WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Metro system will be reducing rail service starting Monday to trains operating every 12 minutes on each line instead of the normal eight-minute interval between trains in response to the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, the transit system said Friday afternoon. The rail system intends to maintain normal hours, though, opening at 5 a.m. and closing at 11:30 p.m.
Also starting Monday, the Metrobus system will being operating on a Saturday schedule on weekdays, while weekend bus schedules will remain unchanged. MetroAccess service will continue to operate during the same hours as rail and bus services.
Metro is reducing service to help protect employees and customers, the transit system said. The service reduction also will allow for additional disinfecting of railcars and buses, including the use of electrostatic fogging on a weekly basis across Metro's fleet of 1,200 railcars and 1,500 buses. The electrostatic process addresses inaccessible surfaces in the vehicle, such as air ducts and compartments.
Metro also is implementing mandatory telework for administrative employees, combined with remote work assignments for selected employees whose job functions are not essential to operate trains and buses. This action is being taken to maximize social distancing as a way to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Metro said.
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"Many of Metro's frontline employees are faced with tough choices as they balance work with their family priorities, including caring for children who are home from area schools," the transit system said.
Metro said its Pandemic Task Force recommended these changes to slow the spread of the coronavirus. At 2 p.m. Friday, Metro escalated its response to Phase 3 of its Pandemic Flu Plan, the highest level of response. Metro said it expects to be at Phase 3 until further notice. Phase 4 is the recovery phase of the plan that involves Metro's return to normal operations after the situation is under control.
As part of the reduced service, trains will operate every 12 minutes on each line on Saturdays, with service from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. On Sundays, trains will operate every 15 minutes on each line, with service from 8 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
At its Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC), Metro is banning visitors and non-essential personnel and creating physical separation between ROCC employee teams who will now run the rail system from two different locations to mitigate risk. Operation of the rail system will alternate between two control centers, allowing downtime for disinfecting keyboards, headsets, microphones, screens and other critical equipment in the control center.
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Visitors also will not be permitted at Metro Headquarters in D.C. or any other administrative site, and public meetings at Metro headquarters have been suspended, including the Riders' Advisory Council and the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Metro said its Pandemic Flu Plan was activated in late January at the first signs of a potential pandemic. The early activation allowed Metro to take immediate action to stockpile critical items, such as hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, and hospital-grade disinfectant, the transit system said.
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Metro Reducing Service To Slow Spread Of Coronavirus - Washington, DC Patch
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