Some segments of Washington Metrorail’s system will be shut down for weeks at a time beginning this June, officials announced Friday.
Other portions of the rail line will experience continuous weeks of single-tracking, as the Metro is set to undergo a massive systemwide repair that will last into 2017.
Riders can also expect a significant reduction in train service for the next 10 months.
The new general manager announced the Metro overhaul, dubbed “SafeTrack,” on Friday.
It begins in June and involves 15 separate projects (“surges”) that will be conducted in succession and never overlap.
The draft plan of “SafeTrack” will be finalized and released to the public May 16 and is expected to begin in June with a targeted completion of March 2017.
The Metro system, which runs 118-miles, has suffered from a series of high profile safety issues over the years, including a more recent fatal one. Riders complain everyday of problems with the rail system, such as long delays.
Metro is a 40-year old system. The rails, ballast and the substructure the rails lay on top of will all be completely replaced.
“This is a massive undertaking,” General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said. “It’s like a military operation. There’s a lot of moving parts that have to work together.”
Five Metro stations will be shut down completely, with the first one starting July 5 and lasting a week. Ten others will experience continuous single-tracking, beginning with the Blue Line between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street from June 4 to 19.
The longest shutdown stretch will be on the Red Line between NoMa-Gallaudet U and Fort Totten from Oct. 9 to Nov. 2.
Fares will not be adjusted to reflect the service costs, Wiedefeld said. In addition, Metro will stick to its maintenance schedule regardless of a special event in the area. Affected areas are expected to help soften the blow the rail line repairs will have in everyday travel.
There is no price tag yet set for the repair, Wiedefeld said.
In addition, Wiedefeld announced a moratorium on early openings and late closings. Closure of Metro at midnight seven days a week will begin June 3.
“This plan is going to take some sacrifice from all of us. But it is clear that the current approach is not working, more aggressive action is necessary.” Wiedefeld said. “Metro’s safety culture change depends on support from the entire region. We have to begin by understanding that safety trumps inconvenience.”
The Coalition for Smarter Growth for the Washington region praised Wiedefeld’s plan and leadership.
“[W]e urge unity among elected officials in backing up the General Manager, and a shared commitment to providing the funding the system will need to complete a full mid-life restoration. Giving up on our Metrorail investment and all of the transportation and economic development benefits it has brought to our region is simply not an option,” Executive Director Stewart Schwartz said in a statement.
View the full “SafeTrack” plan here.
