Metro 7000 Series Return Eyed For Summer, Board Approves Budget

McLean VA

24 March, 2022

1:23 PM

Description

WASHINGTON, DC — Thursday's Metro board meeting saw approval of the Metro budget and a presentation of a plan to restore 7000-series railcars in phases during summer. Metro's 7000-series railcars have been under investigation since an October 2021 derailment between the Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery stations. Despite efforts to bring back railcars, Metro again removed railcars in late December. Now, Metro is proposing a plan to phase in 7000-series railcars this summer, according to the Washington Post. Metro also plans to return additional 6000-series railcars in May to boost service on the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines. Approval would be needed for this plan from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. After the October derailment, inspectors from the National Transportation Safety Board identified safety concerns with the wheel axle assembly of 7000-series railcars. According to the Post, Metro has not yet identified what caused the wheel defect or how it can be resolved. Metro is now becoming busier with more people returning to in-person work and visitors heading to DC for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Two major projects — Metro's Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County and the new Potomac Yard metro station in Alexandria are expected to open this year. Metro budget Thursday's board meeting also included the approval of Metro's fiscal year 2023 budget, which includes permanent fare changes, improved bus and rail service, and support for rail service to Potomac Yard and the Silver Line extension stations. Fare changes introduced in 2021 will be made permanent with the approved budget. These a $2 discount on Metrobus fares when traveling to or from Metrorail, $2 one-way Metrorail fares on weekends, and seven-day regional bus passes for $12 or $6 for senior or disabled riders. Metro will also introduce $2 one-way fares for trips after 9:30 p.m., reduced prices for monthly unlimited passes, and $29 seven-day unlimited pass. Service improvements in the budget will become effective after 7000-series trains return. Service improvements that will become permanent on Metrobus include buses in the frequent bus service network every 12 to 20 minutes, increased service on 22 bus routes, and restoring service to pre-pandemic levels on select bus lines. Permanent changes on Metrorail will include increased trains during weekday peak and off-peak times, increased late-night trains after 9:30 p.m. daily, and increased weekend trains on all lines. The capital program includes the last of Metro's platform reconstruction projects at 20 outdoor stations with work on the New Carrollton, Landover, Cheverly, Deanwood and Minnesota Avenue stations in DC and Maryland. Metro is also planning a rehabilitation of the Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River and tunnels, prompting a seven to eight-month closure of train service between Pentagon and L'Enfant Plaza starting in September 2022.