WMATA plans aggressive rebuilding schedule

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority is planning an aggressive schedule of rebuilding work during the coming weeks in an effort to avoid customer inconvenience around the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holiday periods. There will be no major track work on the Metrorail system over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, or the period between December 19 and January 3. WMATA's rebuilding efforts are focused on addressing National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations and bringing the system into a state of good repair, including projects to renew rail and ties, replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way, rehabilitate power systems and modernize stations. Below is a summary of upcoming track work: Red Line • Beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing on Saturday, October 15, Red Line trains will single track between Twinbrook and Shady Grove to allow for platform rehabilitation work. There is no scheduled track work on Sunday, October 16. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, October 23, buses will replace Red Line trains between New York Avenue and Fort Totten to allow for major track rehabilitation, station work and cable installation. Two stations, Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland, will be closed. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, October 30, Red Line trains will single track between Dupont Circle and New York Avenue due to heavy construction activity at Farragut North Station to stabilize municipal utility pipes. The work will continue over the weekends of November 18-20 and December 16-18. Orange and Blue lines • Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, October 7, and continuing through system closing Monday, October 10, buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church due to construction associated with the Dulles rail extension. In addition, Orange Line trains will single track between Vienna and West Falls Church to allow for tie replacement. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing Saturday, October 15, Orange and Blue line trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory due to tunnel repairs and trackbed improvements; Orange Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for tie replacement and renewal and Blue Line trains will single track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road to allow for track improvements. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 23, Orange and Blue line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road due to tunnel repairs and trackbed improvements. Similar work will take place over the weekend of November 18-20. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 30, Orange Line trains will single track between Cheverly and New Carrollton to allow for track improvements. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, November 4, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, November 6, Blue and Orange line trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and McPherson Sq. to allow for rail renewal in the tunnel. Green and Yellow Lines • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, and continuing through system closing Monday, October 10, buses will replace Green and Yellow line trains between Mt. Vernon Sq. and Georgia Avenue to allow for NTSB-recommended switch replacement outside U Street Station. Three stations, Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights, will be closed. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing Saturday, October 15, Yellow Line trains will single track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road to allow for track improvements. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 23, Green Line trains will single track between Fort Totten and Prince George's Plaza to allow for track improvements. • Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 30, buses will replace Green Line trains between Southern Avenue and L'Enfant Plaza as Metro installs new track switches to address NTSB safety recommendations. During this time, Green Line trains will operate via the Yellow Line between Huntington and Greenbelt. A shuttle train will operate between Southern Avenue and Branch Avenue stations. Similar work will take place over the weekend of November 10-13.