Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 1, 2011
April work focuses on upgrades to tracks, bridge repairs, switch replacements
Safer, smoother, more reliable trips will result
An aggressive schedule of track work in April will see improvements through upgrades in tracks, repairs to bridges and replacement of rail switches to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, resulting in safer, smoother and more reliable trips for customers as Metro continues to rebuild its rail system to return it to a state of good repair.
Five Metrorail stations will be closed between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations from 8 p.m., Friday April 15 to closing on Sunday, April 17 to allow Metro to make bridge repairs near the Cheverly Metrorail station and to upgrade sections of track in order to maintain service reliability and to maintain a state of good repair. To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.
From 8 p.m., Friday, April 15 to closing on Sunday, April 17, the Orange Line will operate between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations. The Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations will be closed. Normal service will resume on Monday, April 18.
Customers should add an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
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.
Extra Metro employees will be available at the Stadium-Armory, Minnesota Avenue, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closures using the free shuttle bus service.
During the weekend, Metro will make repairs to stabilize the ground, the abutment and aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station. In addition, Metro will conduct several additional projects in the area of the closure to maximize the amount of work to be done while there are no trains in the area.
April 15-17 and April 22-24 Blue and Yellow Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, April 15 to closing on Sunday, April 17, and again from 10 p.m. Friday, April 22 to closing on Sunday, April 24, Metro will replace rail switches at the Van Dorn Street Metrorail station. This work is to comply with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. As a result, all Blue Line trains will operate between the Largo Town Center and Huntington Metrorail station. Additionally, Metro will operate a special Blue Line shuttle train between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations. This shuttle train will operate approximately every 30 minutes.
April 15-17 and April 22-24 Weekend Red Line Service
From 9:30 p.m., Friday, April 15 to closing on Sunday, April 17, and from 9:30 p.m., Friday April 22 to closing on Sunday, April 24, Red Line, trains will share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the White Flint Metrorail station platform. Customers traveling between these stations should also add 20 minutes to their travel times. Red Line trains will also share one track between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations as personnel make track and station improvements. Customers traveling between these stations should add 10 minutes to their travel times.
April 22-24 Weekend Blue Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, April 22 to closing on Sunday, April 24, Blue Line trains will share one track between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations as personnel replace floating slabs underneath the tracks to make it a smoother ride for customers. Customers traveling between these stations should add 20 minutes to their travel times.
April 29-May 1 Weekend Red Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, April 29 to closing on Sunday, May 1, Red Line, trains will share one track between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations as personnel make track repairs. 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 train control improvements. Customers traveling between these stations should add 20 minutes to their travel times.
April 29-May 1 Yellow Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, April 29 to closing on Sunday, May 1, Yellow Line trains will share one track between the Huntington and Braddock Road Metrorail stations as personnel make track upgrades. Customers traveling between these stations should add 20 minutes to their travel times.
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 replacing escalators; 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; the replacement of 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitation of 100 more; rehabilitating three bus garages; and installing 30 track turnouts.
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 www.metroopensdoors.com.
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News release issued at 1:40 pm, April 1, 2011.