Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 14, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend work to close Metro's Grosvenor-Strathmore station
No Red Line service between White Flint and Medical Center
The Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station will be closed from 10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 to closing, Monday, Jan. 18, while Metro undertakes a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line between the White Flint and Medical Center Metrorail stations throughout the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 5 a.m.
To help people get around the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the White Flint and Medical Center Metrorail stations. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
During the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Metro will replace 1,400 feet of rail, 310 ties, 200 tons of ballast, 300 track fasteners, 600 anchor bolts, repair 200 feet of grout pads on the aerial structure, repair 60 to 80 water leaks, replace 300 tunnel lights and make track circuit upgrades between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations.
A portion of this work on the Red Line is part of a larger, multi-year Red Line rehabilitation project that will run through 2013.
Throughout the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Red Line trains will be split in two sections, the first between the Shady Grove and White Flint Metrorail stations, and the second between the Medical Center and Glenmont Metrorail stations.
Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the White Flint, Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations throughout the weekend.
Customers can avoid the track maintenance work over the holiday weekend by taking Metrobus J2 (Bethesda-Silver Spring Line) route, which can be accessed from the Medical Center Metrorail station.
Customers who use the Red Line between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore may consider using the Red Line on the opposite side of Montgomery County, if possible to avoid the track work.
For patrons who need to park that weekend, the Glenmont Metrorail station has more than 1,700 parking spaces, and the Wheaton Metrorail station has more than 950 parking spaces. On weekends and federal holidays, parking is free at all Metro stations.
Fans that live north of the Medical Center Metrorail station that plan to take Metro downtown to the Capitals game, Wizards game or the Health Expo will need to build an extra 40 minutes into the travel plans.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be 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.
###
Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 9:03 am, December 14, 2009.