Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 26, 2006

High water impacts Metro

Archives-Navy Memorial and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations are closed due to flooding on the tracks inside those underground stations and high water on the tracks between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations has resulted in a single track operation in that area, causing major delays to Metrorail passengers. In addition, Metrobus and MetroAccess vehicles are also being impacted by flooded roads, and their trips are also likely to be delayed in some areas.

There is no rail service between Metro Center and Smithsonian Metrorail stations on the Orange and Blue Lines due to the closure of Federal Triangle station. Free shuttle buses are moving passengers between Smithsonian, Federal Triangle and Metro Center. The Federal Triangle station typically has 10,800 people enter that station on a typical weekday.

There is also no rail service between Gallery Place-Chinatown and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines due to the closure of Archives-Navy Memorial station. Free shuttle buses are moving passengers between Gallery Place-Chinatown, L’Enfant Plaza and Archives-Navy Memorial. The Archives-Navy Memorial station typically has 8,400 people enter that station on a typical weekday.

Delays to passengers due to the high water are significant. People can expect to wait for 20 to 60 minutes for a shuttle bus. In addition, trains are backed up on the Yellow, Green, Orange and Blue Lines due to the truncated service and single tracking that is taking place.

Metro officials have been working throughout the night to pump water out of stations to keep the tracks clear of water. Last night about eight areas of the rail system were affected by high water. Five of those areas were cleared up by the time the system opened this morning.

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News release issued on June 26, 2006.