Metro seeks public comment on expanded maintenance time
Responding to federal directives, and in an effort to provide sufficient time for maintenance to ensure a safe and reliable transit system, Metro is asking the public to provide feedback on four proposed changes to Metrorail’s hours of operation.
Each proposal will provide Metro with an additional eight hours of track access weekly to improve safety, reliability and maintain the Metrorail system in a state of good repair.
Recognizing that many riders affected by these proposed changes work a variety of schedules, Metro is planning a 9.5-hour public hearing to accommodate as many people as possible. Metro is also providing multiple ways for public comment for those who cannot attend the hearing:
Take an online survey at wmata.com/hours.
Email written comments to writtentestimony@wmata.com
Provide in-person feedback to staff at various Metrorail stations. For more information about dates, times and locations visit wmata.com/hours.
Attend an open house (anytime between noon and 9:00 p.m.) and public hearing (anytime between 12:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.) on Thursday, October 20, 2016.
Metro Headquarters
600 5th Street, NW
Washington D.C.
The public comment period on these proposed changes is open through 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25.
Last June, Metrorail service hours were temporarily adjusted to a midnight closing, seven days a week as part of the implementation of SafeTrack, Metro’s accelerated track repair program. While SafeTrack was designed to rehabilitate the Metrorail system and accomplish three years of work in approximately one year, recommendations from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), third-party experts and peer reviews concluded that properly maintaining the system long term requires more maintenance time on the tracks.
Prior to SafeTrack, the Metrorail system was closed only 33 hours each week, providing little time for maintenance and inspections. By contrast, in 1998 when the Metrorail system was roughly 20 percent smaller, had 12 fewer stations and was under less stress (i.e. by running shorter trains less frequently), the system enjoyed 25 percent more maintenance time – 44 hours per week.
Adjusting Metrorail operating hours and increasing track access will enable Metro crews to properly maintain the rehabilitated tracks and signals, mitigate water intrusion and complete other safety-critical maintenance and inspections beyond the completion of SafeTrack. The change will also reduce the risk of disruptive shutdowns for extensive repairs.
The following proposals are being considered and seek to minimize the number of riders who are affected by the change in operating hours:
Metro is also considering providing supplemental bus service that may provide customers with travel alternatives while the rail system is closed for the additional eight hours. A preview of this bus service network can be found at wmata.com/hours.
Additional Information
The survey results, along with written statements and public hearing comments will be part of the official public hearing record and submitted to the Board for consideration and approval in December 2016.
The locations for all public hearings are wheelchair accessible. Any individual who requires special assistance such as a sign language interpreter or additional accommodation to participate in the public hearing, or who requires these materials in an alternate format, should contact Danise Peña at 202-962-2511 or TTY: 202-962-2033 as soon as possible in order for Metro to make necessary arrangements. For language assistance, such as an interpreter or information in another language, please call 202-962-2582 at least 48 hours prior to the public hearing date.
How to register to speak
All organizations or individuals desiring to be heard with respect to the docket will be afforded the opportunity to present their views and make supporting statements and to offer alternative proposals. Public officials will be allowed five minutes each to make their presentations. All others will be allowed three minutes each. Relinquishing of time by one speaker to another will not be permitted.
There will be no advance registration to speak. Those wishing to provide oral testimony will sign up to speak at the hearing, and will be called to testify in the order they sign up. Elected public officials will be allowed the opportunity to provide their testimony as soon as feasible after their registration. Because of the extended duration of this hearing and the uncertainty of when attendees will arrive, there can be no assurances that all those wishing to testify at the hearing will be heard before the closing time of the hearing. However, should you be concerned that you will not be able to provide your testimony orally before the cutoff at 10:00 p.m., there will be staff on hand to help you with multiple ways to submit your comments into the public record including the use of a digital recorder to record your oral comments.
How to submit written statements
Written statements and exhibits must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, by the Office of the Secretary and may be emailed to writtentestimony@wmata.com. They may also be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Please reference “OPERATING HOURS” in the subject line of your submission. Please note all statements are releasable to the public upon request, and may be posted on WMATA’s website, without change, including any personal information provided.