Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 6, 2010
Metro details shuttle bus service plans for this weekend's Blue and Orange Line station closures
Free shuttles to run between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road, Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton stations
The Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations are closed through Nov. 7, and there is no Blue Line service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations (the Benning Road Metrorail station will remain open) as Metro undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project to improve safety, comply with a safety recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), maintain service reliability and return the area to a state of good repair. Normal service will resume on Monday, Nov. 8. Free shuttle buses area available to get riders through the work zone to maximize customer convenience.
To inform customers about the track work, signs and banners were posted at key locations; newspaper advertisements were placed; messages are posted on platform display signs; and a brochure was produced in English and Spanish. This weekend, customers are hearing system-wide rail station and train operator announcements and receiving e-mail and Twitter alerts. Thirty-four Metro employees are working 68 shifts to assist customers during the weekend.
Metro is making preliminary repairs to the stabilize the ground, the abutment and aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station because a developer performed work on land adjacent to Metro property that shifted the land and caused movement of Metro’s aerial structure. Metro is also installing new track circuits outside the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, to comply with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. In addition, Metro is replacing 4,290 feet of track, 680 insulators, 2,418 rail ties, 650 track fasteners and two track switches at the New Carrollton Metrorail station and conducting platform repairs at the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station to maximize the amount of work to be done while there are no trains in the area.
Metro is operating three separate free shuttle bus routes that will service the Stadium-Armory, Benning Road, Minnesota Avenue, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton stations. During the first night of shuttle operations, Nov. 5, Metrobuses transported 2,268 riders through the Blue and Orange Line work area.
Riders are able to choose between three free shuttle bus routes depending on where they want to go. By offering these convenient bus services, Metro is aiming to maximize rider convenience. Free shuttle bus service will get riders where they want to go. It will just take longer. The weekend’s free shuttle buses will operate to meet each train.
Blue Line Shuttle: Stadium-Armory to Benning Road
This shuttle bus will operate between the Stadium-Armory (center island bus bay C) and Benning Road (corner of Benning Road and Central Avenue) Metrorail stations. Customers catching this shuttle bus should add 15 to 20 minutes to their trips.
Orange Line Express Shuttle: Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton
This express shuttle bus will operate between the Stadium-Armory (bus bay C) and New Carrollton (inbound bus bays D, E, F, and outbound bus bay B) Metrorail stations with no stops in between. Customers catching this express shuttle should add 30 minutes to their trips.
Orange Line Local Shuttle: Stadium-Armory to Minnesota Avenue, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton
This local shuttle bus will operate between the Stadium-Armory (bus bay C) and New Carrollton Metrorail stations and will stop at the Minnesota Avenue (inbound bus bay G, outbound bus bay L), Deanwood (bus bay A), Cheverly (bus bay C), Landover (bus bay D) and New Carrollton (inbound bus bays D, E, F, and outbound bus bay B) Metrorail stations. Customers catching this local shuttle should add 40 minutes to their trips.
News release issued at 11:17 am, November 6, 2010.