WMATA, PATCO to reopen all rail stations

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) earlier this week reopened the Vienna and Dunn Loring rail stations following a summer-long closure to rebuild and modernize the stations. 

All 91 WMATA stations are now open for the first time since the agency implemented station closures as part of its pandemic response in March. 

The reopening also marks the end of summer station closures to reconstruct aging platforms at four Orange Line stations in Virginia.

WMATA crews installed slip-resistant tiles on the platforms and in the mezzanine areas, stainless-steel platform shelters, additional passenger information display screens, LED lighting throughout the stations, and improved speakers for clearer public announcements and emergency notifications.

Meanwhile, the Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) on Sept. 14 will reopen four closed rail stations and add more frequent train service in New Jersey. 

PATCO will open the Ashland, Westmont, City Hall and 12/13th & Locust Street stations, which temporarily closed March 28 as part of the agency’s COVID-19 response. 

The agency will also increase weekday train service to offer trains every five to 10 minutes during rush hours. Weekend departures increase with trains running every 20 minutes on Saturdays and 30 minutes on Sundays. 

“Our goal now is to ensure our service provides enough capacity so that there is enough room on platforms and trains to facilitate appropriate social distancing,” PATCO General Manager John Rink said in a press release.