Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 6, 2010
Metro winds down Labor Day weekend track work
Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations to reopen Tuesday morning
The replacement of two rail switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station and several maintenance projects between the Takoma and Glenmont Metrorail stations on the Red Line that has resulted in the closure five Metrorail stations during the three-day Labor Day weekend is progressing on schedule. All five stations are expected to reopen on time – tomorrow at 5 a.m. (Tuesday, Sept. 7).
This weekend, track workers are replacing old components to keep the rail system in a state of good repair. They are replacing two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station and installing 750 new track fasteners, 1,720 new crossties, 525 feet of new track, 500 new rail insulators, new tunnel safety lights and repairing up to 4,800 feet of water leaks in the tunnels. To help ensure fire-safe conditions, Metro is replacing 6,400 feet of emergency fire lines along the tracks.
To support upgraded cell phone access in the Metrorail system, 2,400 feet of new fiber optic communications cables is being installed. The improved cell phone access is a Congressional mandate and serves as an added customer convenience as well as a safety enhancement. New heater tape will be installed along the outdoor tracks to help improve rail conditions during times of the year when ice and snow is expected. Heater tape helps ensure that there is less of a build-up of ice or snow on the tracks during inclement winter conditions and helps maintain rail service during such storms.
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, Red Line trains operating between the Forest Glen and Takoma Metrorail stations will travel at reduced speeds because of the maintenance work that occurred during the weekend.
The free shuttle buses have been busy throughout the weekend with buses filling up as trains empty at the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, Fort Totten, Takoma and Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail stations. Through Sunday, Sept. 5, Metrobuses have made about 5,843 free, shuttle trips, transporting about 26,015 customers around the Red Line stations that are closed due to the maintenance project.
Metro administrative employees along with Metro Transit Police officers have been on site guiding customers from the rail platforms to the shuttle buses to assist them in completing their trips. They also have been busy answering questions from customers.
As a reminder, the Metrorail system will close one hour later than usual tonight to support fans attending the college football game at FedEx Field. The rail system will close at 1 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 7. The last train will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 12:24 a.m. and the Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station at 12:27 a.m., after the game.
In addition to this evening’s college football game at FedEx Field, the Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park at 1:35 p.m., and there is a wrestling event at the Verizon Center at 8 p.m. Customers planning to attend any of these events and who typically use the eastern end of the Red Line between the Glenmont and Fort Totten Metrorail stations should consider using the western end of the Red Line to get to downtown Washington or take Metrobus or Ride-On buses that connect from the eastern to the western end of the Red Line. Parking at Metro facilities is free today.
News release issued at 8:40 am, September 6, 2010.