Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 10, 2009

Two escalators at Dupont Circle north Metrorail station entrance in service

Two escalator units running, work to continue on remaining unit

Customers using the escalators between the street and mezzanine levels of the Q Street Dupont Circle Metrorail station entrance now have some relief as an additional unit returned to service after undergoing extensive repairs since Oct. 26.

Metro accelerated the work and had the escalator unit operating by Monday evening, Dec. 7, almost a week ahead of the anticipated completion date.

Customers can expect continued maintenance work on the station’s escalator units in part because the station is more than 30 years old. Signs indicating the specific type of mechanical work and the estimated date of the unit's return to service are displayed in the mezzanine level of the station. Customers may also view this information on Metro’s website:
http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/elevator_escalator.cfm

Metro is committed to running all available escalator units for customer convenience. However, mechanical parts may not always be readily available, so many parts have to be custom-made or rebuilt, a process that adds time to the repair schedule. Some of the work required to repair the units is done off-site, such as refurbishing steps and rebuilding gearboxes and motors.

As part of the Red Line rehabilitation program approved by the Metro Board earlier this year, the three south entrance escalators at 19th Street and Connecticut Avenue will be replaced completely and all the platform level escalators units rehabilitated beginning in the spring of 2011.

For additional information on Metrorail elevator and escalator work, visit http://www.wmata.com/rail/elevators_escalators/.

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Media contact for this news release: Bessy Guevara or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.

News release issued at 9:59 am, December 10, 2009.