Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 6, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend work to close Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail 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 and rebuilding 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 rebuild the trackbed, which means workers will install 1,400 feet of new rail, 310 new ties, 200 new tons of ballast, 300 new track fasteners, 600 new anchor bolts, repair 200 feet of grout pads on the aerial structure, and make track circuit upgrades between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations. In addition, workers will repair 60 to 80 water leaks in the tunnels and stations and install 300 new tunnel lights.
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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Service on the Red Line
Throughout the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend, the Red Line 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.
All Red Line trains will operate every 6 minutes during the day on Saturday, Jan. 16, and every 8 minutes on Sunday, Jan. 17 and Monday, Jan. 18. After 9:30 p.m., from Friday, Jan. 15, to Monday, Jan. 18, Red Line trains will operate every 15 minutes apart.
Last Red Line trains each night
From Friday, Jan. 15, to Monday, Jan. 18, the last Red Line train departing the Shady Grove Metrorail station for the White Flint Metrorail station will leave 30 minutes earlier than usual. This will allow for customers to connect to the free shuttle buses and to the last trains departing the Medical Center Metrorail station to the Glenmont Metrorail station.
On Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16, the last Red Line train will depart Shady Grove at 2 a.m., Rockville at 2:04 a.m., Twinbrook at 2:07 a.m., and arrive at White Flint at 2:09 a.m. The last train departing Medical Center on Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16 will leave at 2:45 a.m. On Sunday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 18, the last Red Line train will depart Shady Grove at 11 p.m., Rockville at 11:04 p.m., Twinbrook at 11:07 p.m., and arrive at White Flint at 11:09 p.m. The last train departing Medical Center on Sunday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 18 will leave at 11:45 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend Shuttle Bus Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15, to closing (midnight) on Monday, Jan. 18, Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between the Medical Center, Grosvenor-Strathmore and White Flint Metrorail stations.
Passengers will be able to catch the free shuttle bus service from the following station bus bay locations:
• Medical Center Metrorail station: Bus bay F
• Grosvenor-Strathmore: Bus bay C to the White Flint Metrorail station; Bus bay D to the Medical Center Metrorail station.
• White Flint Metrorail station: Marinelli Road in front of the station.
The free shuttle bus service will operate every 6 to 8 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m., throughout the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend.
Customer Assistance
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, to Monday, Jan. 18, Metro administrative employees will be available to assist customers between the Medical Center, Grosvenor-Strathmore and White Flint Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the track work.
Customer Reminders
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 who live north of the Medical Center Metrorail station and plan to take Metro downtown to a Capitals game, Wizards game or the Health Expo will need to build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans.
People attending events at the Strathmore Center during the holiday weekend will be able to park at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station because the parking facility will be open.
Customers who will be using the free shuttle bus service are reminded to wear warm clothing and dress in layers if they have to wait for the bus due to the chilly January temperatures.
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.
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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 12:49 pm, January 6, 2010.