Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 21, 2011

Major track work planned for the weekend of October 28-30

Customers advised to allow extra time, consider bus service

Metro will advance major track work on sections of the Green, Red and Orange lines over the weekend of October 28-30.

On the Red Line, Metro crews will continue work to stabilize a municipal water main and sewer line within Farragut North Station.  The heavy construction effort requires that one Red Line track be taken out of service to create a safe work zone.  Red Line trains will single track between Dupont Circle and Union Station, with trains operating every 20 minutes through the affected section.  Customers are encouraged to consider alternate travel options, including Metrobus and Circulator.  (Details below.)

To advance NTSB-recommended switch replacement, four stations on the Green Line -- Waterfront, Navy Yard, Anacostia and Congress Heights -- will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. Shuttle buses will operate between L’Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue stations, making stops outside each of the closed Metrorail stations. During this time, Metro personnel will begin to install new "Guarded #8" switches outside the Navy Yard station and prepare to install new "Guarded #8" switches outside Anacostia station.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Green and Yellow Line – 10 p.m. Friday, October 28, through closing Sunday, October 30

• From 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, through closing on Sunday, October 30, buses will replace trains between L'Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue stations.
• Four stations will be closed: Waterfront, Navy Yard, Anacostia and Congress Heights.
• Green Line trains will operate in two sections--between Greenbelt and Huntington and between Branch Avenue and Southern Avenue.
• Free "local" shuttle bus service will operate between L’Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue with stops at Waterfront, Navy Yard, Anacostia and Congress Heights.
• Free "express" shuttle bus service will operate between L’Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue with an intermediate stop at Anacostia station.
• The last train will depart Branch Avenue 20 minutes earlier than usual—at 2:04 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:04 p.m. on Sunday night.
• Customers using shuttle buses should allow 30 minutes of additional travel time.
• Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Greenbelt throughout the weekend.
• Normal rail service will resume on Monday, October 31.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday, October 28, through closing Sunday, October 30

• Red Line trains will share one track between the Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square stations to allow for utility line stabilization at Farragut North station and installation of new emergency phones.
• On Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Red Line trains will depart every 10 minutes from Shady Grove and Glenmont stations. Every other train from Shady Grove station will terminate at Dupont Circle; every other train from Glenmont will terminate at Union Station.
• At all other times during the weekend, Red Line trains will depart approximately every 20 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont stations.
• Trains operating through the work zone (between Dupont Circle and Union Station) will operate every 20 minutes in each direction. Customers are encouraged to consider alternate travel options.  (See "Alternate Service Information" below.)
• The last train departing the Glenmont station will leave 11 minutes earlier than usual. The last trains will depart Glenmont at 2:26 a.m. on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, and 11:26 p.m., on Sunday, October 30.
• Customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time and expect crowding conditions.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday, October 28, through closing Sunday, October 30

• Orange Line trains will share one track between New Carrollton and Cheverly while personnel install new rail and related infrastructure.
• Every other Orange Line train in the direction of New Carrollton will terminate at Cheverly and return to Vienna.
• Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 20 minutes of additional time.

Alternate Service Information for Red Line Customers 

Red Line customers, especially those attending Halloween festivities in Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle and Downtown, are encouraged to consider bus alternatives to the Red Line.  To view bus service at popular Red Line stations, please select:

• Woodley Park/Adams Morgan
  
• Dupont Circle
• Farragut North
• Metro Center
• Gallery Place
• Union Station

In addition, DC Circulator offers convenient, frequent bus service at several Red Line stations:

• To/from Woodley Park station: Service to Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, U Street, McPherson Square
• To/from Dupont Circle station: Service to Georgetown and Rosslyn Metro
• To/from Union Station: Service to Navy Yard Metro

Weekday Service Information

During the week of October 24-28, trains will share one track on the Red, Blue and Green Lines. Customers should note the following minor service impacts:

Red Line – 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

• Red Line single tracking between Shady Grove and Twinbrook (rail and tie renewal).
• No delays expected.

Red Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

• Red Line single tracking between Friendship Heights and Grosvenor (rail renewal and tunnel leak repairs).
• Red Line single tracking between Takoma and Forest Glen (station rehabilitation).
• No delays expected.

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

• Blue Line single tracking between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant (floating slab repairs).
• No delays expected.

Green Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

• Green Line single tracking between L’Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue (prep work for switch replacement).
• No delays 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.

 

News release issued at 11:09 am, October 21, 2011.