This Weekend’s Metro Track Work – Plus FY14 Budget Passed

Prince Of Petworth April 26, 2013 at 4:00pm

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Photo by PoPville flickr user evegophotos

From WMATA:

Metro is investing $5.5 billion to install new rail, ties, platforms, escalators, signals, lighting, communication systems, and more. It represents the largest capital investment — and work effort — since the system’s original construction in the early 1970s.

This weekend’s rebuilding work will result in service changes on all lines beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday night.

Early Opening Sunday Morning for Nike Women Half Marathon

Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, for customers traveling to the Nike Women Half Marathon. The start line is accessible from Metro Center (Red/Blue/Orange lines), Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange lines) or Archives (Yellow/Green lines).

Red Line – 10 p.m. Fri., April 26 through closing Sun., April 28

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between NoMa-Gallaudet and Takoma stations to allow for DDOT bridge work at New York Avenue, tie replacement, insulator renewal and communication system upgrades.
Two stations will be closed: Rhode Island Ave and Brookland. In addition, Fort Totten Station will be open for Green and Yellow line service only.
Trains will operate as follows:
Between Glenmont and Takoma every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
Between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular weekend intervals at other times.

Free shuttle buses will operate on two routes:
Express buses will operate non-stop between Takoma and NoMa-Gallaudet stations. Customers using express buses should add about 20 minutes to their travel time.
Local buses will operate between Takoma and NoMa-Gallaudet, with intermediate stops at Fort Totten, Brookland and Rhode Island Avenue stations. Customers using local buses should add about 30 minutes to their travel time.

Customers traveling between the eastern side of the Red Line and Downtown destinations may wish to consider using Green or Yellow line service between Fort Totten and Gallery Place as an alternate route. The local shuttle trip between Fort Totten and Takoma takes about 8 minutes.
Last train change: To allow for shuttle bus connections, the last train from Glenmont to Takoma will depart 38 minutes earlier than normal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The train will leave Glenmont at 1:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 10:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Continues after the jump.

Blue & Orange lines – 10 p.m. Fri., April 26 through closing Sun., April 28 EXCEPT between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Sunday

Blue and Orange line trains will single track between McPherson Square and Smithsonian stations as workers install new ceiling tiles, perform track maintenance, clean insulators and repair drainage systems.
Throughout the weekend, Blue and Orange line trains will operate every 20 minutes in each direction. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.
Note: Between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Sunday, trains will operate about every 12 minutes to accommodate customers traveling to the Nike Women Half Marathon.
Last train change: To allow for scheduled Red Line connections at Metro Center, the last Orange Line train from New Carrollton to Vienna will depart 19 minutes earlier than normal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The train will leave New Carrollton at 2:17 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:17 p.m. on Sunday. The last Blue Line train from Largo Town Center to Franconia-Springfield will depart 10 minutes earlier than normal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The train will leave Largo Town Center at 2:14 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:14 p.m. on Sunday.

Green Line – 10 p.m. Fri., April 26 through closing Sun., April 28

Green Line trains will single track through two work zones:
Between Greenbelt and College Park to allow for rail tie replacement and insulator renewal.
Between Naylor Road and Branch Avenue stations as crews eliminate rail joints for a smoother ride, and replace rail fasteners.
Throughout the weekend, Green Line trains will operate every 20 minutes in each direction. Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.

Yellow Line – 10 p.m. Fri., April 26 through closing Sun., April 28

Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes throughout the weekend due to scheduled work and related service adjustments on the Green and Blue lines, which overlap with the Yellow Line.
Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Fort Totten this weekend.
Customers should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.

From CM Bowser’s office:

Yesterday, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser and the WMATA Board of Directors approved the Metro budget for Fiscal Year 2014. The $2.7 billion budget, which takes effect July 1, 2013, makes key investments in bus, rail and paratransit service for the region while ensuring the long-term fiscal health of the Authority. Importantly, no fare increases were included as part of this package.

“People in the District deserve a first rate transit system, and this budget helps us get there,” said Bowser. “It also does so in a fiscally sound manner with an eye toward the long-term needs of the region.”

In addition to continuing the same operating service levels on bus, rail and paratransit, and catching up on years of deferred maintenance, this budget has several new initiatives that include:

· More than $7 million will be invested on improved bus service on the Priority Corridor Networks.

· Phase I of the Silver Line is scheduled to begin operating in December 2013.

· New MetroAccess performance based contracts are set to take effect in July 2013.

· To improve safety and security, the FY14 budget includes more resources for transit police officers, cameras on buses and at stations, and better lighting.

The Board’s Planning, Program Development and Real Estate Committee, chaired by Councilmember Bowser, also took steps to streamline the process for development to occur on WMATA-owned land. Among the improvements to the joint development guidelines being considered are a first ever affordable housing policy at WMATA, clarification of the role of local jurisdictions, and incorporation of the recently revised Code of Ethics and Momentum strategic planning goals.

“The time had come to make these improvements,” said Bowser. “We need to do everything we can to foster smart growth in the region in a way that serves all our residents and with a streamlined process that attracts the best development partners and proposals. This is a strong step in that direction.”

To ensure an open process that maximizes public involvement, interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed changes via the special comment page located on WMATA’s website by Wednesday, June 12th. The Board will also take public testimony at the Committee’s next meeting on June 13th prior to finalization of the updated guidelines.