Streetcars hit the road in Northeast D.C. Monday morning, though it will still be a couple of months before you can take a ride.
However, when you can jump on, that ride might be free.
Simulated streetcar service kicked off around 6 a.m. on the 2.4-mile route along H Street and Benning Road. The streetcars will run about every 10 minutes on their planned timetables:
- Mondays through Thursdays: 6 a.m. to midnight
- Fridays: 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sundays: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The D.C. Department of Transportation says the launch of simulated service follows several weeks of testing and operator training.
Also Monday, a source told News4's Adam Tuss that the D.C. Department of Transportation was considering making the streetcar rides free for the first year of service.
Source tells me @DDOTDC is considering making @DCStreetcar FREE for the first year of service @nbcwashington — Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) September 29, 2014
This is the first time streetcars have run in the District in decades.
To make sure there are no problems, there's a new effort to keep kids stay safe. The program, "Look! - Listen! - Be Safe!" kicks off Monday for children at schools around H Street. It will include toolkits for teachers, as well as safety presentations about the streetcars.
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The streetcars are expected to begin carrying passengers sometime in November.
#DCstreetcars are out on the road today. No passengers yet-- just practice. pic.twitter.com/XSNiEFk6Ss — Megan McGrath (@MeganMcGrath4) September 29, 2014
The trolley depot on Benning Road is a hive of activity as the new streetcars roll out and drivers get used to their new routes.
Benning Road has a dedicated lane for the streetcars so they won't have to share with other traffic. However, on H Street NE, drivers will have to get used to sharing the road with streetcars.
