WMATA to offer alternative service during platform reconstruction

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), in partnership with local partners, will offer travel options for passengers affected by a rail platform reconstruction and station improvement project that will close six stations on its Blue and Yellow lines, the authority announced last week. 

The stations will be closed from May 25 to Sept. 2 so that construction contractor Kiewit can work around the clock and on all six stations concurrently to expedite the process, WMATA officials said in a press release. To minimize customer impact, crews plan to complete as much invasive work as possible while the stations are closed.

"To reduce the length of time riders are inconvenienced, we have incentivized the contractor to rebuild deteriorating concrete platforms using an aggressive construction approach that reduces the project duration and contains the service disruption as much as possible to provide normal rail service elsewhere on the system,” WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul Wiedefeld said in a press release. 

The reconstruction is part of WMATA’s three-year Platform Improvement Project that will reconstruct the outdoor platforms at 20 Metrorail stations. 

In addition to working with the Alexandria Transit Company's DASH bus system, which plans to operate one of the free shuttle routes, WMATA is working closely with regional partners on additional alternative travel options and transportation demand management, including promoting existing transit services, park and ride locations, flexible telework policies, and carpool and vanpool options. Regional partners are also continuing to finalize additional service enhancements in coordination with WMATA, according to a press release.