WMATA Archives - Page 27 of 37

Metro: Arlington Cemetery Station North Entrance to Temporarily Close and Yellow Line Service Gets a Boost

Published June 5, 2023 at 6:45AM

Metro is making improvements at the Arlington Cemetery Station and will begin installing canopies over the station entrances to protect customers, the station, and escalators from the elements. Work will begin on Monday, June 5, closing the station’s north entrance on the north side of Memorial Drive for approximately three months. Rail service will not be impacted.

During construction crews will demolish and rebuild the parapet walls around the escalators to prepare the area for installation of the new canopy. Completing this work safely and efficiently requires closing the entrance. While the north entrance is closed, the south entrance will remain open and accessible using the crosswalk on Memorial Drive, directly across from the north entrance. Throughout construction, the two elevators on the north side of Memorial Drive that service both sides of the Metro platform will also remain open.

Metro Summer Construction Continues June 3, With Four Orange Line Station Closures in Virginia

By MCS Staff

Published May 30, 2023 at 2:19PM

Per WMATA: Beginning Saturday, June 3, Metro will begin rail replacement work on the Orange Line in Virginia. During construction, which will be done in two phases to minimize station closures, Metro will replace the original 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna stations. Replacing the track in this section is a top priority to ensure safety and increase reliability. Crews will also install fiber-optic cables during this shutdown to modernize communications and allow for more efficient maintenance in the future.

Free shuttle bus service will be available for customers during all station closures. Customers are advised to plan extra time for their travel. Metro is boosting outreach to customers at the affected stations and will have prominent signage, announcements in stations and on trains, and teams of outreach personnel to assist customers with the temporary travel patterns during the construction. “Replacing some of the oldest tracks in our system is critical to safety and reliability, and crews will work 24/7 to complete this project as quickly as possible so we can get back to normal service,” said Metro Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off. “We make every effort to minimize impacts to our customers, and we thank them for their patience while we continue to build a safe and modern Metro to serve the entire region.”

Metro Service Information for Memorial Day, Monday, May 29

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 3:23AM

Per WMATA: On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight, providing normal Sunday service on all lines. Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule. MetroAccess customers may make a reservation to travel on the holiday; however, subscription trips will be canceled.

Whether heading to a parade, barbeque, or the one of many local events honoring our servicemembers, Metro is your convenient and affordable way to get around the region this holiday weekend. If you’re heading out of town, avoid the traffic by taking Metro to Washington Dulles International or Reagan National airports. Service information:

Metro Seeks Customer Feedback at Exhibit on Train Fleet of the Future

By MCS Staff

Published May 23, 2023 at 6:49AM

Per WMATA: With the design of Metro’s train fleet of the future underway, customers are invited to visit a pop-up exhibit at Gallery Place – Chinatown Metro Station to view current concepts and provide input on the look, layout, and features of trains. The fleet of the future is expected to start serving customers in 2026. The pop-up will feature physical samples, renderings, and videos allowing the public to interact with and provide feedback on the design of the new trains.

Located at Gallery Place – Chinatown Station at the 7th and F St. entrance near the faregates, the exhibit will be open at designated times tomorrow, May 23, through May 30. Visit wmata.com/FleetoftheFuture for the full schedule. “We’re designing Metro’s fleet of the future for all of our customers, and we’re working hard to get as much public input as possible throughout the process,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “Metro’s next generation of trains will serve our region for decades, so we must ensure customer needs are met, while incorporating advances in technology that will allow our system to evolve with our trains.” Proposed concepts for Metro’s train fleet of the future include:

New Metrorail Station at Potomac Yard

By MCS Staff

Published May 19, 2023 at 7:36AM

The new Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station opens Friday at 5 a.m., connecting one of Alexandria’s fastest growing communities to the region. Less than 15 minutes to the nation’s capital, Potomac Yard-VT, on the Blue and Yellow lines, is the 98th station in the Metrorail system.

Per the press release: Metro and the City of Alexandria first announced the opening date last month, following more than three years of construction. A team of Metro staff will be on hand throughout the day to welcome customers to Potomac Yard -VT Station for the first time and will be giving away commemorative opening day pennants while supplies last. The station’s fare vending machines will also be stocked with limited-edition Potomac Yard SmarTrip cards in honor or Metro’s newest station.

Metro Summer Construction Work Began Friday, May 12 Starting with Orange Line Stations

By MCS Staff

Published May 13, 2023 at 9:48AM | Updated May 13, 2023 at 10:45AM

Beginning this Friday, May 12, Metro will begin a 10-day construction project on the Orange Line to complete structural work and waterproofing on the platform canopies at Minnesota Ave and Deanwood stations. During construction, the stations will remain open, with trains single tracking between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly to maintain rail service for customers.

Metro will run additional “Orange Line Plus” train service between Vienna and Downtown Largo during the morning and evening rush hours only (6 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 6 p.m.) to alleviate capacity concerns outside of the construction area at busier downtown stations. Orange+ trains will run every 24 minutes, with service to/from Downtown Largo, while traditional Orange Line trains will run every 24 minutes to/from New Carrollton. Combined, the Orange+ and Orange lines and the Blue and Silver lines will continue to provide high-frequency service with trains arriving every four minutes on average between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory. Due to operational constraints some customers may experience wait times up to nine minutes.

Yellow Line Train Service Has Resumed

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 6:41AM

Over the bridge and through the tunnel, trains on the Yellow Line are ready to go. Service resumed on Sunday, May 7, Yellow Line across the Potomac River, following an eight-month, on-time and anticipated to be under budget rehabilitation project to repair the deteriorating 1970’s tunnel and bridge. The reopening, announced last month, will provide a faster, more direct connection for customers between Virginia and downtown DC, including travel to/from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Per WMATA: Yellow Line trains will initially operate every eight minutes weekdays from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. for the first month between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square, and every 12 minutes all other times and on weekends, a 60 percent increase in train service than before the closure last fall. In June service will improve to eight minutes all day, seven days a week.

More Service Coming to the Red Line During Weekday Rush Hours Starting Monday, May 8

By MCS Staff

Published May 2, 2023 at 6:52PM

Per WMATA: Starting Monday, May 8, Red Line trains will arrive every six minutes during the busiest weekday periods from 6 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 7 p.m. The change will help relieve crowding during rush hours when Red Line trains are at or near capacity. During the midweek 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. hours most trains between Union Station and Metro Center have more than 90 people packed in each railcar, with some trains reaching 150 passengers per car.

Outside of peak periods, Red Line trains will continue to run every 8 minutes during the daytime and evening hours, and every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. seven days a week. Metrorail ridership continues to show strong growth month-over-month as service improves. In April, average weekday ridership hit 324,500, a pandemic-era high and 50 percent of pre-pandemic ridership during the same period.

Three People Rescued From Medical Center Metro Elevator Friday Evening

By MCS Staff

Published April 28, 2023 at 8:16PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for three people trapped inside of an elevator at Medical Center Station in Bethesda shortly before 7pm on Friday evening.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, the elevator was stuck 90 feet from the top and 30 feet from the bottom. Three people were trapped inside, with at least one of the people having a medical condition that “may preclude the most common ways of extrication.” The technical rescue was successful, per a 7:23pm update, with all three people successfully extricated. No further medical attention was needed, “everybody is OK.” Featured photo courtesy of WMATA.

Metro Unveils ‘Earth Day’ Metrobuses Featuring Artwork Created by Elementary School Artists

By MCS Staff

Published April 25, 2023 at 7:23AM

Per WMATA: On Tuesday, April 25, Metro’s Art in Transit program will reveal three Earth Day designed buses that are wrapped in original artwork created by local budding artists in kindergarten to sixth grade. The unveiling will take place at Metro Headquarters, 300 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. and each bus will be placed in service showcasing the artists work. Customers can use Metro’s special tracker to locate each bus once it goes into service. A globe will identify each Earth Day Metrobus throughout the system. “I’m truly impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of these young artists who used their talents to celebrate the role public transportation plays in creating a more sustainable, healthier and cleaner environment,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke.

In honor of Earth Day, a total of 240 submissions were received from young artists throughout the region. Of the numerous submissions, 15 drawings, paintings and digital artworks were selected, capturing their interpretation on the role public transportation plays in protecting our environment, combatting climate change, supporting sustainable and livable communities. This year’s Earth Day Metrobuses will feature artwork by the following young artists:

Beyond MoCo: Metro and City of Alexandria Announce Potomac Yard Station Opening Date

By MCS Staff

Published April 20, 2023 at 11:13AM

The opening day for Metro’s newest station, Potomac Yard, is set for Friday, May 19, 2023. Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke joined Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson to make the announcement while touring the Potomac Yard site.

“Our team is working hard to put the finishing touches on the station, and we look forward to welcoming customers on May 19th,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “This station opens a multitude of possibilities for those who live and work in Alexandria by providing a gateway to the region and all the city has to offer. “We appreciate the hard work and vision of the city to turn an idea more than 40-years in the making into reality, and we look forward to welcoming customers to our newest station.”