Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 5, 2011
Metrorail improvements underway this weekend
Orange/Blue Line closed from Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton and Benning Road through tomorrow
This weekend, Metrorail is conducting significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, causing some temporary service changes for customers that will mean a safer, smoother ride once the work is complete.
From now through Sunday, March 6 at closing, Metro will make 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 is operating 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.
The free shuttle buses were busy as trains emptied at the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations last night, Friday, March 4. About 3,092 people used the shuttle buses to complete their trips.
This weekend on the Orange Line there is 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 -- are closed. Also, there is no Blue Line service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations during the same time frame. The Benning Road Metrorail station is open. Normal service will resume on Monday, March 7.
To inform customers about the track work, signs and banners were posted at key locations; advertisements were placed; messages were posted on platform display signs; and a brochure was produced in English and Spanish. Throughout the weekend, customers are hearing system-wide rail station and train operator announcements and receiving e-mail and Twitter alerts.
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.
Today, the Orange Line is operating only between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations. The Blue Line is split in two sections, operating between the Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and Benning Road Metrorail stations.
From now to closing (midnight) on Sunday, March 6, Metro is operating 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.
In addition to this weekend’s work on the Orange and Blue Lines, from now until closing on Sunday, March 6, Red Line, trains are sharing one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center as personnel replace fasteners that support the tracks. Red Line trains are also sharing one track between the Takoma and Forest Glen Metrorail stations as personnel make upgrades to the train control rooms. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains are departing 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 is operating 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.
News release issued at 9:29 am, March 5, 2011.