Attention Metro Riders: Revised WMATA Surge Schedule Released

WASHINGTON, DC — WMATA officials have released a new schedule of SafeTrack work to fix chronic safety problems throughout the rail system, and another round of Red Line work from Fort Totten to NoMa that impacts D.C. passengers is delayed two weeks.

The new schedule for its last six "Surges," which includes another round of Red Line work from Fort Totten to NoMa that impacts Montgomery County passengers, was supposed to take place from Oct. 10 to Nov. 1. But with more problems uncovered as repairs are made on the system, officials scrapped the timeline. The revised schedule now calls for Surge 9 work on the Red Line to be done between Oct. 29 and Nov. 22.

And 2017 Surge repairs don't have firm dates, that will come in December, Metro officials said.

Surge #10: NoMa-Gallaudet-Fort Totten | October 29 - November 22

• Date change: This surge will now begin on Saturday, October 29, and continue through Tuesday, November 22.
• Service info: Red Line rail service will not operate between Fort Totten and NoMa-Gallaudet stations during this surge. As a result, two stations–Brookland and Rhode Island Avenue–will be closed. Buses will operate between Fort Totten, Brookland, Rhode Island Ave and NoMa. However, customers are encouraged to use the Green Line as an alternate route between Fort Totten and Downtown DC (Gallery Place). Red Line trains will operate less frequently than normal at all stations, and riders are encouraged to use alternate routes or travel outside of rush-hour periods if possible.

WMATA's SafeTrack initiative accelerates three years of track repairs into less than a year by significantly expanding maintenance work. SafeTrack's 15 "Safety Surges" – long-duration track outages for major projects in key parts of the system – have caused delays throughout the DC region.

Metro has been struggling with numerous problems since the start of SafeTrack, with Red Line segments between Twinbrook and Shady Grove station shut down entirely during the weekend in August when it was only supposed to include single-tracking.

Surge 9 will begin Thursday, Sept. 15, and run for 42 days through Oct. 26 focused on the Orange Line, which will single track at all times between Vienna and West Falls Church. On weekends, rail service will be suspended.

Other SafeTrack surge dates were announced Wednesday:

Surge #11: East Falls Church-West Falls Church | November 28 - December 21

• Date change: This surge will now begin on Monday, November 28, and continue through Wednesday, December 21.
• Service info: Trains will single track at all times between East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations, affecting both Orange and Silver line service. Trains will run every 16 minutes at all times, with heavy crowding expected during rush hour periods. Riders are encouraged to use alternate routes or travel outside of rush-hour periods if possible.

Updated SafeTrack schedule information for 2017 will be announced in December with specific start and end dates. However, Metro has revised the order of some surges to reduce weather impacts on above-ground work zones

The sequence of 2017 surges will be:

• Early January: Braddock Road–Huntington Blue LineYellow Line, Single tracking with weekend shutdowns
• Late January - Early February: Rosslyn–Pentagon Blue Line, Line segment shutdown
• March: Braddock Road–Huntington Blue LineYellow Line, Single tracking with weekend shutdowns
• Late March - April: Greenbelt–College Park Green Line, Single tracking with weekend shutdowns

Metro and the Federal Transit Administration will continue to schedule maintenance needs that will be added to the maintenance program. For more information about the SafeTrack program, service impacts and travel alternatives, visit wmata.com/safetrack.

— Story by Patch Editor Deb Belt
Image via WMATA