Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 20, 2011
Metrorail improvements planned for Memorial Day Weekend
Orange/Blue Line closed from Federal Center SW to Minnesota Ave/Benning Road; Customers should seek alternate travel
Metrorail will conduct significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red rail lines to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations during the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend (May 27 to 30) closing four stations and causing some temporary service changes for customers that will mean a safer, smoother ride once the work is complete.
On the Blue and Orange Lines, there will be no train service between the Federal Center SW and Minnesota Ave and Benning Road Metrorail stations, and the four stations between – Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Ave and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations -- will be closed during the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, May 27, to closing on Monday, May 30.
During the weekend, the agency will replace four track switches at the Eastern Market Metrorail station, replace 4,700 fasteners, make repairs to the aerial structure outside the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, lay over 5 miles of communications cable to upgrade cell phone access throughout the Metrorail system and make repairs to 21 escalators and 8 elevators at the Eastern Market, Capitol South, Potomac Avenue and Stadium Armory Metrorail stations to help rebuild the area back into a state of good repair.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, tweet, place notices on station kiosks, issue a series of news releases, take out paid advertisements in local papers and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be available on Metro=s web site at metroopensdoors.com.
Metro encourages customers to travel on other days or using alternate travel options if possible in this area. While bus shuttles will be available to get around the closures, traffic congestion is expected to be challenging as the Stars, Stripes and Spokes motorcycle event at RFK Stadium is expected to attract thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts.
However, to assist riders who must travel through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Federal Center SW and Minnesota Ave and Benning Road Metrorail stations. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
During the weekend, extra Metro employees will be available at the Federal Center SW, Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Ave, Stadium-Armory, Minnesota Ave and Benning Road Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closure using free bus shuttle service.
Weekend Blue and Orange Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 to closing on Monday, May 30, the Blue and Orange lines will be split in two sections.
The Orange Line will operate between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Federal Center SW Metrorail stations approximately every 15 to 20 minutes and between the New Carrollton and Minnesota Ave Metrorail stations (shuttle train) approximately every 24 minutes. The Blue Line will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and Federal Center SW Metrorail stations approximately every 15 to 20 minutes and between the Largo Town Center and Benning Road Metrorail stations (shuttle train) approximately every 24 minutes.
Friday, May 27 Last Orange Line Trains Between Minnesota Ave and Federal Center SW
Prior to the weekend closure on Friday, May 27, the last Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will depart New Carrollton at 9:33 p.m., Cheverly at 9:39 p.m., Minnesota Ave at 9:43 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:54 p.m., Rosslyn at 10:08 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station at 10:30 p.m. The last Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 8:59 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:35 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:42 p.m., Minnesota Avenue at 9:46 p.m., Cheverly at 9:50 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 9:56 p.m.
Friday, May 27 Last Blue Line Trains Between Benning Road and Federal Center SW
Prior to the weekend closure on Friday, May 27, the last Blue Line train in the direction of the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will depart Largo Town Center at 9:22 p.m., Benning Road at 9:34 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:44 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:58 p.m., and arrive at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 10:26 p.m. The last Blue Line train in the direction of the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will depart Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 8:59 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:41 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:48 p.m., Benning Road at 9:51 p.m., and arrive at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 10:03 p.m.
Last Weekend Westbound Train Departures from Federal Center SW
In order for the free shuttle buses to make their final connections at the Federal Center SW Metrorail station, The last westbound trains traveling in the direction of Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Franconia-Springfield will depart 30 minutes earlier than usual. The last westbound train will depart the Federal Center SW Metrorail station at 2:57 a.m. on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28, and 11:57 p.m. on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30.
Last Weekend Shuttle Train Departures
On Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, the last westbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart New Carrollton at 2:06 a.m. and arrive at Minnesota Avenue at 2:16 a.m. The last eastbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart Minnesota Avenue at 3:53 a.m. and arrive at New Carrollton at 4:03 a.m. On Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, the last westbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart New Carrollton at 11:06 p.m. and arrive at Minnesota Avenue at 11:16 p.m. The last eastbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart Minnesota Avenue at 12:53 a.m. and arrive at 1:03 a.m.
On Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, the last westbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Largo Town Center at 1:54 a.m. and arrive at Benning Road at 2:05 a.m. The last eastbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Benning Road at 3:53 a.m. and arrive at Largo Town Center at 4:04 a.m. On Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, the last westbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Largo Town Center at 10:54 p.m. and arrive at Benning Road at 11:05 p.m. The last eastbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Benning Road at 12:53 a.m. and arrive at Largo Town Center at 1:04 a.m.
May 27-30 Weekend Shuttle Bus Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, May 27, to closing on Monday, May 30, Metro will operate two free shuttle bus routes between the affected stations. The weekend’s free shuttle buses will operate to meet each train.
• Orange Line Local Shuttle: Federal Center SW to Minnesota Avenue. This local shuttle bus will operate between the Federal Center SW and Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations with stops at the Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Avenue, Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations. Customers using this local shuttle should add 40 minutes to their trips.
• Blue Line Local Shuttle: Federal Center SW to Benning Road. This local shuttle bus will operate between the Federal Center SW and Benning Road Metrorail stations with stops at the Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Avenue, Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations. Customers catching this local shuttle should add 40 minutes to their trips.
Weekend Red Line Service
From 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 to closing on Monday, May 30, Red Line trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as Metro repairs tunnel leaks. Also, from 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 to closing on Sunday, May 29, Red Line trains will share one track at various locations between the Judiciary Square and Takoma Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the surface underneath the rails to make it a smoother ride for customers.
Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will depart the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations approximately every 24 minutes. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line with trains operating approximately every 12 minutes between the Friendship Heights and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Monday, May 30, more frequent service will operate approximately every 12 minutes between the Friendship Heights and Silver Spring Metrorail stations.
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, located on Metro=s Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.
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News release issued at 12:07 pm, May 20, 2011.