Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 18, 2005

Metro Weekend Track Work to Disrupt Red Line Service

Maintenance Work to Disrupt Service between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical CenterTrain Stations To Remain Open

This weekend, as part of its Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure reliable service, Metro will undertake a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line that will disrupt service between Grosvenor-Strathmore and the Medical Center Metrorail stations. While these stations will remain open, customers using the Red Line this weekend are advised to plan accordingly.

Metro also advises fans attending the Washington Redskins exhibition game on Friday evening to be prepared for a slightly longer trip home if they are headed toward Shady Grove. Redskins fans traveling to the game between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore, will have to exit at Medical Center on their way home to catch a free shuttle bus to Grosvenor-Strathmore to continue their trip on the Red Line.

The major track rehabilitation project is as follows:

When: Friday, August 19, 10 p.m., to Monday, August 22, 5 a.m.

Friday, September 16, 10 p.m. to Monday, September 19, 5 a.m.

This weekend, Metro personnel will replace the grout pads on the aerial structure between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations on the Red Line. This work will require Metro personnel to elevate the pillars along a portion of the aerial structure and insert new grout pads beneath the pillars. Once the new pads are inserted, the pillars will be lowered onto the new pads.

As a result of this safety-sensitive work, the following service patterns will be in effect this weekend:

The Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations will remain open. However, Red Line trains will not operate between these two stations.

Red Line trains will operate in two sections: between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore; and between Glenmont and Medical Center.

Metro will operate free shuttle bus service every five minutes between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center.

Passengers will be able to access the free shuttle bus service from the following station bus bay locations:

Grosvenor-Strathmore: Rockville Pike entrance to Tuckerman Lane, at bus bay F

Medical Center: Rockville Pike entrance to South Drive, at bus bay A

Metro advises patrons who commute on the Red Line between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore to consider using the Red Line on the opposite side of Montgomery County, if possible.

For patrons who need to park this weekend, the Glenmont Metrorail station has more than 1,700 parking spaces, and the Wheaton Metrorail station has more than 950 parking spaces.

On weekends, parking is free at all Metro stations.

To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, hang signs and banners in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, and make train and system announcements. Additional information is available on Metro’s web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.

The Trip Planner, 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 August 18, 2005.