Newly improved Orange Line stations to reopen on schedule featuring platform and customer upgrades

Stations to reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 6

Metro customers will see a brand-new look at five Orange Line stations re-opening Tuesday, Sept.6, 2022. New slip-resistant tiles, brighter energy-efficient LED lighting, larger digital display screens and rebuilt platform edges are among the upgrades you’ll find at New Carrollton, Landover, Cheverly, Deanwood and Minnesota Avenue stations.

Over the summer, Metro closed the stations for platform reconstruction, customer improvements and to conduct safety-critical repairs on several bridges along this segment of the Orange Line.

The reopening of the five stations marks the completion of a four-year program to rehabilitate and modernize 20 outdoor stations across the Blue, Orange, Silver, Yellow and Green lines. The project which began in 2019, used a new construction strategy to close stations during construction, consolidating years of work into months.

“I’d like to thank our customers, employees, contractors, jurisdictional partners, and everyone in the National Capital Region who made this project possible,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Randy Clarke. “The completion of this project demonstrates our commitment to delivering a sustainable, equitable, and world-class transit system to the National Capital Region.”

Funded by our Capital Improvement Program, the project has been the largest, most complex capital construction project completed since Metro opened in 1976. Today, these stations provide customers with safer, modern and more accessible stations including:

• Rebuilding 25,200 feet of platform edges to create safer, more accessible stations
• Installing over 467,000 square feet of slip-resistant tile to provide better traction in wet conditions
• Completing nearly 3 million customer trips on our free shuttle bus service during station closures to keep the region moving
• Installing 89 stainless-steel platform shelters with power outlets and digital screens to provide a more convenient customer experience
• Enhancing over 2,800 speakers for clearer announcements

On Sept. 6, Orange Line trains will resume normal service to all stations between Vienna and New Carrollton and parking fees will be restored. Some additional work in and around the stations may continue after stations reopen, including the eastside bus relocation at New Carrollton and portions of Park & Ride and Kiss & Ride lots that will be closed through September and as late as October.

Free shuttle buses will continue to operate through Monday, Sept. 5.

Metro’s Capital Improvement Program

Metro is investing in system safety, reliability, and the region's economy through its 10-year, $15 billion capital program. For the first time in Metro's history, the capital program is bolstered by dedicated funding from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The capital program will improve the customer experience and keep the region's infrastructure in a state of good repair by investing in new railcars and buses; improving stations and platforms; upgrading fire-suppression and emergency response systems; replacing and repairing tracks, tunnels, bridges, signals and communications systems; rebuilding decades-old bus garages; and providing modern customer amenities such as passenger information systems. By spending local taxpayer dollars for capital projects, Metro is seeking to reinvest in our hometown economy, creating jobs and encouraging participation from disadvantaged, minority-owned, and small businesses in the region.