Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 26, 2010
Construction of rail to Dulles to halt service between East Falls and West Falls Church on Memorial Day Weekend plus first two weekends in June
Orange Line to be split in two; expect delays
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, (May 29, 30 and 31), and the first two weekends in June (June 5, 6, 12 and 13) to allow the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to undertake the first in a series of major construction activities that eventually will connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system.
For three consecutive weekends, from 7 a.m., Saturday, May 29, to closing, on Monday, May 31, and all day long on Saturday, June 5, Sunday, June 6, Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, the Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first running from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU to West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and the second between the New Carrollton and East Falls Church Metrorail stations. The East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations will remain open.
To provide reliable transit service during this time, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations. Customers should add an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
During the multi-day project, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project contractors will conduct work on a pier located east of the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station, drive piles along the fence adjacent to 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.
Orange Line Service
From 10 p.m. to closing (3 a.m.) on Friday, May 28, Friday, June 4, and Friday, June 11, Orange Line trains will operate every 30 minutes and share one track between the East Falls Church and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations. The last Orange Line will depart the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station at its regular time of 2:25 a.m.
From 7 a.m. Saturday, May 29 to closing (midnight) on Monday, May 31, and all day long on Saturday, June 5; Sunday, June 6; Saturday June 12; and Sunday, June 13, the Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first operating between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and the second between the East Falls Church and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.
When there is no train service between the West Falls-VT/UVA and East Falls Church Metrorail stations, Orange Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and Orange Line trains will operate every 12 minutes between the East Falls Church and New Carrollton Metrorail stations. Instead, Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between these two stations. The shuttle buses will operate approximately every 15 minutes.
Orange Line riders in Northern Virginia who plan to take Metro to events in downtown Washington during the Memorial Day Holiday weekend should build an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans.
Last Orange Line trains departing Vienna/Fairfax-GMU
On May 29, 30, 31, June 5, 6, 12, and 13, the last Orange Line train departing the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station for the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station will leave approximately 17 minutes earlier than usual. This will allow for customers to connect to the free shuttle buses and to the last trains departing the East Falls Church Metrorail station to the New Carrollton Metrorail station.
On Saturdays, (May 29, June 5 and 12) the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 2:08 a.m., and from Dunn Loring at 2:11 a.m., and arrive at West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 2:15 a.m.
On Sundays, (May 30, June 6, June 13, and on Monday, May 31) the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 11:08 p.m., and from Dunn Loring at 11:11 p.m., and arrive at West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 11:15 p.m.
Customer Assistance
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 29, 30, 31, and June 5, 6, 12 and 13, Metro administrative employees will be available to assist customers at the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the disruption.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, 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. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.
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News release issued at 10:55 am, May 26, 2010.