Metrorail will operate on a normal weekday schedule throughout the remainder of the day, (rail service concludes at midnight) and all trains will operate with their normal consists of four and six-cars; (Note: Metrorail will maintain its normal service as long as conditions are favorable. Service plans could change depending on weather conditions throughout the day). Rail and bus riders may experience delays if more than two inches of snow falls.

Trains will operate every 12 minutes from the end of the rail lines, and every six to seven minutes in the downtown core of the city. For the peak afternoon rush hour, trains will operate every six minutes from the end of the rail lines and every three to four minutes in the downtown core of the city.

This afternoon, 20 trains will be equipped with de-icing equipment to combat snow and ice on the third rail. 12 will operate in regular passenger service on all rail lines with the remaining eight trains in rail yards.

Customers will see the de-icing equipment inside those 12 trains. It is neither dangerous or flammable, and customers need not be concerned that it is aboard their train. If they prefer not to be in a rail car with the equipment, they can move to another rail car. Those same trains also will have special ice scraper collector shoes to help keep ice off of the third rail. If the third rail has ice build-up on it, it does not allow for the free flow of electricity from the rail to power the train. Keeping the third rail ice-free is a continuous process.

Metro will use its "heater tape" which has been installed on critical sections of track with significant grades/inclines and in critical areas in the rail yards. The heater tape, which has been in use throughout the winter, is a cable clipped onto the third rail that is turned on when temperatures dip below the freezing mark to keep the third rail warm enough to prevent snow and ice build-up on the third rail.

Metro railcar maintenance staff have also"hardened" a fleet of 690 rail cars by protecting the undercarriage motors from snow ingestion and electrical short circuits that are caused by water/snow and debris ingestion. The traction motors have been coated with a protective material to help prevent the ingestion of snow and water.

Monitoring weather forecasts and conditions throughout the day, and preparing accordingly;

Maintenance personnel will report at normal times this evening, including employees assigned on their day off to treat station entrances, platforms and parking facilities with salt and shovels and if needed, plows.

Metrobus will operate on a normal weekday schedule. However, Metrobuses will operate as weather conditions dictate, so customers should expect possible detours and delays due to changing road conditions.