The X2

Going, going, gone. Metro's current HQ building. The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority is moving. The iconic(?) Jackson Graham Building in Judiciary Square has been the Metro HQ since 1974. However, the agency has been looking to move into a space that better fits its future: the consolidation of office spaces. They decided to sell the Judiciary Square building, a process that should begin early next year. The new HQ will be in a currently empty, c.1965 office building at 300 7th St SW in L'Enfant Plaza. This is across the street from a Metro rail entrance, near several Metro bus lines, and across the train tracks from a VRE station. The building was previously the longtime home of the USDA. It will eventually become the work home for 1,300 WMATA employees & contractors when renovations are completed, likely sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. Renderings of 300 7th St SW post-renovation. Source: WMATA. The Jackson Graham Building is in a **prime** s...

Metro/WMATA enters a new phase next week, starting Sunday June 25. Long debated structural changes are coming and we'll have to adjust to the new normal of less service and higher fares. Whether the performance rates improve will be one of the big questions, but Friday morning's Red Line meltdown was *not* a good omen. Here are some of the biggest changes.  Biggest news for Carver/Benning Rd/H Street NE : Bus fares for regular routes, including the X2 and X8, will now be $2.00 (up from $1.75).  The X2 bus will run additional late night service until 4 AM, daily. Late night service will include ~30 minute headways. Metrorail will close at 11:30 PM on weeknights (M-T). Sunday rail service will end at 11:00 PM.  Friday and Saturday night rail service will close at 1:00 AM. Minimum and maximum rail fares during peak hours will be $2.25 and $6.00, respectively.  Minimum and maximum rail fares during non-peak hours will be $2.00 and $3.85 respectively....