WMATA Halfway Complete in Escalator Replacement Project

WMATA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, WMATA, releases news surrounding construction on its escalator replacement project.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, WMATA, releases news surrounding construction on its escalator replacement project. According to the agency, half of the 130 escalators have been completed. On Monday, October 9^th, three new escalators were up and running at the Farragut North Entrance on L Street NW with another up and running at Grosvenor. Two of four escalators have been replaced with work continuing on the remaining two at Grosvenor.

KONE, Metro’s contractor, “is working to complete the remaining escalators as part of an ongoing escalator replacement project through 2028, helping to ensure our infrastructure remains in a state of good repair.” Work on the escalators includes “using heavy equipment and cranes to remove the old infrastructure and bring in the new parts.” Supports may need to be added to existing infrastructure. Crews will remove three entrance escalators “before repairing an existing support beam and then installing the three new custom-built escalators.”

Randy Clarke, Metro General Manager and CEO, said the Metro “has more escalators than any other place in North America and the two longest escalators in the Western Hemisphere at Wheaton and Bethesda. . . It is no easy task, but through our aggressive replacement program, our escalators are more durable, and reliable. Today, more than 94% of our escalators are in service at any given time, including those taken out of service for maintenance and replacement.”

With an average age of 9.4 years, Metro’s escalators have improved from a previous average age of 27 years back in 2011. This was when Metro “first launched its escalator replacement and rehabilitation efforts.” With newer escalators, the Metro reports these break down less often with a 30% reduction in failures systemwide.

Additionally, 12 more escalators will be installed this year and early next year at Deanswood, Addison Road, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Rosslyn stations. On October 9^th, construction begins at Farragut North and work will shift to the K Street NW entrance. For safety, this entrance will be closed through Spring 2024 to allow for work to take place. However, the elevator at the K St entrance will be open as well as two L Street entrances so riders can access the station.

The first escalator replacement initiative was completed back in 2020 and replaced 146 escalators over seven years.

In terms of customer impacts, details can be found here.