Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 17, 2003

Hurricane may cause suspension of Metro service

If Hurricane Isabel causes heavy sustained winds in excess of 40 mph to the Washington Metropolitan area, Metrobuses and MetroAccess vehicles will be pulled off roadways and above-ground Metrorail service will be suspended until the winds die down. Underground Metrorail service would continue to operate.

"We are concerned about the safety of our customers, employees, and pedestrians," explained Metro CEO Richard White. "Sustained winds of 40 mph or greater means wind gusts of more than 50 mph, and we do not want to risk having customers get blown in front of trains or onto the electrified tracks. Additionally, we do not want our bus customers who are waiting at stops to get blown in front of our buses or into other vehicular traffic. Nor do we want blowing projectiles to injure bus, rail, or MetroAccess customers. This is a precaution to safeguard our customers, employees, and pedestrians."

The design standards for Metrorail trains and Metrobuses are such that they can withstand winds upwards of 80 mph without sustaining damage, so "this is not an issue of our equipment integrity or reliability. This is strictly a safety issue for customers and employees," he said.

Metro officials, in making their decision to lean on the side of personal safety, explained that this is a standard that most transit agencies in the country follow.

Once winds fall below 40 mph, it would take several hours to restore rail service above ground because track inspectors would need to walk the tracks to ensure they were clear from debris and did not sustain any damage from debris that may have landed on the tracks. Any damage would have to be repaired prior to giving the "all-clear" signal to resume service. Metro has already put aggressive plans into place in hopes of preventing the flooding expected to accompany the hurricane from disrupting Metrorail and Metrobus service. Maintenance workers and directors have been transporting sand bags to staging areas and monitoring drainage pumping stations and other sites. They have also put plans into place to establish a command center to oversee and direct emergency operations.

With the weather forecast for high winds and heavy rainfall, officials are doing everything they can to protect the regional rail and bus system from experiencing water damage. Metro’s trains operate along an electrified third rail which provides power to the train engines. If water reaches that power line, trains will not be able to operate.

For the most up-to-date information on Metro’s operations, customers should call 202-637-7000, TTY: 202-638-3780.

News release issued on September 17, 2003.