Massive Effort to Rebuild Metro to Continue in Second Half of 2012

[Howard Hartman]

Massive Effort to Rebuild Metro
to Continue in Second Half of 2012

Major track work schedule released through December

As Metrorail customers are enjoying a spring break from weekend and midday track work, Metro today released a schedule of planned major track work for the second half of 2012.

“We have made considerable progress on improving the safety and reliability of Metrorail, but we have much more to do,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles. “I know that there are times when this work inconveniences our customers, and we appreciate their continued understanding as we rebuild.”

In the first three months of 2012 alone, Metro rehabilitated eight escalators, advanced rebuilding of three elevators, installed 15,760 linear feet of rail, 23,501 fasteners and 4,297 wooden cross ties. In addition, Metro announced today that work to install new “Guarded #8” switches – a key NTSB safety recommendation – will be completed next month, and later this week, a Metro Board committee will consider a request to reprogram approximately $14 million for numerous improvements, most notably, life-safety modernization that will advance upgrades to wayside 3rd rail emergency trip stations earlier than planned.

Following several weeks off for Cherry Blossom season, Metro’s massive rebuilding effort, known as Metro Forward, will resume with midday track work on Monday, April 16, and with weekend track work on Friday, April 20.

During major track work projects, free shuttle buses replace trains along a portion of a rail line where rebuilding is underway, an approach that allows Metro to work faster and safer while minimizing the number of customers inconvenienced elsewhere on the line.

“Metro Forward is the largest capital program in Metro’s history, and the biggest single undertaking since the construction of the system itself,” said Rob Troup, Metro’s Assistant General Manager of Transit Infrastructure and Engineering Services.

Metro is encouraging community organizations and local businesses to consult the track work calendar when planning special events.

The major track work calendar is posted at wmata.com/trackwork. Customers should take special note of the following scheduled outages:

• Buses will replace trains on portions of the Red Line over eight weekends this summer, including four consecutive weekends from late July to mid-August. The Red Line is Metro’s oldest, and is the first to undergo major reconstruction.
  
  
• Over Labor Day weekend, August 31 through September 3, Metro will perform its annual inspection of the Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River, along with other track work in the area. As a result, buses will replace Yellow Line trains between Pentagon and Archives, and between Waterfront and Archives on the Green Line.
  
  
• During the weekend of September 7-9, the Red Line will be shut down between Dupont Circle and New York Avenue (NoMa-Gallaudet). Metro Center will remain open for Orange and Blue line service, and Gallery Place will remain open for Green and Yellow line service.
  
  
• •Buses will replace trains on the eastern leg of the Blue Line, from Stadium-Armory to Largo, during the weekend of October 5-8. On the Orange Line, buses will shuttle customers between Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue stations.