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The Story Behind Washington's Metrorail Shutdown

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WASHINGTON -- The nation's capital has shut down again and, no, it isn't due to the latest filibuster on the Senate floor.

This time Metrorail, the nation's second busiest transit provider, is closed, leaving some 700,000 passengers stranded and bringing traffic to a halt.

Metro blames the latest closure on a fire that happened Monday at the McPherson Square station.

A similar situation happened back in January of 2015. That incident resulted in a passenger's death.

Officials say they need to inspect 600 underground jumper cables to make sure it doesn't happen again. And while federal government workers were given the option to work from home or take unscheduled leave, non-government residents were left to figure out alternate ways to get around the city.

"We were originally supposed to go to the Renwick but with the Metro closure we actually had to modify our plans and we took a Lyft here because the bus was running every 24 minutes or something without the Metro. So, I'm like, I guess we're spending money on a Lyft then," resident Becca Hernandez told CBN News. 

And Metrorail's problems are nothing new. Passengers are often met with delays and service disruptions.

"I was on the Metro when it had a fire at the Tenleytown station a couple of weeks ago and it was kind of terrifying actually," Hernandez said.

While Hernandez opted for the ride-sharing service Lyft, others went with their rival, Uber. Commuters wanting to grab an Uber, however, were faced with a price surge. Supply and demand, right? 

But there are alternatives, like DC's Capitol Bike Share program. And as the old adage goes sometimes you have to go with the flow.
 

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About The Author

Amber C.
Strong

Amber Strong joined the CBN News team in Washington, D.C., in 2014 as a producer and field producer. Currently, she works as a correspondent, producer, and backup anchor for "The Brody File." Her beat includes national politics and The White House. And while she loves her current backyard of Washington, D.C., she’s a Hoosier girl at heart. Amber lives and breathes all things entertainment and politics and has had the privilege of interviewing some of the biggest names in both industries, including late night host Jimmy Fallon and presidential contender Rick Santorum. However, her true love is