Metro is apparently getting down to business, responding to the call for a safer transit system.
A new plan was announced today that Metro describes as no-nonsense. “This is the short-term pain of outages on weekends for long-term gains for our customers in terms of a safer, more reliable and better quality service,” said Richard Sarles, Metro’s general manager. “This is the most aggressive program of work Metro has taken since the system was built.”
There is a tentative shutdown schedule in place. Here are some dates riders need to look out for:
Jan. 14 to 17, 2011 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend
Metro plans to close the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines during the three-day Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14, through Monday, Jan. 17, as the agency undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project to improve safety, to comply with a recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and maintain service reliability and a state of good repair. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, a project recommended by the NTSB. Metro also will conduct several additional projects in the area of the closure to maximize the amount of work to be done while there are no trains in the area. To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses around the station closures. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
Feb. 18 to 21, 2011 -- Presidents Day Holiday Weekend
Metro will close two Blue and Orange Line stations (Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations) during the three-day Presidents Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 21. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 2. During the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the Smithsonian Metrorail station, to comply with a NTSB recommendation. Metro will operate free shuttle buses around the station closures. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
March 4 to 6 and March 11 to 13, 2011 – Cheverly Aerial Structure Repairs
There will be no train service on the Orange Line between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations as Metro works to stabilize the ground, the abutment and aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station because a developer performed work on land adjacent to Metro property that shifted the ground and caused movement of Metro’s aerial structure. Metro will operate free shuttle buses around the station closures. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
Orange Line Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
During the weekends of March 18 to 20, March 25 to 27, May 27 to 30, June 3 to 5, Sept. 2 to 5, and Oct. 7 to 10, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will continue major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. During these weekends, the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations will remain open although there will be no train service between those stations. Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations to get customers through the work zone.
May 27 to 30, 2011 -- Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
Metro will close the Eastern Market Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines during the three-day Memorial Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, May 27, through Monday, May 30. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, May 31. During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the Eastern Market Metrorail station to comply with a NTSB recommendation.
Sept. 2 to 5, 2011 -- Labor Day Holiday Weekend
Metro will close two Blue Line stations (Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations) during the three-day Labor Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 5. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 6. During the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will install two new track switches between the Van Dorn Street and King Street Metrorail stations, to comply with a NTSB recommendation.
Oct. 7 to 10, 2011 -- Columbus Day Holiday Weekend
Metro will close the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations on the Green and Yellow lines during the three-day Columbus Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, through Monday, Oct. 10. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 11. During the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail station to comply with a NTSB recommendation.
Nov. 10 to 13, 2011 -- Veterans Day Holiday Weekend
Metro will close the Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations on the Green Line during the three-day Veterans Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 13. Normal service will resume on Monday, Nov. 14.
During the Veterans Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace eight track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlockings at the Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations, to comply with a NTSB recommendation.
Please note, the 2011 rail closure schedule is subject to change. Metro riders should visit www.metroopensdoors.com each month to view the details of the upcoming month’s work. Metro will issue news releases each Thursday with updates about weekend schedule changes.
