Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 16, 2004
Blue Line extension to Largo Town Center to open on December 18
Two new stations add 3 miles of new track
Today, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (Metro) Board Planning, Development and Administration Committee received a final status update on the Blue Line extension to the Largo. The extension beyond Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, with two new stops, Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station and the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will open on December 18. " Today’s announcement, truly marks a major milestone in Metro’s illustrious 28-year history," stated Metro Board Chairman Robert J. Smith. " The extension of the Blue Line beyond Addison Road-Seat Pleasant will act as a catalyst for the renewal and revitalization of this area, providing a host of new opportunities for the people of Prince George’s County, MD, and enhanced customer service for all Metrorail customers." Among the key highlights from today’s presentation were:▸ All line trackwork and systems work is complete. The installation of track beyond the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant station is complete, all clearance train and inspections are complete. ▸ Both tracks are also fully energized.▸ The two new stations and accompanying parking facilities are nearing completion. Installation of appropriate utilities and paving of parking facilities is almost complete. ▸ Elevators and escalators at both locations are undergoing certification testing. Metro personnel are working with the contractors to plan one more shutdown of an area of the Blue Line to complete the installation of the automatic train control systems and to connect the infrastructure with the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station. This shutdown is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of October 22-24, and involves a suspension of rail service between Stadium Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations. Metro would operate free shuttle bus service between these locations during that weekend. " Now that we are nearing completion of this project, we are able to see that it is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved with this project," stated Colin Myers, construction manager for the Blue Line extension to Largo. " We still have some additional work, but we are nearing completion. " I would also like to personally thank the residents in Largo, MD, for their patience and support while we have worked on this rail line extension," said Mr. Myers. " As always, we will continue to work with the community and provide updates on this project. Everyone in the community is looking forward to the day when Metrorail service is available to the residents along Morgan Boulevard and at the Largo Town Center." In May 2001, Metro broke ground on the 3.1 mile, two-station, $456 million extension of the Blue Line from the current Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metro station to Largo Town Center, with an intermediate station at Morgan Boulevard. The Blue Line extension to Largo will feature a 2,200-space parking structure at Largo Town Center, 500 parking spaces at Morgan Boulevard, a rail car storage area for 36 Metrorail cars, and a child care facility at the Morgan Boulevard station. The extension achieves a number of " firsts" in Metrorail history. It is the first segment to be added to the 103-mile Adopted Regional System, bringing it to a total of 106.1 miles. It is also the first Metro line to extend beyond the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County, MD.
News release issued on September 16, 2004.