Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 26, 2009

Metro to correct structure displacement near Cheverly Metrorail station

Metro’s Board of Directors today agreed to spend $9.7 million to permanently stabilize a portion of the Orange Line, which has shifted because of work by a developer on adjacent property. A shift in the ground caused movement of the tracks and sheared off bolts that anchor beams that keep the elevated Metrorail tracks in place.

“Metro’s investigation indicated that the displacement was caused by an excessive stockpile of material on the adjacent property. So we reduced train speed from 55 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour to ensure safety,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer and Deputy General Manager. “The funds will allow us to restore our track and provide permanent protection of our tracks and facilities. It is imperative that corrective action be taken to ensure continued safe operation for our trains and safety of our customers.”

In December 2007, as a part of a routine maintenance inspection of tracks along the Orange Line, Metro officials noticed that the alignment of the tracks above Beaver Dam Creek had shifted and the shift caused the bolts that hold the station’s overhead tracks to snap. Since the discovery 15 months ago, Metro track personnel have been closely monitoring the status of the track alignment and have repeatedly adjusted the tracks in the area to ensure proper and safe track alignment for train movement.

Metro officials notified the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, which issued the permit for work adjacent to Metro’s property. The county directed the developer to remove the unauthorized stockpiled materials away from the slope and directed the developer to make repairs.

“Unfortunately the developer has not acknowledged responsibility for the damage to our facilities,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. Instead, Metro staff developed a remediation plan to protect the abutment and restore the alignment. “We will recover our money from the developer through whatever means possible.”

The Metro Board is using funds set aside from other projects through its Metro Matters capital improvement program to pay for the urgent repair work.

News release issued at 5:20 pm, March 26, 2009.