Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 15, 2011

Major Track Work Planned for Weekend of August 19-21


Buses replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Glenmont

This weekend, August 19-21, buses will replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Glenmont, and five stations – Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont – will be closed as Metro personnel install new rail, replace ties and fasteners, install new communications cables to enhance cell phone coverage, and conduct preventive maintenance on 12 elevators and 7 escalators.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Red Line – from 10 p.m., Friday through closing on Sunday

  • Buses will replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Glenmont stations.
  • Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will be closed.
  • Metro will operate free shuttle buses between Fort Totten and Glenmont stations. One shuttle bus route will service Fort Totten, Takoma and Silver Spring. A second route will serve all affected stations: Fort Totten, Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont.
  • Red Line service will operate normally between Fort Totten and Shady Grove stations.
  • Customers wishing to avoid the work area may wish to consider Metrobus Y and Q routes for north-south connections or J routes for east-west travel, or Ride-On bus services. In addition, customers may wish to travel from stations at the opposite end of the line (e.g. Shady Grove).
  • Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 45 minutes of additional travel time.

Blue Line – from 10 p.m., Friday, through closing on Sunday

  • Blue Line trains will share one track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations as personnel make repairs to the floating slabs below the rails to provide a smoother ride.
  • Blue Line trains will share one track between Arlington Cemetery and Pentagon City stations as personnel conduct rail renewal work.
  • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will depart endpoint terminals about every 20 minutes.
  • Additionally, all Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon stations.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time through this area.

Orange Line – From 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Sunday

  • Orange Line trains will share one track between Vienna and West Falls Church stations to allow for rail and tie renewal.
  • On Saturday and Sunday from opening to 9:30 p.m., every other train from New Carrollton will turn back at West Falls Church station.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Weekday Service Information
During the week of August 15-19, trains will share one track on the Red, Blue and Orange Lines. Customers should note the following minor service impacts:

Red Line – From 9:30 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Red Line single tracking between Grosvenor and Twinbook (White Flint and Twinbrook station platform repair)
  • Red Line single tracking between Fort Totten and Silver Spring (emergency phone repairs)

Blue Line – From 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Blue Line single tracking between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations (floating slab repairs)
  • Blue Line trains single tracking between the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street (rail and tie renewal)

Orange Line – From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

  • Orange Line single tracking between Cheverly and New Carrollton (rail renewal)
  • Every other Orange Line train traveling in the direction of New Carrollton will terminate at Cheverly and return to Vienna
  • No delays are expected.

Metro is advancing a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.

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News release issued at 9:43 am, August 15, 2011.