Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 31, 2010

Metro sets September weekend track maintenance schedule

Work planned on all rail lines to maintain state of good repair

This month, in addition to the Labor Day weekend closure on the Red Line between the Takoma and Glenmont Metrorail stations, Metro will conduct major track work on all five of Metro’s rail lines to keep and maintain the rail system in a state of good repair and help improve service reliability. All weekend projects will impact travel times and cause delays.

Friday, September 3, to Tuesday, September 7

Red Line – Metro officials will replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several additional projects between the Takoma and Glenmont Metrorail stations, which will necessitate the closure of five Red Line stations throughout Labor Day Weekend, (Sept. 3-7). The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.

In addition, track workers will focus on replacing old components to keep the rail system in a state of good repair. They will replace two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station and 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 lay 2,400 feet of new fiber optic communications cables in support of upgraded cell phone access. In addition, workers will replace up to 6,400 feet of emergency fire lines and repair up to 4,800 feet of water leaks in the tunnels.

The Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations will be closed during the Labor Day Holiday Weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3 through 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7. 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. Click here for the take one brochure.

Friday, September 10, to Sunday, September 12

Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, September 10 to closing, (midnight) on Sunday, September 12.

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 conduct necessary maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, September 10, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, September 12.

Green Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Greenbelt and College Park-U of MD Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro to trim weeds along the tracks. Trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 11.

Blue and Yellow Lines – Metrorail customers traveling between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to all Metro weld new rail on the tracks in that area to keep them in a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12.

Friday, September 17, to Sunday, September 19

Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, September 17 to closing, (midnight) on Sunday, September 19.

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 conduct necessary maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, September 17, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, September 19.

Yellow and Green Lines – Metrorail customers traveling between the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center and U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel times while Metro officials will replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and weld new rail outside the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station. The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, September 17, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, September 19.

Friday, September 24, to Sunday, September 26

Orange Line – Metrorail customers traveling between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace cross ties and weld new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, September 24, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, September 26.

Throughout the weekend, every other Orange Line train traveling in the direction of the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station will terminate at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station and return to the New Carrollton Metrorail station.

Green Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Branch Avenue and Naylor Road Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro to trim weeds along the tracks. Trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 25, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 26.

Blue and Yellow Lines – Metrorail customers traveling between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to all Metro weld new rail on the tracks in that area to keep them in a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26.

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 1:19 pm, August 31, 2010.