Metro News Release
For immediate release: February 12, 2010
Metro expands service on Friday
Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess returning to normal operations
Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess are in the process of returning to normal operations Friday, Feb. 12, with significantly expanded services available for customers.
Metrorail service as of 12:30 p.m. today includes all Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green Line stations and limited service on the Red Line. Three of Metro’s 86 stations remain closed as work crews continue snow and ice removal efforts.
Summary of Metrorail service as of 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
• Red Line limited service: White Flint to Glenmont
• Orange Line all stations open: Vienna/Fairfax-GMU to New Carrollton
• Blue Line all stations open: Franconia-Springfield to Largo Town Center
• Yellow Line all stations open: Huntington to Mt Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center
• Green Line all stations open: Greenbelt to Branch Avenue
The following Metrorail stations on the Red Line remain closed due to snow that remains on the tracks: Shady Grove, Rockville and Twinbrook on the Red Line.
Metrorail trains are operating at 20- to 25-minute intervals above ground and 10- to 15-minute intervals below ground. The longer than usual intervals are a result of 35 mph speed restrictions and the snow-covered switches.
Metro officials believed that the entire Yellow and Blue lines would be open at 5 a.m. on Friday, however during the middle of the night it was discovered that the roof over the King Street Metrorail station platform and tracks suffered snow and ice damage, causing a safety concern for anyone on the platform and to trains passing through the station. Staff was diverted from snow-clearing activities to fix the roof, which delayed snow-clearing activities from King Street to Franconia-Springfield on the Blue Line and from King Street to Huntington on the Yellow Line. All stations on the Blue Line were open by 6:10 a.m. and all stations on the Yellow Line were open by 7:15 a.m.
The Metrorail system opened at 5 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, with limited service and will close at midnight instead of 3 a.m. to allow work crews the additional overnight hours to continue to clear tracks, rail yards and rail “switches,” which are critical track components that allow trains to maneuver around problem areas by switching tracks.
Approximately 70 percent of parking spaces at Metrorail stations are available for automobiles as many surface parking spaces are being used to pile snow to make other spaces available for automobiles. The top levels of 22 Metrorail parking garages are not expected to be available for parking. Work crews will address those top levels starting Friday.
Metrobus service
The majority of Metrobus routes across the region are operating as of 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, as road conditions improve throughout the Washington metropolitan area. However, there are still a limited number of routes that Metro is unable to operate because of road conditions.
Metrobus routes that remain out of service as of 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, are as follows:
District of Columbia
N8 (Van Ness-Wesley Heights Loop)
D1 (Glover Park to Federal Triangle)
U4 (Sheriff Road to River Terrace)
U5 and U6 (Mayfair to Marshall Heights)
Maryland
87 (Laurel Express)
89 (Laurel Line)
F8 (Prince George’s Plaza to Langley Park)
F12 (Ardwick Industrial Park Shuttle)
F13 (Cheverly-Washington Business Park Line)
F14 (Sheriff Road-Capitol Heights Line)
Customers are reminded to please use caution near bus stops as many remain under ice and snow. Local jurisdictions are responsible for clearing bus stops. Local residents can help their neighbors by shoveling the bus stops along the sidewalks near their homes so that people are not standing in the icy streets while traffic is passing.
MetroAccess
MetroAccess trips began at 6:45 a.m., however the usual door-to-door service may be shifted to curb-to-curb service if it is not safe to offer door-to-door service.
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.
News release issued at 12:48 pm, February 12, 2010.