Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 31, 2006

Weekend track work to impact Blue and Orange line service

This weekend, as part of its Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure reliable service, Metro will undertake a major track rehabilitation project on the Blue and Orange Lines that will impact service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road/Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations. While these stations will remain open, customers using the Blue and Orange Lines on the eastern side of the rail system should add 30 minutes into their travel plans this weekend.

Metro personnel will conduct a complete maintenance overhaul outside the Stadium Armory Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines from 10 p.m., Friday, June 2 to midnight, Sunday, June 4. This will include the replacement of 900 feet of running rail, cross ties, tie plates, stone ballast, and traction power cables on both tracks. As a result of this work, trains will not be able to operate between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road, and Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue.

To perform this work, the following service pattern will be in effect this weekend:

The Stadium-Armory, Benning Road, and Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations will remain open. However, Blue and Orange Line trains will not operate between these three stations.

Blue Line trains will operate in two sections: between Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory; and between Largo Town Center and Benning Road.

Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: between Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Stadium-Armory; and between New Carrollton and Minnesota Avenue.

Metro will operate free shuttle bus service every five minutes between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road, and between Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue.

During the weekend, all Blue and Orange Line trains will operate every 12 to 15 minutes from the end of each rail line.

To alert customers about this work, Metro will hang signs and banners in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, make train and system announcements and have Metro Information Persons, volunteers at key Metrorail stations providing customer assistance. 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 May 31, 2006.