Wiedefeld proposes permanent early close schedule for WMATA rail system

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Metro to advance safety-critical work on Blue Line during historically low ridership.
WMATA

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld is proposing a reduction in the number of operational hours of the Metrorail system for maintenance purposes.

Wiedefeld said the proposal is based on recommendations made by rail experts and peer transit agencies. Under the proposed schedule, the Metrorail system would be open 127 out of 168 hours in a week and would close at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights and continue midnight closures on all other nights.

The rail system is currently on this schedule to accommodate work being performed for the one-year accelerated maintenance SafeTrack program. Wiedefeld says the additional track time increases safety and reliability by giving workers the time and space they need to keep WMATA’s infrastructure in a state of good repair.

Wiedefeld engaged peer transit agencies and rail engineering consultants, all of whom urged that the focus on track safety and maintenance continue to prevent WMATA from sliding backward. WMATA’s Board will need to approve the proposal following a public engagement process, which slated for this fall.

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