Metro officials detailed plans yesterday to the Board Customer Service and Operations Committee about how the transit authority plans to realign Blue and Yellow Line Metrorail service by June 2012 in an effort to improve service, reliability and prepare for the future Dulles extension.
“The Blue and Yellow Line realignment is meant to address peak period crowding and service reliability at the Rosslyn Metrorail station, realign service to better match ridership and transition to the future Dulles rail extension,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles.
The realignment will be a major change to the service pattern of the Metrorail system. Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green Line riders all will be affected by the change. The proposal is to shift one-third of Blue Line trains from Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station to operate via the Yellow Line Bridge to L’Enfant Plaza and on to Greenbelt. To offset the shift, three Orange Line trains per hour would be added from West Falls Church-VT/UVA to Largo Town Center.
Multiple rail lines will benefit from the realignment with increased service, including the Yellow and Green lines (between L’Enfant Plaza and Greenbelt Metrorail stations) and the Orange Line (between West Falls Church-VT/UVA and Court House Metrorail stations). It is estimated that 108,000 riders (43% of peak period trips) to various destinations within the system will benefit from increased service and time savings.
To ensure a smooth transition and successful launch of the new service patterns for customers, Metro will implement a communications plan that explains the expansion and resulting changes, and involves customers, stakeholders and employees in the change to ensure public support and quality service.
The service changes taking place will extend well beyond the depiction of the Metrorail map and will require changes to station and equipment signage, train announcements and other basic communication materials. In total, approximately 2,600 station signs, including way finding, tactile signage and pylons will need to be replaced. More than 5,000 system maps will need to be printed and installed in stations and rail cars, and over 1,200 fare charts for fare vending and station kiosks will need to be updated.
Metrorail service schedules will be developed three months prior to the start of service. Train operators and station managers will receive advance training on the service change, which is planned to be initiated in June 2012.
