Major Track Work Planned for the weekend of December 2-4

[Howard Hartman]

Major Track Work Planned for the weekend of December 2-4

Buses replace trains on portions of the Red and Orange Lines

Metro will advance major projects to rebuild sections of the Red and Orange lines this weekend.

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, Dec. 4, buses will replace trains on the Red Line between Rhode Island Avenue and Glenmont stations. Six stations – Brookland, Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont -- will be closed during this time, as Metro installs new rail, fasteners, makes automatic train control upgrades at the Silver Spring stations, installs communications cables for improved cell phone service and allows for the Maryland State Highway Administration to conduct bridge inspections. Fort Totten Station will be open for Green and Yellow Line service only; the Red Line platform will be closed.

On the Orange Line, buses will replace trains between Deanwood and Cheverly stations while personnel make structural repairs to the elevated portion of the line and perform track rehabilitation. Both Cheverly and Deanwood stations will remain open.

Customers should note the following service impacts:

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 through closing on Sunday, Dec. 4

• Buses will replace Red Line trains between Rhode Island Avenue and Glenmont stations.
• Brookland, Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will be closed.
• Fort Totten Station will remain open for Green and Yellow line trains only (no Red Line service).
• Free shuttle buses will operate between Glenmont and Rhode Island Avenue stations, making all intermediate stops.
• Red Line trains will operate normally between Rhode Island Avenue and Shady Grove. To avoid delays, customers who drive to outlying stations may wish to consider using stations along the western portion of the Red Line, such as Grosvenor, White Flint and Shady Grove.
• Customers using shuttle buses should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 through closing on Sunday, Dec. 4

• Buses will replace Orange Line trains between Cheverly and Deanwood stations.
• Cheverly and Deanwood stations will remain open throughout the weekend.
• Orange Line trains operate in two sections: between Vienna and Deanwood on a regular weekend schedule, and between New Carrollton and Cheverly every 20 minutes.
• Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time

Weekday Service Information

During the week of November 28-December 2, trains will share one track on the Red, Blue, Yellow and Orange lines. Customers should note the following minor service impacts:

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

• Red Line single tracking between Farragut North and Judiciary Square (rail renewal).
• 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 Stadium-Armory and Cheverly (bridge repairs).
• No delays expected.

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

• Green Line single tracking between Greenbelt and College Park (rail renewal).
• No delays expected.

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

• Green and Yellow Line single tracking between U Street and Georgia Ave (rail renewal).
• 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.