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Metro Cutting Service for Maintenance

Transit system closing early to fast-track recommended emergency repairs

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The entire Washington Metro rail system will close at midnight each day beginning June 3, cutting off daily service hours earlier in order to jump-start emergency repairs requested by federal officials.  

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld last week put forward his plan to address outstanding maintenance issues over the next year. The SafeTrack program proposes closing early on weekends first before shaving hours off commuting routes during the week.  

[Related: How Capitol Hill Will be Affected by Metro Repairs] Officials at the Federal Transit Administration Wednesday urged Metro to “take immediate action” on several problem areas along the Orange, Blue, Silver and Red lines.  

“By closing the system at midnight every night and expanding weekday maintenance opportunities, the SafeTrack plan addresses FTA and NTSB safety recommendations, accelerates work to eliminate maintenance backlogs and restores Metro infrastructure to good health,” Metro stated in a press release.  

Transit aides confirmed that Metro leaders were reviewing the FTA suggestions but stressed that no final decisions had been made.  

“The SafeTrack plan has not been finalized and is subject to change until then,” a spokeswoman said.  

Contact Rojas at warrenrojas@rollcall.com and follow him on Twitter at @WARojas. Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.

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