The Washington, D.C., Metro announced Tuesday afternoon it will shut down all train service for 24 hours starting at midnight and reopening Thursday at 5 a.m.
Metrorail officials said the systemwide closure will take place in order to facilitate an “emergency investigation” of 600 pieces of electric cable connectors. It is the first time the system has ever been shut down for a non-weather related reason in its 39-year history.
The Office of Personnel Management issued an alert following the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s announcement, permitting federal employees to telecommute Wednesday.
The Board of Directors and General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld ordered the shutdown following a cable fire at McPherson Square on Monday. No one was killed in the incident, but officials have moved to take precautionary action to avoid another similar situation.
“From where I sit the safety of the public and employees is paramount,” Wiedefeld said at a press conference Tuesday. The recently appointed manager called the move the “most rational way” to handle an emergency situation that has happened twice in the past year, including a fatal incident at L’Enfant Plaza.
Wiedefeld cited a “very, very low” risk for hundreds of thousands of commuters who will use the system to travel home from work Tuesday.
Metro authorities said they will continue to work with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
D.C.’s Metro system was ranked best in the country last month.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the date that Paul J. Wiedefeld spoke. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
