Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 25, 2008

Labor Day weekend track work to Impact Blue and Yellow Line service

This weekend, Metro will undertake a major track rehabilitation project on the Blue and Yellow lines that will heavily impact service between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road Metrorail stations. The stations will remain open, but the track between them will be closed, so customers using the Blue and Yellow lines should add 30 minutes into their travel plans to allow to transfer to a shuttle bus to get through the affected area.

Metro will conduct a complete track overhaul between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road Metrorail stations on the Blue and Yellow lines from 9 p.m., Friday, August 29, to 4 a.m., Tuesday, September 2. This will include the replacement of 3,200 feet of track, 1,600 cross ties, 2,120 tie plates, 300 tons of stone ballast, stud bolt and fastener replacement, and bridge maintenance repair. As a result of this work, trains will not be able to operate between the airport and Braddock Road.

“By completing this work over the Labor Day holiday weekend, we will save more than $250,000 in late-night maintenance that would have resulted in 2 ½ months of single-tracking in the area,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Metrorail.

To perform this work, the following service pattern will be in effect this weekend:

• Blue Line trains will operate in two sections -- between Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road; and between Largo Town Center and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

• Yellow Line trains also will operate in two sections -- between Huntington and Braddock Road; and between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Greenbelt.

• Free shuttle bus service will be available every five minutes between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road Metrorail stations to get riders through the affected area.

• After 9 p.m., Friday, August 29, all Blue and Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes. On Saturday, August 30, and Monday, September 1, all Blue and Yellow Line trains will operate every 12 minutes. On Sunday, August 31, all Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 15 minutes.

To alert riders about this project, Metro will post signs in key stations, post notices on station kiosks, and make both train and system announcements.

The Trip Planner, located on Metro’s Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow 30 additional minutes for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780, or visit www.metroopensdoors.com.

News release issued at 9:33 am, August 25, 2008.