WMATA to reopen 4 Red Line stations

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on Sept. 1 will open four Red Line stations, marking the end of Red Line rehabilitation work that was completed while the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) built part of a new Purple Line mezzanine at Silver Spring.

The stations are Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring, Maryland.

Purple Line mezzanine work will continue on the platform at Silver Spring with scaffolding covering about one-third of the platform, but the station will be open for riders, according to a WMATA news release.

During the summer, crews built columns that will support the walkway from the Purple Line station over the tracks to the Red Line platform.

During the construction, WMATA crews replaced 6,500 feet of rail and 6,000 feet of grout pads; repaired 857 areas for leak mitigation; installed 102,000 feet of fiber optic cable for communications; replaced 183 track signs, 2,500 crossties and six switch machines; replaced 1,000 fasteners; and replaced 12 train-control processers, 650 insulators and 72,000 square feet of tile joints.

Additional work included replacing automatic train control systems, installing traction power cables, replacing drain pumping stations, replacing the tunnel standpipe and maintaining the elevators and escalators.

WMATA also rebuilt an interlocking switch area between Fort Totten and Takoma before that stretch of track reopened in late June.

Later this year, WMATA will install new digital passenger information displays on platforms and station entrance digital screens at all five stations. Supply chain issues held up installation during the construction window, WMATA officials said.

The MTA's Purple Line is currently scheduled to begin operations in December 2027.