Four Green and Yellow Line stations reopened Today. Also, now more buses and trains, lower prices, and extended Metrorail operating hours on weekends.

photo by LaTur

From WMATA:

“Greenbelt, College Park, Prince George’s Plaza, and West Hyattsville stations – closed since late May – will reopen as scheduled on Tuesday, September 7. Crews have been working around the clock all summer to completely reconstruct the deteriorating outdoor platforms while adding additional safety and customer convenience features.

Metro customers will also benefit from more buses and trains, lower prices, and extended Metrorail operating hours on weekends.

Details on upcoming fare and service improvements can be found at wmata.com/changes.

“We’re excited to welcome customers back to safer and more convenient stations, all while offering more trains and buses, longer hours, and lower prices,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Metro’s aggressive capital program is making the system safer and more reliable for the entire region, and we’re now just three stations away from completing our goal of rebuilding 20 outdoor stations in need of these critical repairs.”

In addition to completely rebuilt platforms, key renovations at the reconstructed stations include new slip-resistant tiles, brighter energy-efficient LED lighting, and illuminated handrails. New stainless-steel platform shelters now have charging ports and digital map and information displays. More Passenger Information Displays (PIDS) have been installed along the platforms, with larger digital screens to improve visibility. Station improvements also include new surveillance systems, clearer speakers for important announcements, and safety call buttons with direct contact to station managers and the operations control center.

Metro customers will also notice new modern, stainless steel faregates completely installed at all four stations, part of Metro’s system-wide initiative to replace and upgrade faregates to be faster and more reliable. Because SmarTrip® cards with older chip technology will no longer work at the new faregates, Metro is making it easy to switch to a new SmarTrip® card with several convenient options.

The reopening of the Green and Yellow Line stations will bring Metro’s Platform Improvement Project closer to the finish line, with 17 of 20 platforms complete. Next summer, the reconstruction of Cheverly, Landover, and New Carrollton stations will be completed for the project’s final phase.

Return to Service

The current travel alternatives, including free shuttle bus service, will remain in effect until Sept. 7 when the stations reopen. On Tuesday morning, the Green Line will resume service from Branch Avenue to Greenbelt, and the Yellow Line will resume operating from Huntington to Greenbelt.

While these stations will be open for regular service on September 7, some residual construction activities will continue after the stations reopen. Customers should be aware that the Kiss & Ride at Fort Totten will close from September 7 through September 12 to replace meters, restripe the lot, and move bollards.”