Below are Purple Line construction updates in Montgomery County:
WMATA
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This weekend, Nov. 18 -19, Metro crews will perform critical track work and make rail adjustments on a section of track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon/Arlington Cemetery. Due to single tracking Metro will operate significantly reduced frequencies – every 26 minutes – on the Blue and Orange lines, with Silver Line service operating between Ashburn and Ballston only.
In summer 2021, Metro kicked off a yearlong project to replace all faregate payment cabinets across the Metrorail system with modernized units that include enhanced safety features, larger displays, and faster processing. Metro also took action to decrease fare evasion. After testing modifications to the existing faregates, they made the decision to retrofit all faregate doors to reduce fare evasion.
Per WMATA: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is saddened to learn of the passing of former federal Board Member, Board Chair and transit industry titan Mort Downey. Downey served on WMATA’s Board of Directors from 2010-2016 and was the very first federal member appointed to the Board. His decades of transportation experience were invaluable to the Board, particularly in policy setting and oversight.
As Board Chair, he led the Board in taking on some of WMATA’s toughest challenges, including the recruitment and selection of a new General Manager, overseeing Metro’s responses to Federal Transit Administration and National Transportation Safety Board safety findings, and its oversight of Metro’s response to the FTA’s Financial Management Oversight findings.
Metro is celebrating veterans this November with a special wrapped train and bus to honor those who served our country. The red design features an American flag motif and the message: “Proud to serve those who served our country” and “Honoring Veterans Day.”
Per WMATA: “Metro is honored to support our military members, veterans, and their families with mobility across the region every day,” said Metro board member and retired Army Colonel Donald Drummer. “We also acknowledge and salute the veterans and family members on our Metro team for their service and sacrifices. This train and bus are symbols of our enduring respect and appreciation.”
Per WMATA: Metro is reminding customers to plan ahead if traveling on the Red, Blue, Silver, and Green lines this weekend due to planned track and construction work.
On the Red Line, trains will be single tracking between Medical Center and Grosvenor while crews perform rail renewal and joint elimination to provide customers with a smoother ride. Trains will run every 10 minutes between Friendship Heights and Glenmont, and every 20 minutes between Friendship Heights and Shady Grove.
Per WMATA: If you’re headed off to the races for the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon, Metrorail will get you there starting at 5 a.m. on race day, Sunday, October 29. All lines will open early, with no scheduled track work, to get you to the start line conveniently located off the Blue or Yellow lines.
Metro is the quickest way to get around to avoid traffic and road closures. Spectators can cheer on their favorite runners by hopping on Metro to the nearest station along the course. All lines will operate frequent all-day service and fares are an affordable $2 flat rate for any one-way trip.
As Metro prepares for critical safety repairs on the Red Line during the last two weeks of the year, plans are underway to ensure customers are well-informed about travel alternatives to get them to and from Red Line stations where service will be interrupted. Metro scheduled the work at the end of December, while ridership is at its lowest, to have the least impact on customers.
Per WMATA: To complete the work safely and efficiently, there will be no Red Line service between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place between Monday, Dec. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 30. Farragut North and Metro Center (upper level) will be closed. Blue, Orange, and Silver line service will continue to be available for customers at Metro Center; however, both entrances on G Street NW at 11th and 13th streets will be closed to accommodate equipment and work crews. Customers can access the station at both entrances on 12th Street NW instead.
The Metro Transit Police Department is investigating a stabbing where one victim was critically injured Saturday evening.
Police and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department responded to a Metrobus stopped at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue NW & 34th Street NW around 5:45 Saturday evening. One man was transported to an area hospital with injuries believed to be critical, according to the Transit Police.
This week, customers may notice doors opening faster on some Red Line trains when they stop at stations. On Wednesday, Metro will begin certifying operators who have been trained to use Metro’s Auto Doors function. The feature enables doors to open automatically when the train stops at the platform. Not only is it safer and more reliable, but it also eliminates the delay of operators manually opening the doors.
Currently, operators are required to open and close train doors manually. They’re instructed to stick their head out the window, take a few seconds to verify they are opening the doors on the correct side of the train, and then press a button to open the doors. The process can take up to 15 seconds and happens more than 20,000 times a day across the system.
According to a report by ABC 7, 38-year-old Daniyom Tesfaye was arrested by Montgomery County Police and charged with assault in connection with a stabbing that occurred Wednesday, October 11 in Silver Spring. Around 5:20pm a Metro contractor was stabbed in front of the Silver Spring Metro Station. Metro Transit Police reported that the victim was stabbed in the arm and sustained serious injuries. According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, “Montgomery County 3rd District Officers radioed that the victim had experienced “significant” blood loss and the Officers were able to further control the bleeding when they applied one of their tourniquets.” A suspect is not in custody at this time.
We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.