Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 11, 2003
Metro announces construction to begin on the Comprehensive Escalator Canopy Pilot Program
Construction of new canopies will begin at Brookland-CUA, L" Enfant Plaza, Medical Center, and Virginia Square-GMU Metrorail stations
Starting later this month, construction will begin on the installation of canopies at four Metrorail stations as part of the Comprehensive Escalator Canopy Pilot Program. Canopies will be installed at Brookland-CUA, L" Enfant Plaza, Medical Center, and Virginia Square-GMU. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of July.
As part of the construction process, temporary overhead protection consisting of a metal frame with wood decking will be installed at each station. The major construction work will take place overnight during non-revenue hours with the exception of the Brookland-CUA station on the Red line and the L" Enfant Plaza station on the Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green lines. The west entrance of the Brookland station will be temporarily closed on selected weekends for this construction and shuttle bus service to the east entrance of the station will be provided. In addition, the L" Enfant Plaza north station entrance will be closed on certain weekends while construction progresses.
Upon completion of the pilot program, Metro’s Board of Directors, the D.C. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) will have the opportunity to provide comments prior to full implementation of the program.
BACKGROUND:
In April 2000, Metro’s Board of Directors approved a resolution providing for the installation of canopies over exposed escalators at 53 locations throughout the Metrorail system. The intent of the resolution was to reduce the effects of weather, extend the useful life of escalators, and to meet current building code requirements. A new provision for protection over every outdoor escalator unit is now mandated by local building codes when escalators undergo a rehabilitation.
In July 2001, the Metro Board of Directors selected the design concept of Lourie & Chenoweth, LLC, as its choice for the Comprehensive Escalator Canopy Program. In September 2001, Metro presented the design concept to the D.C. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which approved the concept with recommendations. In December 2001, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) also reviewed and approved the canopy concept with a few recommendations.
In November 2002, Metro awarded a $3.2 million construction contract to Grunley-Walsh, J.V. of Rockville, Md., to construct canopies at four Metrorail stations as part of the Comprehensive Escalator Canopy Pilot Program.
Under the program, the current budget of $27.2 million provides for the installation of approximately 30 canopies at entrances to protect customers and escalator equipment from inclement weather.
" Very shortly, we will begin construction on a very important project that relates to our vertical transportation units, and that is our escalators," stated Jim Gallagher, Metro’s Deputy General Manager for Operations. " The installation of these canopies is designed to protect our customers, preserve our escalator system from weather elements, improve escalator reliability, help reduce the number of customer escalator injuries and extend the life span of Metrorail station escalators."
To alert customers about this project, additional signage and regular station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system, and special messages will appear on the Passenger Information Display Signs (PIDS) located in all Metrorail stations.
For more information on Metro, customers can call (202) 637-7000, TTY (202) 638-3780, or visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com
News release issued on April 11, 2003.