WORK is due to start this month on a $141·4m project to expand capacity at three maintenance and servicing depots on the Washington DC metro network.
The package was scheduled for approval by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board on July 21. Due to be completed by January 2008, the work will increase capacity by around 30%, ready for the delivery of 122 new cars from Alstom and the introduction of eight-car trains.
A new, two-storey workshop and improvements to the existing servicing building are planned at Greenbelt, where all heavy maintenance is to be concentrated. The existing maintenance shop at Brentwood will be converted to a 12-car service and inspection facility with the addition of three tracks, and a new four-track, 16-bay inspection and maintenance depot is to be built at Shady Grove.
A $538m capital budget for the next financial year was approved by the board on June 16. This includes various upgrades to 'improve safety and service reliability'. ATP improvements at 22 stations and replacement of 35 remote terminal units will account for $17·6m. Another $18·8m programme will replace the antiquated public address system at 39 underground stations and CCTV monitors that date back to the early days of the network.
Structural rehabilitation is planned at several locations, with four stations to be fully modernised. Two spot tampers are to be purchased to help maintain the 222 km of track. WMATA will recruit 24 more track inspectors and institute a programme of ultrasonic rail testing.
- WMATA and Dulles Transit Partners are studying potential savings to reduce the estimated cost of the proposed 37·2 km line from West Falls Church station to Tysons Corner and Dulles International Airport, which has risen by 60% to $2·4bn.
