Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 1, 2011

Buses replace Red Line trains this weekend between Rockville and Bethesda
On Sunday, buses replace Blue Line trains at Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street

This weekend, August 5-7, buses will replace Red Line trains between Rockville and Bethesda, and four stations – Twinbrook, White Flint, Grosvenor and Medical Center – will be closed as Metro personnel install new rail, repair tunnel leaks, replace ties and fasteners, install new communications cables to enhance cell phone coverage, and conduct preventive maintenance on 23 elevators and 10 escalators. Crews also will continue platform rehabilitation work at Twinbrook and White Flint stations and make repairs to the aerial structure near Grosvenor.

In addition, on Sunday, August 7, Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed and Blue Line trains will operate to and from Huntington. Shuttle buses will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Eisenhower Avenue stations via Van Dorn Street Station.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Red Line – from 10 p.m., Friday through closing on Sunday

• Buses will replace Red Line trains between Rockville and Bethesda stations
• Twinbrook, White Flint, Grosvenor and Medical Center stations will be closed
• Metro will operate free shuttle buses between Rockville and Bethesda stations. Local shuttle buses will make stops at all intermediate stations (Twinbrook, White Flint, Grosvenor and Medical Center). In addition, express shuttle buses will operate directly between Rockville and Bethesda.
• Red Line service will operate normally between Bethesda and Glenmont stations
• Red Line service between Shady Grove and Rockville will operate every 20 minutes
• On Friday and Saturday, the last train will depart Shady Grove 45 minutes earlier than usual – at 1:58 a.m. Saturday and at 10:58 p.m. Sunday.
• Customers wishing to avoid the work area may wish to consider Metrobus J and Q routes or Ride-On bus services. In addition, customers may wish to travel from stations at the opposite end of the line (e.g. Silver Spring).
• Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 45 minutes of additional travel time.

Blue Line – Sunday, August 7
On Sunday, August 7, the Virginia Department of Transportation will perform bridge replacement work on the Telegraph Road Bridge near King Street Station. To allow for this work, buses will replace Blue Line trains at Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield stations all day Sunday.

• Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed on Sunday, August 7.
• Free shuttle buses will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Eisenhower Avenue stations via Van Dorn Street station.
• Affected customers should allow 30 additional minutes of travel time.
• All Blue Line trains will operate to and from Huntington stations about every 20 minutes.
• Normal rail service will resume with start of service on Monday, August 8.

Blue and Orange Line – from 10 p.m., Friday, through closing on Sunday

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, August 5, and continuing through closing on Sunday, August 7, Orange and Blue Line trains will share one track between Eastern Market and Stadium Armory stations as Metro replaces rail fasteners to provide a smoother ride.
• Throughout the weekend, Blue and Orange Line trains will depart endpoint terminals about every 20 minutes.
• Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time through this area.

Metro is advancing a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.

News release issued at 11:32 am, August 1, 2011.