WMATA launches aggressive safety plan

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is launching a plan to improve safety and bring the Metro rail system back to a state of good repair that will have staff working around the clock to get the work done as quickly and safely as possible. The end result will mean improved service reliability, on-time performance and a smoother ride. “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.” To minimize inconvenience and maximize efficiencies, track work will be accelerated and performed around the clock. Regular weekend single tracking will commence at 9 p.m. on Fridays and continue through closing on Sunday nights. Shutdowns during holiday weekends will typically commence at 9 p.m. on Fridays and continue through closing on Monday nights. Metro officials will periodically schedule daytime single tracking that will not impact off-peak schedules. As a result of this aggressive work plan, Metro will need to close portions of the rail system multiple times during weekends in 2011. The work will necessitate single-tracking and/or station closures. 
 The 2011 tentative shutdown schedule: 

 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 and maintain service reliability and a state of good repair. During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches. 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. 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. During the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, to comply with a NTSB recommendation. 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. 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. 

 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 
 Closures are subject to change.