Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 30, 2005

Takoma Metrorail Station Closed Labor Day Weekend For Track Work

Major Maintenance Work Scheduled This Weekend on the Red Line

This Labor Day weekend, as part of its Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure reliable service, Metro will undertake a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line which will result in the closure of the Takoma Metrorail station for three days. Customers using the Red Line this weekend are advised to plan accordingly.

The major rehabilitation project scheduled for this weekend are:

When: Friday, September 2, 10 p.m. to Tuesday, September 6, 5 a.m.

Metro personnel will replace the track switch outside the Takoma 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. This work must be done as a preventive measure to assure service quality and safe operation through Takoma.

To perform this work, Metro will institute the following Labor Day weekend service pattern:

All Metrorail Red Line service will be suspended between Silver Spring and Fort Totten, resulting in the closure of the Takoma Metrorail station.

Metrorail Red Line service will operate between Shady Grove and Fort Totten and between Glenmont and Silver Spring.

Metro will run free shuttle buses between the Fort Totten and Silver Spring Metrorail stations. An "express" shuttle service will operate between Fort Totten and Silver Spring only. Another shuttle service will provide a loop service between the Fort Totten, Takoma and Silver Spring stations.

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

Fort Totten: bus bay D

Takoma: bus bay E (to Fort Totten); bus bay F (to Silver Spring)

Silver Spring: bus bay E

To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts to customers, 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 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 August 30, 2005.