WMATA improved escalator availability in second quarter

More escalators are in service and available for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) riders than at any point in the past five years as a result of the "Metro Forward" rehabilitation project, agency officials announced.

In the second quarter, WMATA achieved an escalator availability score of 91.9 percent, meaning that more than nine of every 10 of the system's 588 escalators were in service during operator hours, agency officials said in a press release.

The availability score compares with 90.4 percent in second-quarter 2012 and 83.6 percent in second-quarter 2011.

WMATA has worked to improve the safety and reliability of its escalator fleet, which is the largest of any transit agency in North America and includes the longest escalators in the western hemisphere, agency officials said.

Since 2011, 89 escalators have been rehabilitated. During the next few months, WMATA plans to begin full replacement of an additional 128 escalators. So far, six escalators have been replaced under Metro Forward; three additional units are being installed at Pentagon Station.