Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 16, 2011
Metro's Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend track work on schedule
Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station to reopen Tuesday
The replacement of four rail switches at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station and several maintenance projects on the Blue, Orange and Red lines that has resulted in the closure of the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station and trains sharing one track at four additional locations on the Blue, Orange and Red lines is progressing on schedule. The Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station is expected to reopen on time on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend, Metro is replacing four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, which was a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to improve safety of the rail system. Metro is also improving cell phone coverage between the Rosslyn and Court House Metrorail stations on the Orange Line, and making other safety improvements on the Red Line.
The free shuttle buses have been busy throughout the weekend with buses filling up as trains empty at the Rosslyn and Farragut West Metrorail stations. Through Saturday, Jan. 15, 23,674 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 safely.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday Metrorail Service
The Metrorail system will open at 5 a.m., on Monday, Jan. 17, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
On Monday the Blue and Orange lines will be split in two sections. The Blue Line will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and Rosslyn Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and Farragut West Metrorail stations. The Orange Line will operate between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Rosslyn Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and Farragut West Metrorail stations.
Blue Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes between the Franconia-Springfield and Rosslyn Metrorail stations with all 8-car trains. Blue Line trains operating between the Largo Town Center and Farragut West Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 15 to 20 minutes. Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Rosslyn Metrorail stations with all 8-car trains. Orange Line trains operating between the New Carrollton and Farragut West Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 15 to 20 minutes.
For Metrorail riders who normally use the Blue Line between Franconia-Springfield and the Pentagon and who wish to bypass the weekend closure at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, Metro will operate additional Yellow Line trains between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail stations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17.
In addition to the multi-day closure of the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, Orange and Blue Line trains also will be sharing one track in two additional locations. Orange Line trains will share one track between the West Falls Church-VT/UVA and East Falls Church Metrorail stations to allow the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to conduct major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. On the Blue Line, trains will share one track between the Van Dorn Street and Braddock Road Metrorail stations to allow for maintenance work related to the Wilson Bridge project.
On the Red Line, trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail stations as personnel repair tunnel leaks and install new bumpy tiles on the station platform at the Tenleytown Metrorail station. Also, as part of the Red Line rehabilitation project, trains will share one track between the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations.
Red Line trains will depart approximately every 15 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations. From 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line and will operate approximately every 8 minutes between the Van Ness-UDC and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail stations.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 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, Jan. 17, 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.
Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Rosslyn (N. Moore St.), Foggy Bottom-GWU (23rd St., northbound, south of I St., N.W., and 23rd and I St., N.W., southbound) and Farragut West (17th and 18th and I St., N.W.) Metrorail stations. On Monday, both entrances to the Farragut West Metrorail station (17th and I St. & 18th and I St., NW.) will remain open. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone. Waits for shuttle buses could be long on Monday, Jan. 17, due to downtown traffic patterns. Customers are also advised to dress in warm layers to wait for shuttle buses.
News release issued at 10:38 am, January 16, 2011.