Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 20, 2009
Metrobus service expands to 23 routes
Metrorail continues underground only; No MetroAccess service Sunday
As more of the region’s roads are cleared of snow, Metrobus service is expanding to offer more service just one day after record snowfall wreaked havoc on the regions roadways. Twenty-three routes are operating limited service in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Intervals between buses are expected to be longer than usual, with most headways in the 20-minute range.
Limited service has resumed on the following bus routes in the District of Columbia: the 70 line, the 90 line, the S line, the L line, the V8, the 30 line, the X2, the 80 line, the U8, the 50 line, the A2, A6, W2, W6 and W8. In Virginia the 16 line in Arlington and Fairfax counties is operating. In Montgomery County the K6, Q2, 45, 46 and 48 are operating. In Prince George’s County the C29 and B30 are running. The B30 runs from BWI/Thurgood Marshall Airport to the Greenbelt Metrorail station. Customers who are returning from the airport to the station and need to get downtown will be transported to the nearest open Metrorail station via a free shuttle bus.
Customers may want to take advantage of the next bus prediction technology to get an idea when the next bus will be arriving by logging onto Metro’s web site or calling 202-637-7000 and saying, “next bus.” Buses are expected to be moving slowly on the roads, which remain slippery.
Metro officials cautioned riders to be mindful of slippery roads, which are being used as walkways because most sidewalks remain covered with snow.
Meanwhile, the Metrorail system will continue operating underground-only at this time. MetroAccess will remain closed all day today (December 20). Officials will continue to evaluate rail and road conditions throughout the day with an eye toward expanding bus and rail service.
Metro has 86 stations and 106-miles of track. Forty-seven stations along 50.5 miles of track are located underground and 39 stations along 55.5 miles of track are above ground. All 39 above-ground stations are closed. Sunday morning the system opened at its usual 7 a.m. time, with trains servicing stations at 24- to 30-minute intervals to the underground stations as follows:
Red Line – Service between Medical Center and Union Station only
Orange and Blue Lines – Service between Ballston and Stadium-Armory only
Green Line – Service between Fort Totten and Congress Heights only
Yellow Line – Service from Pentagon to Crystal City only
As of 2 p.m. today, 35,530 trips had been taken in the Metrorail system.
Clearing the above-ground tracks is a process that takes several steps. The heavy duty diesel-powered equipment, known as prime movers, clear the majority of the snow from the two non-electrified tracks. Once they are finished doing their job on the service tracks, they will shift their focus into the rail yards, where hundreds of trains and miles of additional tracks remain under more than a foot of snow. More railcars are needed for weekday commuters than are needed for weekend service, so it is crucial that the rail yards are cleared.
Dozens of railcars were stored in the underground tunnels Friday and Saturday nights to keep them free of snow and ice, however hundreds of railcars had to be stored in the rail yards, where they remain buried.
Once the prime movers are off the rails then trains equipped with de-icing equipment run on the tracks to ensure that the electrified third rail is clear of snow and ice. These trains apply a de-icing agent and they make several sweeps of the tracks. For that reason they are referred to as “polishers.” The next step to prepare the tracks for service is to clear the snow and ice from interlockings or switches, which allow trains to switch tracks, reverse direction or turn around. For instance, if a train becomes disabled, the trains behind the disabled train can only move around it by switching tracks at an interlocking. If the interlockings are not clear of the snow and ice, there is no way to maneuver around disabled trains.
As stretches of track are cleared of snow and ice, and the tracks are deemed safe for moving passenger trains, Metro officials are likely to resume service to above-ground stations in phases.
“The region saw record amounts of snowfall and we are working diligently to clear the snow and ice from the tracks so that we can expand our service area and resume service to our above-ground stations,” Metro General Manager John Catoe said. “Our snow-clearing efforts have been more challenging than usual because of the heavy amount of snowfall.”
Road conditions have thwarted the efforts of many Metro employees who have had difficulty reporting to work. In some instances, supervisors in SUVs have gone to the homes of employees to pick them up and take them to their worksites.
Metrorail employees and contractors who were able to get to their worksites were working throughout the night today to continue to clear the rails of ice and snow and to clear platforms, sidewalks, parking facilities and pathways to rail stations. They have been focusing mainly on the entrance areas of underground stations, including shoveling of snow off of exposed escalators, many of which have come to a halt due to packed ice and snow in moving parts. About 80 escalators that serve underground stations have been stopped by the heavy snow and ice, and rail customers are encouraged to use station elevators from the street into and out of the station when possible.
Contractors also are in the process of clearing paths to above-ground stations in preparation for their reopening. Customers should expect to see surface parking facilities piled with snow, consuming approximately 15 percent of the spaces where vehicles usually park. The top level of parking decks also are expected to have large snow piles on them as the surfaces are cleared.
Heavy accumulation of snow on the rails on Saturday, December 19, forced Metrorail officials to limit train service to its 39 underground stations starting at 1 p.m. when rapidly deteriorating weather conditions hindered train movement. Metrobus and paratransit service also were stopped at 1 p.m. on Saturday due to unsafe road conditions.
The decision to limit train service was made due to heavy snowfall that began to cover the electrified third rail, which is situated eight inches above the ground. The third rail must be clear of snow and ice because it is the source of electricity that powers the trains.
Metro started the weekend with 2,200 tons of bulk rock salt to treat Metro roadways and parking lots and 18,000, 50-pound bags of de-icer for treating sidewalks and platforms. Hundreds of snow-trained employees and contractors have been working throughout the night and into today to treat snowy and icy surfaces at Metrorail stations including platforms, sidewalks and parking facilities.
Metro also is using “heater tape,” which has been installed on sections of track with significant grades/inclines and in critical areas in the rail yards. The heater tape is a cable clipped onto the electrified third rail that is turned on when temperatures dip below the freezing mark. It helps keep the third rail warm enough to prevent ice from forming.
How to get Updates on Winter Weather Conditions
There are a variety of ways for customers to stay informed during a major storm. Metro constantly updates local news media of Metro service changes. Information is also available on Metro’s home page at www.metroopensdoors.com. Customers can also subscribe to e-Alerts and receive up-to-date service disruption information on Metrorail and MetroAccess. Resources at Metro’s Customer Call Center are limited and waits for a customer service agent are very long today.
News release issued at 2:50 pm, December 20, 2009.