On January 5, Metro will begin a major capital project to install six new entrance escalators at Woodley Park Station.

The project will replace the current escalators, which are more than 30 years old and have exceeded their useful life, with brand new escalators that are more durable and reliable. Metro's contractor, KONE, will install the new escalators two at a time: one from street level to the mid-level and one from the landing to the mezzanine. The remaining four escalators will remain available for customer use.

The longest escalators in The District, and the third longest in the Metrorail system, Woodley Park’s escalators rise 102 feet. They will be replaced with more reliable units as part of Metro’s contract with KONE to replace 128 escalators across the Metrorail system.

How can I get to the zoo? 
Customers travelling to the National Zoo may wish to consider using Cleveland Park Station to minimize crowding. Cleveland Park Station is a short, downhill walk to the Zoo

How long will the project take?
Each pair pair of escalators will require approximately 46 weeks for site preparation, demolition, construction, installation and testing. Replacing all six escalators in succession will take a total of about 2 ½ years. Metro engineers will work closely with the project contractor, KONE, to ensure the work is done as safely and efficiently as possible.

Why will it take so long?
The Woodley Park Station escalators are the longest escalators in The District, and the third longest in the Metrorail system so their replacement is more complicated than an average escalator replacement. For example, the project is more complicated than the escalator replacement at the Dupont Circle South entrance; the mid-level landing requires the smaller street to landing units be removed prior to the longer middle units and will require considerabley more crane activity to remove the structures and major trusses that hold each of the escalators.

To keep the station open, the escalators will be replaced in pairs rather than all at once. And for safety reasons, the work can only be conducted when the station is closed to customers and the adjacent escalators are not in service. Taken together, these factors extend the project timeline to about 2.5 years. However, portions of the new escalators are manufactured in advance and are in storage so the project can move forward efficiently.

How will this work affect my trip?
On most days, it won't. Instead of having three escalators available at the entrance, only two will be available during the project: one going up, and one going down. Metro will have escalator technicians on standby at Woodley Park to respond immediately to any outage affecting the two available escalators. However, riders should be aware there that in the event of a service disruption, the station may need to be temporarily closed to prevent safety hazards related to overcrowding.

When will Woodley Park Station need to be closed?
Metro may need to temporarily close the station to prevent overcrowding during service disruptions or other events – such as a disabled train, medical emergency, infrastructure problem or power failure. This may happen with little advance notice. When the station is temporarily closed, Red Line trains will bypass the station in both directions and passengers on the platform will have to exit the station.

How should I prepare?
Review your options now, and create an alternate plan for the possibility that Woodley Park Station is not available. The two nearest alternate stations are Cleveland Park and Dupont Circle. Cleveland Park is just 8/10ths of mile to the north (approximately 20 minute walk) on Connecticut Ave, and Dupont Circle is 1.1 miles to the south. Metrobus and RideOn buses also provide good alternatives, so you are urged to familiarize yourself now with local bus routes.

How will I know if the station is closed?
Sign up for MetroAlerts to receive emails or text messages alerting you whenever there is a disruption on the Red Line or closure of the Woodley Park station. MetroAlerts will send another notification when the station has reopened. You can sign up at wmata.com/metroalerts.

What is Metro doing to ensure safe operations?
For the duration of the project, Metro will have Transit Police, emergency management, rail supervision and escalator technicians at Woodley Park Station at all times the Metrorail system is open. The personnel at Woodley Park will continually monitor operations and take appropriate steps to ensure that the station is not overcrowded and that escalators and elevators remain available for entry and exit. While we know that a temporarily closure of Woodley Park Station is inconvenient, please understand that your safety is our absolute highest priority.

Woodley Park Station Quick Facts

• Woodley Park Station opened in 1981
• Woodley Park Station serves nearly 7,500 passengers on an average weekday
• Woodley Park's entrance escalators are 204 feet long, the third longest in the Metrorail system and the longest in the District of Columbia
• Total cost for replacing the three entrance escalators is approximately $11 million

Stay informed by visiting this page at www.wmata.com/woodleypark or call Customer Service at (202) 637-7000