Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 11, 2011
Weekend renovation to improve reliability, service on Blue, Yellow, Red and Orange Lines
Upgrades to improve efficiency, performance
This weekend (May 13 to 15) Metro will continue its efforts to rebuild the Metrorail system by upgrading its track and infrastructure systems. As a result of this critical work, trains on the Blue, Yellow, Red and Orange lines will single-track from 9:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, May 13, to closing on Sunday, May 15. When the work is complete, it will mean riders will have a safer and smoother ride.
Blue and Yellow Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, May 13, to closing on Sunday, May 15, Blue Line trains will share one track between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the floating slabs underneath the rails in that area to provide a smoother ride.
From 10 p.m. Friday, May 13 to closing on Sunday, May 15, Blue and Yellow Line trains will share one track between the Braddock Road and Pentagon City Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the aerial structure near the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport Metrorail station and install cellular communications cable to ultimately improve cell phone coverage.
On Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, all Blue Line trains will operate approximately every 30 minutes between the Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield Metrorail stations. All Yellow Line trains will also operate approximately every 30 minutes between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail stations.
As a result of the approximate wait times between trains on the Blue and Yellow lines this weekend, customers who normally use these rail lines should build additional time into their travel schedules.
Red Line Service
From 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, to closing on Sunday, May 15, Red Line trains will share one track between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Twinbrook Metrorail stations as personnel repair the platform at the White Flint Metrorail station. Red Line trains also will share one track between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations as personnel make upgrades to the aerial structure outside the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail station.
Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains operating between the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations will operate approximately every 16 minutes. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line with trains operating approximately every six to 10 minutes between the Friendship Heights and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail stations.
Orange Line Service
From 10 p.m. Friday, May 13, to closing on Sunday, May 15, Orange Line trains will share one track between the Ballston-MU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations for construction activities related to the Dulles Metrorail extension and Metro personnel replacing cross ties.
On Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, every other Orange Line train traveling to the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will terminate at the Ballston-MU Metrorail station and return to the New Carrollton Metrorail station. Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 12 minutes between the New Carrollton and Ballston-MU Metrorail stations. For people traveling beyond the Ballston-MU Metrorail station towards the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station, Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 24 minutes.
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 12:43 pm, May 11, 2011.