Details on the changes to the SafeTrack Schedule including New weekend shutdowns

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From WMATA:

“Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld today announced several adjustments to the remaining SafeTrack surge schedule to allow for the completion of additional work on crossover tracks, address new safety recommendations and account for the impact of extreme heat, humidity and other weather impacts.

The changes announced today will affect the dates and sequence of the remaining SafeTrack surges. In mid-September, Wiedefeld will announce additional changes to surge projects that were originally scheduled for October and later. The following SafeTrack surge changes were announced today:

Surge #7 Twinbrook – Shady Grove

Date change: This surge, which is currently underway, will be extended through the end of Sunday, August 21. On weekdays, Red Line trains will single track at all times between Shady Grove and Twinbrook.
New weekend shutdown: On Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21, free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Grosvenor and Shady Grove to complete necessary switch rehabilitation work. As a result, White Flint, Twinbrook, Rockville and Shady Grove stations will be closed.

Surge #8 Franconia-Springfield – Van Dorn Street

Date change: This surge will now begin on Saturday, August 27, and continue through the end of the day, Sunday, September 11. On weekdays, Blue Line trains will single track at all times between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations.
New weekend shutdowns: Surge #8 will now include three consecutive weekend shutdowns where free shuttle buses replace trains along segments of the Blue Line to complete necessary switch rehabilitation work:
August 27-28 – Buses replace trains between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street. Franconia-Springfield Station will be closed.
September 3-5 (including Labor Day) – Buses replace trains between Franconia-Springfield and King Street. Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed.
September 10-11 – Buses replace trains between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street. Franconia-Springfield Station will be closed.

Surge #9 Vienna – West Falls Church

Date change: This surge will now begin on Thursday, September 15, and continue through the end of the day Wednesday, October 26. On weekdays, Orange Line trains will single track at all times between Vienna and West Falls Church.
New weekend shutdowns: Surge #9 will now include four consecutive weekend shutdowns where free shuttle buses replace trains along segments of the Orange Line to complete necessary switch rehabilitation work:
September 24-25 – Buses replace trains between Vienna and East Falls Church. Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations will be closed.
October 1-2 – Buses replace trains between Vienna and East Falls Church. Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations will be closed.
October 8-9 – Buses replace trains between Vienna and West Falls Church. Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will be closed.
October 15-16 – Buses replace trains between Vienna and West Falls Church. Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will be closed.

For information about the SafeTrack program, service impacts and travel alternatives, visit wmata.com/safetrack. Updated SafeTrack schedule information for surges 10-15 will be announced in mid-September.

SafeTrack is an accelerated track work plan to address safety recommendations and rehabilitate the Metrorail system to improve safety and reliability by significantly expanding maintenance time on weeknights, weekends and midday hours and includes 15 “Safety Surges” – long duration track outages for major projects in key parts of the system. The overall objective of SafeTrack is to bring Metrorail tracks and structures into a state of good repair by eliminating safety hazards, increasing service reliability and improving the ride quality of the system.”