia or like Philadelphia metro going to Baltimore, that's impossible. Because all 3 are major cities. That's what Amtrak is for to take you to other major cities, The metro is meant for the city and its suburbs

[@MistyOLR]

Even as a casual user, BLOOP does sound like the best idea ❤

[@metrotrujillo]

the bloop is a good idea there should also be a bigger loop line under all 495, connecting all the other lines, moving people away from DC, opening more options for transportation.

[@jyutzler]

This makes the least sense of all. If this were that valuable, we'd have BRT on the Beltway today, especially on the Virginia side where they have HOT lanes.

[@metrotrujillo]

@@jyutzler they will never put one there, the hot lanes are pure business

[@Da__goat]

DC metro is a US transit system done well. The stations are elegantly designed, and the infrastructure was not built with major delays and at an affordable cost. Now try doing that in a place like New York or San Francisco and well. Yeah it likely will never happen. Which is part of the problem

[@bradleygraves5915]

The Bloop would be amazing!

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed the video👍👍

[@brotherkeshawnharrisforvic1582]

BLOOP! We need better Metro access in SW/SE

[@danielfrancella5219]

Anyway I hope the metro extends the red line to Frederick County.

[@1986mumbles]

Just letting all of the office workers work from home would be the cheapest option. A bloop would be fun though.

[@Kev4Kev]

What I dont understand is why give areas already near stations a second one when there are areas inside DC that have none. A station at Bolling AFB or St Elizabeths is a waste of money you are just building another Pentagon or Arlington Cemetery Station with no housing or anything around it for the general public. If any new line is built inside of DC it should go west/east north of Woodley Park and Columbia Heights to give a option of transferring between all lines without going into downtown DC.

[@Thom-TRA]

I agree that they need a northern connector too but you have to remember that’s not the purpose of the new tunnel. It’s to relieve congestion on the existing tunnel. If you ran the blue line farther north all those people would still transfer to the existing line and cause problems.

[@Kev4Kev]

@@Thom-TRA transfering does not cause problems. the problems are due to the switch at Rosslyn. If you go rid of the Blue line or Silver Line you could run the other two lines at 13 and 13 each if they dont interline with other lines which the Blue Lines does at Pentagon. It would be fully possible to have a new tunnel and a new or second Rosslyn Station connected to the old one with the Blue going on the new one leaving the Orange and Silver to run together until Stadium Armory. What stops the Blue line from going across the river to stop in Georgetown , the up near American University, Tenleytown or Van Ness across Rock Creek Park to somewhere like Georgia Ave Petworth then to Washington Hospital Center then going to Brookland or straight down North Capitol Street serving other areas of NW or NE then to Union Station and crossing Capitol Hill to wherever to get to National Harbor. I would personally rather have it go to somewhere like Clinton, Waldorf, Ft Washington, Brandywine or Piscataway over National Harbor unless Mariott was going to pay for the station and routing through National Harbor as they would have the biggest benefit at the determent of commuters in southern Maryland. There is always the possibility of buildings Wye's in the system so that the routes could be reconfigured.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@Kev4Kev the problem is forecasted ridership will mean the downtown corridor will need more than 26 tph. So having blue go farther north will still lead to overcrowding on the orange and silver.

[@Kev4Kev]

@@Thom-TRA Would it ? Of the people using the trains how many are actually going to Foggy Bottom, McPherson Sq, Farragut West as there final destination vs transfering to the Red Line at Metro Center or Farragut North and going to somewhere like Union Station, Gallery Place, Noma, Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Van Ness, Tenelytown or somewhere on the Green Line ?

[@Thom-TRA]

@@Kev4Kev Foggy Bottom consistently ranks as the top station for ridership. Farragut West and McPherson Square, as well as Federal Triangle, L’Enfant and the Capitol generate massive numbers of rides due to the number of offices. Ridership data is available from Metro. People from Virginia are not traveling to Tenleytown en masse. Like I said, there is need for a northern connection. But that is not what this project is about and it wouldn’t solve the problems it aims to address.

[@bobsykes]

I cannot wait to see the follow up video where you eat $600B of Italian food! ✌

[@Thom-TRA]

I ended up in the ER weighing 37896 lbs

[@EpicThe112]

BLOOP Because you can have college students at are in Georgetown back to Newark,NJ by taking BLOOP to Union Station and then Amtrak to Newark, NJ via Baltimore Penn Station JHU and 30th st UPenn

[@valdiswallace830]

Yes we are here for the bloop