Metro News Release

For immediate release: November 14, 2011

Major Track Work Planned for the weekend of November 18-20


Buses replace trains on the Blue/Yellow Line between Pentagon City and King Street

Metro will advance major track work on sections of the Blue, Yellow, Red and Orange lines this weekend.

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, Nov. 20, buses will replace Metrorail trains on the Blue and Yellow lines between King Street and Pentagon City stations. Three stations -- Crystal City, National Airport and Braddock Road -- will be closed during this time, as Metro installs new rail ties, insulators, upgrades the surfaces underneath the rails and installs communications cables for improved cell phone service.

In addition to regular shuttle buses between Pentagon City and King Street, Metro will offer special express bus service between Metro Center and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport throughout the weekend for the benefit of airport travelers. more info

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 Judiciary Square, with trains operating every 20 minutes through the affected section.  

Customers should note the following service impacts:

Blue and Yellow Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, through closing Sunday, Nov. 20

  • From 10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, through closing on Sunday, Nov. 20, buses will replace trains between the Pentagon City and King Street stations.
  • Three stations will be closed -- Crystal City, National Airport and Braddock Road.
  • Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and King Street and between Pentagon City and Largo Town Center.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and King Street and between Pentagon City and Mt. Vernon Sq.
  • The last northbound Yellow Line train from Huntington will depart 46 minutes earlier than usual at 1:48 a.m., on Friday and Saturday and 10:48 p.m., on Sunday. The last northbound Blue Line train from Franconia-Springfield will depart 41 minutes earlier than usual at 1:48 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10:48 p.m. on Sunday.
  • At National Airport, customers should board shuttle buses outside Door 1 (Terminal B) on the arrivals roadway. Door 1 is located just outside the Alaska Airlines ticket counter location.
  • Customers traveling through the affected portion of the Blue/Yellow lines should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, through closing Sunday, Nov. 20

  • Red Line trains will share one track between 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 Shady Grove and Glenmont stations.
  • Trains operating through the work zone between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square will operate every 20 minutes in each direction.  
  • The last train departing Glenmont station will leave 11 minutes earlier than usual -- at 2:26 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday.
  • Customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time and expect crowding conditions.

Blue Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 through closing on Sunday, Nov. 20

  • Blue Line trains will share one track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations as personnel make repairs to the floating slabs underneath the rails to provide a smoother ride.
  • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 through closing on Sunday, Nov. 20: 

  • Orange Line trains will share one track between Ballston and East Falls Church stations while personnel install new track.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will depart endpoint terminals approximately every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Weekday Service Information

Red Line – 8 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Red Line single tracking between Dupont Circle and Van Ness-UDC (track circuit replacement).
  • Customers should add 15 minutes to their travel time.

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

  • Red Line single tracking between Takoma and Forest Glen (signal upgrades).
  • No delays expected.

Blue and Yellow Lines – 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

  • Blue and Yellow Line trains will single track between Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. stations. Customers traveling between Mt. Vernon Sq. and Fort Totten should use Green Line trains during this time.
  • Blue Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center.
  • Customers on the Blue or Yellow lines should add about 15 minutes of travel time.

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

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

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

  • Orange Line single tracking between Vienna and West Falls Church (rail renewal).
  • No delays expected.

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

  • Orange Line single tracking between East Falls Church and West Falls Church (insulator repairs).
  • 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 11:30 am, November 14, 2011.