Mon. May 23, 2016
Dear DowntownDC Stakeholder:
On May 6, we wrote to inform you of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) draft “SafeTrack” plan to repair Metrorail, which is designed to complete three years’ worth of repairs in approximately one year.
Last week, Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld publicly released the plan’s final version, which included more specific details regarding where and when Metrorail service will be significantly reduced and further information regarding the type of assistance they will provide customers during this maintenance and repair period. The first “Safety Surge” is scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 4.
[Read the final SafeTrack plan online here.]
“Each of the 15 Surge projects will result in either around-the-clock single tracking or shutdowns of selected track segments and will have a significant impact on rush-hour commutes,” Metro stated in a news release. “Many of the Surges will severely reduce the frequency of trains, resulting in crowding and extended wait times. When a Surge is underway on a particular line, Metro riders who have the ability to do so may be asked to use alternate travel options and avoid Metro until the project is complete.”
Highlights of the plan are outlined below:
WMATA Final SafeTrack Maintenance Plan
1. Maintenance time will be expanded on weekends, weeknights and midday hours and will include 15 “Safety Surges” (long-duration track outages for major projects in key parts of the system).
- Late night Metrorail service will be eliminated. Metro will close at midnight daily, ending late night weekend closures at 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Select track work will begin at 8 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. on weeknights.
- No additional service for special events will be provided: for example, the Metro will not open early for the Marine Corps Marathon and will not close late to accommodate Verizon Center events.
2. “Safety Surges” in specific track areas will result in either around-the-clock single-tracking or shutdowns of selected track segments, significantly impacting rush-hour commutes.
A complete schedule of Safety Surges is available online here.
When a Surge is underway, Metro riders are encouraged to use alternate travel options and avoid Metro until the project is complete.
3. The first Surge project will begin on Saturday June 4 when there will be continuous single-tracking between East Falls Church and Ballston for 13 days. Orange and Silver Line service will be reduced at all stations and customers are encouraged to considerate alternative options and avoid traveling during rush hour. Trains will run every 18 minutes between Vienna and Ballston on the Orange Line and every 18 minutes along the Silver Line.
3. The SafeTrack plan includes independent verification of work progress, quality control and Metro management accountability.
Customers are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time updates at wmata.com/metroalerts. The DowntownDC BID also encourages customers to utilize goDCgo to assist with planning commutes and travel for your employees and tenants during these repairs. The resources provided by goDCgo, which include online as well as in-person individually-tailored commuting solutions, are offered for free through the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Neil Albert
Executive Director, DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID)