Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 17, 2004

Metro announces major weekend rehabilitation track work


Track work to affect customers who use the Red Line. All trains to share the same track between Farragut North and Union Station

During the last two weekends in February, as part of its Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure safe and reliable transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) will conduct a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line. To minimize customer inconvenience, this major rehabilitation project will occur during the weekends when ridership is lighter than on weekdays. Customers are advised to plan accordingly by building extra time into their schedule while utilizing the Red Line during the next two weekends.

The project is a switch replacement, a piece of track that enables trains to switch from one track to another.

Judiciary Square - Switch Replacement When:

  • Friday, February 20, 10 p.m., to Sunday, February 22, midnight.
  • Friday, February 27, 10 p.m., to Sunday, February 29, midnight.
During this time, Metro personnel will replace the switch outside the Judiciary Square Metrorail station on the Red Line. A switch or " interlocking" is an intersection in the track, where trains can ’switch" from one track to another, depending on their destination and route.

RED LINE WEEKEND SERVICE PATTERN:

  • Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont, however, trains will share the same track between Farragut North and Union Station.
  • Red Line trains will run every 13 minutes between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle, and between Glenmont and Rhode Island Avenue. However, Red Line trains sharing the same track between Farragut North and Union Station will run every 24 minutes.
    • Prior to entering the single track area, the first train to arrive at Dupont Circle and Rhode Island Avenue respectively will hold for 11 minutes, waiting for rail traffic to clear from the opposite direction, and to wait for the following train to be within two minutes of that first train holding. To expedite train traffic, two trains sharing the same track and proceeding in the same direction, between Farragut North and Union Station will be separated two minutes apart before two trains will be permitted to pass in the opposite direction.

    • After 10 p.m., on Friday, and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, all Red Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
    • As a result of this weekend track work and the longer waits for trains, all Red Line trains will operate with six cars instead of four cars.

      • Customers wishing to travel on the Red Line during these weekends can access train schedules through Metro’s Web site at www.metroopendoors com.

      Travel Tip: Customers who normally travel the Red Line between Glenmont and Takoma, can speed up their trip if they transfer at Fort Totten and ride the Green Line into downtown Washington to Gallery-Place Chinatown, or to L" Enfant Plaza and switch to the Blue and Orange Lines to their final destinations.

      " During the next two weekends, we strongly encourage our customers who normally use the Red Line to plan accordingly and build extra time into their schedule while we perform this necessary track project," said Lem Proctor, Chief Operating Officer for Rail.

      To alert customers about these rehabilitation projects, station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system. Additional information will be available on Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.

      MCI CENTER SPORTS EVENTS

      On the weekends of February 20-22, and February 27-29, several sporting events will occur at the MCI Center. Metro would like to remind everyone attending these events at the MCI Center to plan accordingly, and build extra time into their schedules, as their waits will be longer for trains before and after each event.

      The events are:

      • Saturday, February 21.
      • NCAA Basketball: Georgetown vs Syracuse, 12 p.m.
      • NHL Hockey: Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
      • Sunday, February 22
      • NBA Basketball: Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks, 6 p.m.
      • Saturday, February 28
      • NBA Basketball: Washington Wizards vs Los Angeles Lakers, 3:30 p.m.

      MCI CENTER TRAVEL TIPS

      • Customers who ride the Blue Line from Northern Virginia and normally transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line, should transfer to the Yellow Line. The last Yellow Line transfer point is the Pentagon station.
      • Customers who ride the Orange Line from Northern Virginia, and the Blue and Orange Line from Prince George’s County, and normally transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line, should transfer at L" Enfant Plaza and ride either the Yellow or Green Line to Gallery Place-Chinatown.

      " We recognize the inconvenience this phase of our Metro Infrastructure Renewal Program will cause," said Mr. Proctor. " At the same time, we want our customers to know that we will be there for them, providing the best possible level of service. It may take customers slightly longer to get to where they are going, but they will arrive at their destinations safely."

      The Ride Guide, located on Metro’s Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time 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.

      News release issued on February 17, 2004.