Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Surge 1 of Metro’s Safe Track work is off to a good start, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s General Manager Paul Wiedefeld.
Metro riders have heeded warnings to adjust their commutes while there’s continuous single tracking between Ballston and East Falls Church. Wiedefeld said the proof’s in the numbers.
There’s been a 27 percent drop ridership from Ballston going west compared to three weeks ago. During the afternoon rush, there has been a 41 percent drop in ridership from 6 to 7 p.m. since the start of Safe Track. There’s been a 17 percent increase in ridership from 7 to 8 p.m. The numbers show people who normally ride that section of the Orange and Silver Lines are using alternative ways to get to work in the morning and leaving work later to avoid crowds.
Bus ridership on lines in the affected area is up as much as 30 percent, according to Assistant General Manager of the Customer Service Committee Lynn Bowersox.
The biggest problem so far with rail is confusion at the Ballston station because of unpredictable platforming of trains according to Bowersox. She said there is really no way to fix that other than have more employees on the platform to direct people, which they have done.
There were two other problems this week. A switch problem caused extra delays on the Orange and Silver Lines west of East Falls Church Monday morning, and there was a of a disabled train at Virginia Square during the afternoon rush that day.
As surge 1 continues, WMATA’s preparing for surge 2, which will have the Orange, Silver and Blue Lines completely shut down between Eastern Market and Minnesota Ave/Benning Road starting June 18.
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