This post was originally published on Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
On Saturday, June 4, Metro started its year-long initiative to address safety and repair issues for the Metrorail system. The repair work will be spread across 15 separate Safety Surges of intensive maintenance and repairs with the goal of compressing three years of work into one year. Fortunately for Arlington, many of the surges that directly affect the County are earlier in the schedule so we can get them over and done with sooner. Unfortunately though, just because a surge may not be affecting your particular commute route, does not mean you won't feel the impact of the reduced rail service elsewhere. Similar to how a single tracking event can reverberate throughout the whole DC Metro system, SafeTrack will only amplify this effect.
The proposition of the prolonged maintenance plan across Metrorail and the service delays it will bring along with it, has many people re-evaluating how they will get to work. It is crucial that people throughout the region learn about and try their commute options so that they are able to adapt to the changes SafeTrack will bring. It may seem like a good idea to switch to driving alone to work if Metro is no longer an option during SafeTrack, but the roads will not be able to function if everyone switches to driving alone. Some good news is that there are a lot of transportation options that could work for your commute until Metrorail gets back to a state of good repair. Keep in mind that flexibility is key with SafeTrack; just because one commute option worked well for you during one surge does not mean it will work equally well for other surges. Here is a short list of options that are always available to businesses and their employees.
- Telework and/or flexible scheduling
- Ridesharing via vanpools and carpools
- Capital Bikeshare single-trip fares or corporate memberships
- Traveling workshops to better explain commute options
If any of these options are not currently available for your business, contact us. We can help formalize, set up or establish a sustainable program for your employees during SafeTrack and beyond.
Photo Credit: Sam Kittner/Kittner.com