Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 2, 2011
Metrorail improvements planned for the weekend of March 4 to 6
Orange/Blue Line closed from Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton and Benning Road; Customers should check metroopensdoors.com for service details
Metrorail will conduct significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations during the weekend of March 4 to 6, causing some temporary service changes for customers that will mean a safer, smoother ride once the work is complete.
During the weekend, Metro will continue repairs on the aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station, make track circuit upgrades near the Deanwood Metrorail station, install 6,000 feet of cellular communication cables to ultimately improve cell phone coverage, replace 2,000 feet of old track, install 380 insulators, 1,400 new rail ties, 400 new track fasteners, make repairs to 19 escalators and 14 elevators, and fix the platform at the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station.
To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses around the station closures. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
On the Orange Line, there will be no train service between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations and the five stations in between – Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations -- will be closed from 10 p.m., Friday, March 4, to closing on Sunday, March 6. Also, there will be no Blue Line service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations during the same time frame. The Benning Road Metrorail station will remain open. Normal service will resume on Monday, March 7.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, advertise in local papers and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be available on Metro=s web site at metroopensdoors.com.
During the weekend, extra Metro employees will be available at the Stadium-Armory, Benning Road, Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closure using the free shuttle bus service.
March 4-6 Weekend Blue and Orange Line Metrorail Service
The Orange Line will operate only between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Stadium-Armory Metrorail station. The Blue Line will be split in two sections throughout the weekend. Blue Line trains will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and Benning Road Metrorail stations.
During the day on March 5 and 6, Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 12 to 15 minutes. After 9:30 p.m., on March 4, 5 and 6, Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes.
During the day on March 5 and 6, Blue Line trains operating between the Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 12 to 15 minutes during the day. After 9:30 p.m., on March 4, 5 and 6, Blue Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes. Blue Line trains operating between the Largo Town Center and Benning Road Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 20 minutes throughout the entire weekend.
Last Orange Line Trains Departing Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and New Carrollton – March 4
Prior to the weekend closure, on Friday, March 4, the last Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 8:59 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:42 p.m., Minnesota Ave at 9:46 p.m., Deanwood at 9:47 p.m., Cheverly at 9:50 p.m., Landover at 9:53 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 9:56 p.m. The last Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will depart New Carrollton at 9:33 p.m., Landover at 9:36 p.m., Cheverly at 9:39 p.m., Deanwood at 9:42 p.m., Minnesota Ave at 9:43 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:47 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station at 10:30 p.m.
Last Blue Line Trains Departing Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center – March 4
Prior to the weekend closure, on Friday, March 4, the last Blue Line train in the direction of the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will depart Franconia-Springfield at 8:59 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:48 p.m., Benning Road at 9:51 p.m., Capitol Heights at 9:55 p.m., Addison Road-Seat Pleasant at 9:57 p.m., Morgan Boulevard at 10 p.m., and arrive at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 10:01 p.m. The last Blue Line train in the direction of the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will depart Largo Town Center at 9:42 p.m., Morgan Boulevard at 9:45 p.m., Addison Road-Seat Pleasant at 9:48 p.m., Capitol Heights at 9:50 p.m., Benning Road at 9:54 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:57 p.m., and arrive at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 10:46 p.m.
Last Inbound Blue Line Trains Departing from Largo Town Center and Stadium-Armory
In order for Franconia-Springfield bound Blue Line riders to make their final connections at the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, the last Blue Line train will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at approximately 2:04 a.m., on Saturday, March 5 (late Friday night) and Sunday, March 6 (late Saturday night), and 11:04 p.m., on Sunday, March 6.
The last inbound Blue Line to the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will leave the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station at approximately 2:49 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, (late Friday night) and Sunday, March 6 (late Saturday night) and 11:49 p.m. on Sunday, March 6.
Last Outbound Blue Line Train Departing Benning Road
In order for Largo Town Center bound Blue Line riders to make their final connections at the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, the last Blue Line train will depart the Benning Road Metrorail station at approximately 3:50 a.m., on Saturday, March 5 (late Friday night) and Sunday, March 6 (late Saturday night), and 12:50 a.m., Monday, March 7 (late Sunday night).
Last Inbound Orange Line Trains Departing from Stadium-Armory
The last inbound Orange Line to the Vienna-Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station will leave the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station at 2:49 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, (late Friday night) and Sunday, March 6 (late Saturday night) and 11:49 p.m. on Sunday, March 6.
March 4-6 Weekend Shuttle Bus Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, March 4, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, March 6, Metro will operate three free shuttle bus routes between the affected stations. 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 (bus bay C) and Benning Road (corner of Benning Road and Central Avenue) Metrorail stations. Customers catching this shuttle 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 (bus bays D, E and F) Metrorail stations with no stops in between. Customers catching this shuttle should add 30 minutes to their trips.
• Orange Line Local Shuttle: Stadium-Armory to 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 (bus bay G), Deanwood (bus bay A), Cheverly (bus bay C), Landover (bus bay D) and New Carrollton (bus bays D, E and F) Metrorail stations. Customers catching this shuttle should add 40 minutes to their trips.
March 4 -6 Weekend Red Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, March 4 to closing on Sunday, March 6, Red Line, trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center as personnel replace fasteners that support the tracks. Customers traveling between these stations should add 20 minutes to their travel times. Red Line trains will also share one track between the Takoma and Forest Glen Metrorail stations as personnel make upgrades to the train control rooms. Customers traveling between these stations should also add 20 minutes to their travel times.
On March 5 and 6, Red Line trains will depart the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations approximately every 24 minutes. A separate segment of the Red Line operating between the Friendship Heights and Takoma Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 12 minutes.
The Trip Planner on Metro’s Web site will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780, or visit metroopensdoors.com
Metro has a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and maintaining the Metro system in a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects such as the replacement of 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitation of 100 more; retrofitting track; replacing track circuitry, signs and chain markers on the right of way; rehabilitating third rail, running rail and track pads; rehabilitating 12 Metrorail stations; purchasing 150 new police radios; replacing escalators; rehabilitating three bus garages; and installing 30 track turnouts.
News release issued at 12:55 pm, March 2, 2011.