Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 22, 2003
This week at Metro (Monday, Aug. 25, 2003)
Metro announces late night track work at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail Station
Beginning Friday evening, and continuing through next Thursday, August 28th, Metro will single-track all Blue and Yellow Line trains from Braddock Road to the Pentagon City Metrorail station while construction crews continue installing extended canopies over the platform at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station.
As a result of this safety-sensitive work, all trains will share the same track from Braddock Road to Pentagon City from midnight to closing on Friday, August 22; opening to 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 23; and from 10 p.m. to closing from Sunday, August 24, to Thursday, August 28.
On this segment, customers may experience a delay of up to 10 minutes and, therefore, should allow more time for their trip because of this necessary work.
Metro sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks its customers for their patience while personnel complete this important project. To alert customers about this work, regular station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system. For more information on traveling by Metrorail or Metrobus, customers may call (202) 637-7000, TTY at (202) 638-3780, or visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com. Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro · Now through September 6, 2003, from 1 to 6 p.m., "Live on Penn" FREE concerts, every Saturday on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 3rd and 6th streets, near the National Gallery of Art; featured music will include rock, hip hop, jam, and reggae. Metro will sponsor a booth each Saturday for customers to obtain information on the system and purchase Metro merchandise and SmarTrip cards; attendees are encouraged to take Metrobus or Metrorail to these concerts.
August 22, 2003, Commemoration of Ben’s Chili Bowl; this establishment on U Street, N.W., near 12th Street, is marking its 45th anniversary; Metrobuses in the area may need to detour due to the celebration.
· August 22, 2003, 8 p.m., R Kelly Concert, MCI Center; organizers expect 14,000 concert-goers; Metrorail stations to be impacted include Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and Archives-Navy Memorial.
· August 23, 2003, 1 p.m., Live on Penn Concert Series, on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 6th streets, N.W.; 20,000 attendees expected to this event which lasts until 11 p.m. Archives-Navy Memorial, Union Station, Judiciary Square, and Smithsonian Metrorail stations to be impacted by crowding. The final concert will be on August 30.
· August 23, 2003, the 40th Anniversary March on Washington, at the Lincoln Memorial; organizers expect 50,000 participants; Foggy Bottom-GWU, Smithsonian, and Arlington Cemetery Metrorail stations expected to have heavy usage.
· August 23, 2003, Noon, Muscular Dystrophy and Harley Davidson Rally, on the National Mall between 3rd and 4th streets, N.W.; organizers expect 25,000 rally-goers; Federal Center SW, Union Station, and Smithsonian Metrorail stations may have heavier than usual crowding at the time of the rally which ends at 6 p.m.
· August 25, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Navy Band Free Concert at the U.S. Capitol West Front; with 2,000 attendees expected, Union Station, Federal Center SW, and Capitol South Metrorail stations may be more crowded than usual.
· August 26, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Marine Band Free Concert at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall; with 3,000 attendees expected, the Smithsonian Metrorail station may be more crowded than usual.
· August 26, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Air Force Band Free Concert at the U.S. Capitol West Front; with 2,000 attendees expected, Union Station, Federal Center SW, and Capitol South Metrorail stations may be more crowded than usual.
· August 26, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Air Army Band Free Concert at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall; with 3,000 attendees expected, the Smithsonian Metrorail station may be more crowded than usual.
· August 27, 2003, Noon, Metro and WJZW Smooth Jazz Lunch-Time Concert, at Rockville Town Center, near the Rockville Metrorail station. This is the final concert in this series for this summer.
· August 30, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Major League Soccer Game with D.C. United vs. El Salvador, at RFK Stadium; organizers expect 20,000 soccer fans; Stadium-Armory Metrorail station to be impacted by crowds.
· September 7, 2003, Noon to 6 p.m., The Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival "Celebrating the Blues," featuring more than 30 FREE performances and activities for the whole family; ride Metro to Foggy Bottom-GWU, then take a FREE shuttle bus running every 15 minutes beginning at 11 a.m.
· September 20, 2003, Giant Food BikeDC 2003; organizers are planning for 10,000 bicyclists and the 30-mile bike events begins and ends at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.; the 12-mile family bike event begins and ends at 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Metrobus customers should expect rolling delays and plan to add more time to their trips on buses traveling near the bike event: Pennsylvania Avenue, the Anacostia Waterfront, Whitehurst Freeway, and other scenic routes in the Washington metropolitan region. Metrobus bike racks hold two bicycles per bus.
No Board of Committee Meetings Scheduled No full Board or committee meetings will take place on August 28. To hear a recording about upcoming meetings, date and time changes for meetings, or the results of the last meeting, call 202-962-1055. To hear quotes by Metro experts, call MetroVoices at 202-962-2007.
Media: More News You Can Use NFL Kick Off Festival Set for September 4, 2003 The festival will take place on the National Mall. Metrorail will operate peak-hour service from 2 to 10 p.m.; peak-hour fares will be in effect from 3 to 7 p.m., the usual period. The Smithsonian Metrorail station’s Mall entrance will be closed starting at noon, while the station’s Independence Avenue entrance will remain open. The system will remain open until all post-event crowds have cleared the Mall and the Redskins game at FedEx Field.
Metro Track Work Set from August 29 through 31 on the Blue and Orange Lines Metrorail personnel will perform track work on the rail system beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, August 29, to midnight on Sunday, August 31. The work involves installing restraining rails on the Blue and Orange Lines between McPherson Square and Smithsonian Metrorail stations. Single tracking (when trains in opposite directions take turns traveling on one track) between these two stations will take place at that time. Customers should expect to add approximately five to ten minutes to their commute during the work.
Metro Debuts CD-ROM on Safely Evacuating Trains, Stations, and Buses Metro recently debuted a CD-ROM on safety procedures for evacuating a Metrorail train, Metrorail station, or Metrobus. The CD-ROM, intended for area employers to share with their employees, is available on Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com. The information on the CD-ROM also stresses the importance for Metro customers to plan alternate travel routes.
News release issued on August 22, 2003.