Metro urgently needs $489 million to improve railcar safety, replace worn equipment and redo the platforms at three deteriorating Metrorail stations, among other critical projects, according to agency documents.
Metro staff is scheduled to brief a board of directors committee on the unbudgeted issues Thursday.
The cash-strapped agency must find $45 million to replace 120,000 old track fasteners and replace some old wooden parts of track with concrete to help prevent rail fires.
Metro needs more than $20 million for railcar safety enhancements, including $7.5 million to modify the doors on almost all of its railcars to prevent them from opening on the wrong side.
At the behest of the National Transportation Safety Board, Metro also must add emergency door releases to the outside of the railcars to allow emergency personnel to open the doors — a $5 million project.
Metro also needs $18 million to replace deteriorating platforms at three Metro stations, including Shady Grove, and needs $33 million to renovate neglected bus facilities and replace old bus repair equipment.
“Investment in bus facilities through the years has been lacking,” the report said. “Recommended upgrades are badly needed to provide a better work environment and improve service reliability.”
The agency needs an additional $90 million to overhaul two bus garages.
Metro needs $244 million of the $489 million within the next two years and the rest within the three years after that.
