Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 3, 2010
Labor Day weekend track work to close five Red Line stations to meet NTSB recommendation, maintain a state of good repair
Track work will close Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations
Metro will close five Red Line stations during the Labor Day Holiday weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, to closing on Monday, Sept. 6, as the agency undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project to improve safety, comply with a recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and maintain service reliability and a state of good repair. The Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations will be closed during the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5 a.m.
To help people get around the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
Metro will conduct several projects in the area of the closure during the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Track workers will replace two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station, install 750 new track fasteners, 1,720 new crossties, 525 feet of new track, 500 new rail insulators, new heater tape, new tunnel safety lights and install communications cables in support for upgraded cell phone access. The track switch replacement is work recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. The cell phone service project is a Congressional mandate to improve cell phone access at Metrorail stations.
This will be the largest maintenance shutdown in Metro’s 34-year history. Officials anticipate having more than 500 track maintenance employees and three contractors working during the Labor Day Holiday weekend.
During the Labor Day Holiday weekend, all Red Line trains will operate between the Shady Grove and Fort Totten Metrorail station. The Fort Totten Metrorail station on the Red Line will remain open.
Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations.
Riders who wish to avoid the closure of the Red Line between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations can use the following Metrobus lines during the Labor Day weekend:
• C8 (College Park-White Flint) line, which serves the Glenmont Metrorail station.
• J2 (Bethesda-Silver Spring) line, which serves the Silver Spring, Bethesda and Medical Center Metrorail stations.
• Q1, 2, 4, 6 (Veirs Mill Road) line, which serves the Shady Grove, Rockville, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring Metrorail stations.
By completing this work during the Labor Day Holiday weekend, Metro will save more than $1 million in late-night maintenance costs that would have resulted in 150 days of single-tracking.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, use social media, post signs in key stations, and make train and system announcements.
Additional information on the Labor Day holiday weekend closure of the Red Line between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations will be available in the next couple of weeks. Riders are encouraged to check Metro's web site at www.metroopensdoors.com for upcoming details on Red Line train and shuttle bus schedules.
###
News release issued at 11:35 am, August 3, 2010.