Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 24, 2008
Metro infrastructure rehabilitation program to streamline system upgrades, minimize customer delays
Metro’s Board of Directors today agreed to move forward with the transit agency’s first system infrastructure rehabilitation program designed to streamline upgrades throughout the Metrorail system and minimize customer delays.
“The basic idea is to have one contractor accomplish all rehabilitation work in a specific area of the system starting with the oldest segment first,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer.
Currently, multiple contractors, multiple rehab contracts and Metro maintenance workers compete for time to work on the track. Workers only have a small window of two to three hours to be on the track during weeknights when the rail system is closed.
“The new system infrastructure renewal program will increase the work window to six to eight hours and maximize our ability to keep the system in a state of good repair with minimal disruption to our customers,” said Francis. “More efficient use of time and the ability to combine and concentrate work will increase productivity and help us finish the work faster.”
The first project is scheduled for the Red Line between Dupont Circle and Silver Spring Metrorail stations next year. The Red Line rehabilitation project would be the first in a series of contracts for all five Metrorail lines as part of the overall system infrastructure renewal program.
The project would provide the contractor with greater access between Dupont Circle and Silver Spring Metrorail stations, which would reduce the time required to complete the work and labor costs.
All work would take place after the evening rush hour, starting at 10 p.m. or later in the downtown core and at 8 or 9 p.m. in areas further outside downtown. Trains would share one track through the designated work area.
“Although the rehabilitation projects will require single tracking, work would only take place late at night, when it is least disruptive to customers,” said Francis. “We believe customers will ultimately benefit from this approach because we’ll be able to improve reliability and on-time performance.”
The type of work to be performed includes traction power, automatic train control and communications upgrades; track fastener and tunnel lighting replacement; and tunnel ventilation and fire stand pipe rehabilitation. Other work also could include station rehabilitation work such as platform slab and tile replacement, canopy roof replacements, station wall repairs, air conditioning and ventilation equipment rehabilitation and replacement, lighting change-outs, upgrades to public address systems and elevator and escalator rehabilitation.
The Red Line rehabilitation project would cost about $96 million and would be funded by the Metro Matters program. Metro officials will present the Board with a contract for final approval at a later date.
News release issued at 12:54 pm, July 24, 2008.