Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 31, 2006

Metro Prepares For This Week’s Excessive Heat

With temperatures expected to reach triple digits this week and the heat index temperature even higher, Metro is taking steps to ensure its more than one million daily customers and several thousand employees are prepared for the heat. Metro passengers should expect the following changes this week:

• Beginning with tomorrow afternoon’s rush hour service (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and throughout the afternoon period if temperatures reach near 100 degrees, Metrorail will add an extra two to three minutes between trains.

• Red Line trains will operate every 4 minutes between Silver Spring and Grosvenor-Strathmore.
• Orange Line trains will depart every 8 minutes from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and New Carrollton.
• Blue Line trains will depart every 9 minutes from Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield.
• Yellow Line trains will depart every 9 minutes from Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square/7th St Convention Center.
• Green Line trains will depart every 9 minutes from Greenbelt and Branch Avenue.

• Beginning with tomorrow afternoon’s rush hour service (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and throughout the afternoon period if temperatures reach near 100 degrees, all Metrorail trains will operate at reduced speeds of 45 m.p.h. in the above ground sections of the rail system as opposed to the top speed of 59 m.p.h.

• Metro will temporarily suspend daytime weekday heavy track maintenance work with temperatures approaching 100 degrees. Maintenance personnel will conduct frequent track inspections in the above ground sections of the rail system looking for “heat kinks.” Heat kinks form when overheated track expands and cannot be constrained by the cross ties and ballast supporting the track.

• Metro is making sure air conditioning units are properly working inside all rail cars and Metrobuses.

“The purpose of expanding train time departures and reducing train speeds during the afternoon periods will help Metro conserve electricity, and reduce the amount of power needed to operate the trains,” said Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Metrorail. “With these changes, passengers should prepare for delays and crowded conditions on all rail lines.”

Metro is also in the process of upgrading the cooling system in rail stations over the next four years. This project will include the replacement of eight cooling towers, five chiller units, and 40 station air-conditioning units.

The Metrorail station cooling system was developed in the 1970’s and the temperatures were set to 85 degrees to reflect energy conservation efforts.

Metrorail trains and buses were designed to be 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperatures. However, it may feel warmer to passengers due to increased ridership, heat generated from more frequent train operation, and doors opening, which releases the cooler air during stops. On Metrobuses, passengers also often open bus windows, thus releasing cool air circulating through the bus.

“With temperatures expected to reach triple digits this week, we want to make sure our customers take the necessary precautions while riding Metrorail and Metrobus,” said Dan Tangherlini, Metro’s Interim General Manager. “Customers should plan their trips by checking our Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com, or calling (202) 637-7000 to find out what time their train leaves a station, what time their bus leaves the bus stop, and to check on the availability of their escalator or elevator at their Metrorail station. These simple tips can reduce the time waiting for a train, or bus, or an escalator or elevator that may be out of service,” said Mr. Tangherlini.

Metrorail and Metrobus Customer Safety Tips

Metro provides the following safety tips while riding Metrorail and Metrobus during this week’s heat:

• If a customer is riding a rail car or Metrobus without air conditioning, they are encouraged to take down the number of the rail car or bus, and report the condition immediately to a uniformed Metro employee or call (202) 637-1328.

• Customers waiting for a Metrorail train at outdoor rail stations are encouraged to stand in the canopied covered portion of the station. Do not stand in the uncovered portion of the platform.

• Customers waiting for Metrobuses on local streets are encouraged to stand inside a bus shelter if one exists. If a bus shelter is not available, customers are encouraged to wear clothing that will protect themselves from the sun, such as a hat or sun lotion. 

• Customers using the Metrorail system are also encouraged to check on the status of the escalator and elevator units at their particular station. Customers can check the status of a particular station by visiting www.metroopensdoors.com and clicking to the following link: https://www.smartrip.com/stcnd/stations_ele_oos. Customers can check on the specific status of each station, and subscribe to receive alerts on the status of Metrorail elevators. For more information on elevator units, customers can also call (202) 962-1212.

• Customers with medical conditions are strongly encouraged not to walk up an escalator unit that is not in service. Customers should use a street elevator, or ride to the next Metrorail station and catch a special shuttle bus that will return them to their original station.

• If a customer experiences, or sees someone experiencing a health-related illness in the Metrorail system, either on a rail platform or rail car, they should seek a station manager, or press the emergency intercom button located either inside the rail car or on a station platform pylon.

“We hope our customers will take advantage of the services we provide to them and take the necessary precautions while riding Metrorail and Metrobus during the excessive heat conditions,” said Mr. Tangherlini. We value our customers, and we want them to stay safe while riding Metro.” 

News release issued on July 31, 2006.