Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 10, 2010
Metro's Columbus Day Holiday weekend track work for safety on schedule
Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level at Metro Center to reopen Tuesday
The replacement of four rail switches at the McPherson Square Metrorail station and several maintenance projects on the Blue and Orange lines that has resulted in the closure of the Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations and no Blue or Orange Line service at the Metro Center Metrorail station is progressing on schedule. Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level of the Metro Center Metrorail station are expected to reopen on time on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
During the Columbus Day Holiday weekend, Metro is replacing four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station, which was a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to improve safety of the rail system. Metro also is installing 215 new track fasteners; replacing old track, installing new tunnel safety lights, testing emergency call-box phones, replacing blue emergency call box lights and repairing water leaks in the tunnels.
The free shuttle buses have been busy throughout the weekend with buses filling up as trains empty at the Foggy Bottom-GWU and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations. Through Saturday, Oct. 9, about 35,384 people have used the shuttle buses to help complete their trips.
Metro administrative employees along with Metro Transit Police officers have been on site guiding customers from the rail platforms to the shuttle buses and answering questions. Customers are reminded to follow guidance from Metro employees and use the crosswalks to get to shuttle buses near the Metrorail stations.
Columbus Day Monday Metrorail Service
The Metrorail system will open at 5 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 11, Columbus Day. All trains on all rail lines will operate every 12 to 15 minutes during the day from the end of each rail line, and after 9:30 p.m., every 15 minutes from the end of each Red Line rail line and every 20 minutes from the end of each rail line on all other color rail lines.
On Monday, Oct. 11, Orange Line trains will operate in two sections, between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations. Blue Line trains will also operate in two sections, between the Largo Town Center and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations and between the Franconia-Springfield and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations.
As a reminder, on Monday, Oct. 11, from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every other Blue Line train departing the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will instead operate over the Yellow Line Bridge to the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station and terminate at the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station to get people between Washington, DC and Virginia in a way to avoid the station closures. After 9:30 p.m. all Blue Line trains departing the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will terminate at the Foggy Bottom Metrorail station.
Customers with disabilities who normally use the street elevator at the Metro Center Metrorail station at 12th and G St., N.W., to access the Red Line platform toward the Glenmont Metrorail station are advised that the mezzanine to platform elevator to the Blue and Orange Lines is closed because of the weekend maintenance work. Customers at Metro Center who need to catch a Red Line train to Glenmont should catch a Shady Grove bound train and ride one stop to the Farragut North Metrorail station and transfer across the platform to catch a Glenmont bound train.
Track maintenance will also be in affect on the Red and Yellow Lines. Red Line trains will share one track between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations for platform repairs at the Rockville Metrorail stations and Yellow Line trains will share one track from the Braddock Road Metrorail station to the Huntington Metrorail station as personnel make landscaping repairs at the Huntington Metrorail station. Riders traveling between these locations should add an additional 20 to 30 minutes to their travel time.
Columbus Day Monday Shuttle Bus Service
Metro’s free shuttle bus service on the Blue and Orange lines also will begin at 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 11, and will continue until the system closes.
Shuttle bus lines and waits for buses are expected to be long due to downtown traffic patterns. Customers should be aware that buses will serve riders along the streets as there are no bus bays at the affected stations. The free shuttle buses will operate to meet each train, approximately every 12 to 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.
Shuttle Bus Route 1: Traveling Clockwise
• Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 23rd St. northbound, south of I St., N.W.
• Farragut West Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 18th and K St., N.W.
• Farragut North Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 17th and K St., N.W.
• McPherson Square Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 14th and K St., N.W.
• Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 9th and G St., N.W.
• Metro Center Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 11th St. N.W. southbound between F and G St.
• Federal Triangle Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 12th St., N.W. northbound between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave.
Shuttle Bus Route 2: Traveling Counterclockwise
• Federal Triangle Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 12th St., N.W. northbound between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave.
• Metro Center Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 11th St., N.W., northbound between F and G St.
• McPherson Square Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at I St., between 13th and 14th St., N.W. and 15th and I St., N.W.
• Farragut North Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at I St., and Connecticut Ave N.W.
• Farragut West Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 18th I St., N.W.
• Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location is at 23rd and I St., N.W., southbound.
Last Blue Line Train Departures from Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center
In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Blue Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Blue Line train will depart the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at approximately 10:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Blue Line train will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 10:54 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11.
Last Orange Line Train Departures from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and New Carrollton
In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Orange Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Orange Line train will depart the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at 10:55 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Orange Line train will depart the New Carrollton Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 11:06 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11.
This weekend, Metro is replacing four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station which was a National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendation. Metro is also installing 215 new track fasteners; replacing old track, installing new tunnel safety lights, testing emergency call-box phones, replacing blue emergency call box lights and repairing water leaks in the tunnels.
News release issued at 9:32 am, October 10, 2010.