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District streetcar system could be ready to open as soon as Feb. 26 District streetcar system could be ready to open as soon as Feb. 26
(about 2 hours later)
Fifty-four years after streetcars stopped dinging their way through the District — and nearly a decade after the city blew through its first deadline for bringing them back — Washington could launch passenger service on the rail cars in about two weeks, according to city safety officials.Fifty-four years after streetcars stopped dinging their way through the District — and nearly a decade after the city blew through its first deadline for bringing them back — Washington could launch passenger service on the rail cars in about two weeks, according to city safety officials.
District officials declined to give a precise date for their grand opening.District officials declined to give a precise date for their grand opening.
But in a letter this week to the Federal Transit Administration, the District’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, which has safety oversight of the system, said the time has come. But in a letter this week to the Federal Transit Administration, the D.C. fire department, which has safety oversight of the system, said the time has come.
“The date will be on or after Feb. 26, 2016,” the letter read, “provided all final requisite activities are successfully completed by” transportation and safety officials.“The date will be on or after Feb. 26, 2016,” the letter read, “provided all final requisite activities are successfully completed by” transportation and safety officials.
As befits a project marked by repeated delays and broken promises — the effort is on its fourth mayor and passengers were first supposed to be able to ride starting in 2006 — a host of caveats remains.As befits a project marked by repeated delays and broken promises — the effort is on its fourth mayor and passengers were first supposed to be able to ride starting in 2006 — a host of caveats remains.
Namely, final safety walk-throughs and documentation have yet to be completed.Namely, final safety walk-throughs and documentation have yet to be completed.
[How D.C. spent $200 million over a decade on a streetcar you still can’t ride][How D.C. spent $200 million over a decade on a streetcar you still can’t ride]
“Just to clarify,” the letter continued, if the District Department of Transportation “is unable to complete the requisite activities and/or documents,” or the State Safety Oversight Office, which is part of the fire department, “identifies any serious safety or security concerns . . . this projected opening date could and most likely would be impacted.”“Just to clarify,” the letter continued, if the District Department of Transportation “is unable to complete the requisite activities and/or documents,” or the State Safety Oversight Office, which is part of the fire department, “identifies any serious safety or security concerns . . . this projected opening date could and most likely would be impacted.”
But, the letter continues, based on the progress of the past few months, such a delay “seems unlikely.”But, the letter continues, based on the progress of the past few months, such a delay “seems unlikely.”
The letter follows the conclusion this week of pre-revenue operations, the transit industry term for making repeated dry runs in search of potential safety lapses.The letter follows the conclusion this week of pre-revenue operations, the transit industry term for making repeated dry runs in search of potential safety lapses.
In mid-December, DDOT officials announced the launch of a three-week pre-revenue period. But federal officials told the District that was insufficient, so it was extended, officials said.In mid-December, DDOT officials announced the launch of a three-week pre-revenue period. But federal officials told the District that was insufficient, so it was extended, officials said.
In a sharp shift in tone, city oversight officials were effusive about their recent cooperation with their transportation department counterparts. In recent years, and even recent months, there have been personal conflicts and deep disagreements between the safety office, which was set with the help of the FTA, and the officials at DDOT, who have struggled for years to get the system running.In a sharp shift in tone, city oversight officials were effusive about their recent cooperation with their transportation department counterparts. In recent years, and even recent months, there have been personal conflicts and deep disagreements between the safety office, which was set with the help of the FTA, and the officials at DDOT, who have struggled for years to get the system running.
As transportation officials rushed to meet their self-imposed deadline for carrying passengers by the end of 2014, oversight officials complained in internal emails that they had deliberately been given inaccurate and misleading information about streetcar safety certifications, an accusation DDOT denied.As transportation officials rushed to meet their self-imposed deadline for carrying passengers by the end of 2014, oversight officials complained in internal emails that they had deliberately been given inaccurate and misleading information about streetcar safety certifications, an accusation DDOT denied.
By the end of 2014, officials said the system was safe and ready to go, but the city’s safety oversight officials refused to go along.By the end of 2014, officials said the system was safe and ready to go, but the city’s safety oversight officials refused to go along.
Then, in 2015, incoming Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s administration brought in an outside industry group to reexamine the system, and those analysts said a host of problems needed fixing, including streetcar doors that scraped on platform stops. The doors were reprogrammed, platforms were rebuilt, and other issues were addressed. There was also turnover in the safety oversight office.Then, in 2015, incoming Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s administration brought in an outside industry group to reexamine the system, and those analysts said a host of problems needed fixing, including streetcar doors that scraped on platform stops. The doors were reprogrammed, platforms were rebuilt, and other issues were addressed. There was also turnover in the safety oversight office.
In an interview, District fire chief Gregory M. Dean said the impassioned sparring that marked the relationship between fire department overseers and transportation officials gave way to sense of shared purpose and there is now much to celebrate. In an interview, D.C. Fire Chief Gregory M. Dean said the impassioned sparring that marked the relationship between fire department overseers and transportation officials gave way to sense of shared purpose and there is now much to celebrate.
“It’s going to open. It’s exciting times,” Dean said, adding that Leif Dormsjo, DDOT’s director, “and all their people have worked long, hard hours to get this through. As a city, as a resident here, we should all say ‘kudos’ to something we all felt wouldn’t happen. Kudos to all those guys.”“It’s going to open. It’s exciting times,” Dean said, adding that Leif Dormsjo, DDOT’s director, “and all their people have worked long, hard hours to get this through. As a city, as a resident here, we should all say ‘kudos’ to something we all felt wouldn’t happen. Kudos to all those guys.”
Dean said he’s also “excited that our people, all of our people, were able to be a part of this historic moment. Getting hung up on, ‘Did B like A?’ or ‘Did they have a disagreement?’ distracts from what we should really be excited about: a great project, brought to fruition by the hard work of people that had a job to do. One was to build, one was to be the regulator.”Dean said he’s also “excited that our people, all of our people, were able to be a part of this historic moment. Getting hung up on, ‘Did B like A?’ or ‘Did they have a disagreement?’ distracts from what we should really be excited about: a great project, brought to fruition by the hard work of people that had a job to do. One was to build, one was to be the regulator.”