G'town Express

Along with "M" Street, there may soon be another "M" running through Georgetown: Metro.

Tucked away on the west side of the District, Georgetown has literally been, and is still very much its own city within the city. Getting there is easy if you have a car, or live close by and can walk or bike. Sure, you can catch a bus there, which takes some time. But never have you been able to ride a subway to Georgetown.

In fact, "Next stop, Georgetown," almost sounds like a record scratching.

It's been a topic of discussion many times, but like that one friend of yours who you listen to -- but don't REALLY listen to -- any serious thought of running Metro through Georgetown has been brushed aside.

Until now.

At a board meeting this Thursday, Metro officials will brief the transit agency's board of directors about very real, very serious needs the agency is facing with its ever-swelling ridership.

There are two ways to look at the situation:

The first is that we should all be thrilled so many people want to ride Metro. Imagine what "the second worst gridlock" in the country would be like without a mass transit system.

However, if Metro doesn't do something very soon to increase it's capacity, you'll have to take a number to get a ride on the system.

WTOP told you first about a new report which says the transit agency will start hitting its capacity in some locations by 2015 if drastic action isn't taken immediately. Close to 1 million riders a day are expected to be using the system by 2030.

Right now, there is absolutely nowhere to put all those people.

Enter: The Georgetown Project.

Metro planners have put on their thinking caps, and while this proposed new rail line through Georgetown is considered somewhat of a longshot, it is real enough to be brought up before Metro's Board.

So here's the concept in a nutshell. Another rail line would be built from Rosslyn, across the Potomac River, through the top of the District, and then connect with other lines in the city. This way more rail cars could be sent through the downtown core, spreading out riders.

It's not known if the new line would be a tunnel or an aerial structure (insert your own comment here about Dulles Rail, or about a Georgetown resident throwing a fit that an elevated track might run past their home).

But the talk is getting serious about solutions for the region's crumbling, crowded, under-funded, and heavily-used mass transit system.

The day is most likely coming where the subway will run under (or above) Georgetown. It may not be in the near future, but the discussion certainly will come up again and again, until someone finally listens to that old friend who has always been brushed aside.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/TRAVEL ADVISORIES

ON THE ROADS:

In advance of the HOT Lanes project on the Capital Beltway, there are shoulder and lane closures all week long on both the Inner and Outer Loops as VDOT conducts drilling tests. All of the work is taking place after the morning rush and before the evening rush.

There will be shoulder/lane closures on the Outer Loop Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday near the Braddock Road Interchange, the I-66 Overpass, and Route 50. The closures are scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Also, look for shoulder/lane closures on the Inner Loop all week near Braddock Road, Little River Turnpike, Route 7, and Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road). That work will also take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 pm.

In addition, VDOT will be drilling where Route 267 east (the Dulles Access Toll Road east) connects with the Capital Beltway, on Friday between 9:30 a.m. and noon.

THE DISTRICT:

DDOT is performing what it calls "emergency repairs" and maintenance on the northbound lanes of the 14th Street Bridge all this week. The work is not interfering with rush hours however, as it is taking place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Up to three lanes at a time may shut down on the bridge. The work should be wrapped up by 5 a.m. Friday, in time for the morning rush. Minor delays are expected.

SPRAWL AND CRAWL ISSUE OF THE WEEK: Gas prices

The national average for a gallon of regular is now $3.50. Simply put, that is outrageous. How high is too high? What is your limit before you finally decide to make a change with your driving habits? Do you even have a limit? Post your comment on this blog and let us know.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)