Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 3, 2010
Metro sets May weekend track maintenance schedule
Lengthy waits between trains expected on the Red, Orange and Green lines
In May, there will be no train service between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations during the Memorial Day holiday weekend as the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will undertake the first in a series of major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. Additionally, Metro will replace fasteners and conduct bridge repair work on the Red Line, and replace ties and weld rail on the Orange and Green lines. Customers should expect significant travel delays during the weekends of May 7 to 9, May 14 to 16, May 21 to 23 and May 28 to 31 as intervals between trains will be lengthy.
Friday, May 7, to Sunday, May 9
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be conducting maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks that cross a bridge outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, May 7, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 9.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace rail fasteners that stabilize tracks in that area of the Red Line. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, May 7, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 9.
To help expedite rail travel into downtown Washington, every other Red Line train traveling toward the Shady Grove Metrorail station will terminate at the Friendship Heights Metrorail station and will return to the Glenmont Metrorail station.
This portion of work on the Red Line between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations is part of a larger multi-year Red Line rehabilitation project that will run through 2013.
Orange Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing old cross ties with new ties and welding new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, May 7, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 9.
Friday, May 14, to Sunday, May 16
Green Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, May 21, to Sunday, May 23
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be conducting maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks that cross a bridge outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, May 21, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 23.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace rail fasteners that stabilize tracks in that area of the Red Line. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, May 21, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 23.
To help expedite rail travel into downtown Washington, every other Red Line train traveling toward the Shady Grove Metrorail station will terminate at the Friendship Heights Metrorail station and will return to the Glenmont Metrorail station.
Orange Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the East Falls Church and Ballston-MU Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing old cross ties with new ties and welding new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m., Friday, May 21, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 23.
Green Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations on Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, May 28, to Monday, May 31
Orange Line -- There will be no train service between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations during the Memorial Day holiday weekend as the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will undertake the first in a series of major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. This work will also take place the first two weekends in June.
During the three-day project, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will perform construction on a pier located east of the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station, drive piles outside of the right-of-way fence along the I-66 west and eastbound lanes and replace ties on the tracks. All of this work is necessary to connect the new rail line to the Orange Line.
To help people get around the construction zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations. Customers should expect delays and build an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be conducting maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks that cross a bridge outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, May 28, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 30.
Please note, this schedule is subject to change. Metro riders should visit www.metroopensdoors.com at the end of each month to see the following month’s schedule of work. Metro will continue to post news releases each Thursday as a reminder to provide updates about any last minute track maintenance schedule changes.
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News release issued at 9:22 am, May 3, 2010.