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Yesterday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board’s finance and administration committee approved awarding a six-year, $272.7 million infrastructure and rehabilitation contract to improve customer service and reliability, and maintain a state of good repair on the Blue and Orange lines.

The rehabilitation program would cover 27 miles of track and 23 stations along the Blue and Orange lines between the New Carrollton and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations. Design work would begin next month and construction is expected to start in late 2011.

Improvements include:
• replacing tunnel safety lights;
• rehabilitating tunnel ventilation and exhaust fans;
• upgrading and replacing the emergency telephone system;
• rehabilitating or replacing 22 elevators and 103 escalators between the Stadium-Armory and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations;
• reconstructing crumbling platforms at the Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood Metrorail stations;
• upgrading air conditioning units at the Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations;
• upgrading and enlarging station manager kiosks to feature a new public-address system and new monitors at 18 stations;
• rehabilitating station restrooms;
• repairing the rail bridge at the Deanwood station;
• repairing 83,700 feet of tunnels;
• installing new ties;
• upgrading traction power and train control systems;
• repairing station domes and acoustical walls; and
• replacing and upgrading drainage pumping stations.

The full board is expected to vote on the proposal on Oct. 28.