WMATA: Metro To Suspend Service During Blizzard

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Chisholm, Ann" <AChisholm@wmata.com>
Date: January 21, 2016 at 4:08:38 PM EST
To: "Chisholm, Ann" <AChisholm@wmata.com>
Subject: Metro To Suspend Service During Blizzard

N E W S R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release

January 21, 2016

Contact:

Media Relations

202-962-1051

METRO TO SUSPEND SERVICE DURING BLIZZARD

Metro today announced major service changes and suspensions on Metrorail,

Metrobus and MetroAccess in advance of a potentially historic blizzard affecting the

National Capital Region. The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard

Warning for the Metro service area from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning,

and the effects of the storm are expected to impact the region into early next week.

“This is not a storm that anyone should take lightly, and I would urge all residents to

plan to get to a safe place before the storm arrives Friday afternoon,” said Wiedefeld.

“The actions we are taking today are all in the interest of our customers’ and

employees’ safety, and will help us return to service once the storm passes and the

snow is cleared.”

Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld will activate the agency’s

Emergency Command Center (ECC) starting at 4 p.m. Friday, with around the clock

coverage during the storm. The ECC will coordinate all Metro response efforts,

including protecting rail and bus equipment, responding to weather-related problems,

and coordinating the clearing of station platforms, parking lots, garages, bus loops,

rail yards and storage facilities.

Metrorail

• On Friday, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. with service both above and below

ground until 11 p.m.

• At 11 p.m. Friday, the Metrorail system will close and will remain closed all

day Saturday and Sunday.

• Metro will protect hundreds of railcars by storing them in the tunnels during

the storm.

• Information regarding the restoration of service will be provided via

broadcast media outlets, social media, Metro’s website (wmata.com), and

the MetroAlerts system (email and text messages).

Metrobus

• Bus service will begin the day Friday on a “severe” snow weather plan. Under the

severe plan, buses operate only on major corridors. For details on which routes

operate under the severe plan, visit wmata.com/snow/severe.

• Operating on a “severe” service plan helps to ensure that customers and

employees are not stranded once the storm begins.

• Bus service will be suspended systemwide at 5 p.m. Friday as the storm moves

into the region. The last buses will depart their origin points at 5 p.m. and operate

to the end of the route before ending service.

• Bus service will remain suspended on Saturday and Sunday.

MetroAccess

• MetroAccess paratransit service for customers with disabilities will be suspended

Friday after 6 p.m.

• To prevent customers from being stranded, MetroAccess will not begin any new

outbound trips after 1 p.m.

• MetroAccess service will remain suspended on Saturday and Sunday.

How to stay informed

• Visit Metro’s website, www.wmata.com

• Sign up for MetroAlerts to receive email/text updates at wmata.com/metroalerts

• Call 202-637-7000 for recorded updates

• Follow Metro on Twitter @metrorailinfo @metrobusinfo

Metro’s customer call center will close at 5 p.m. Friday at the conclusion of Metrobus

service. The call center is expected to reopen at noon Sunday (weather and road

conditions permitting).

Metro essential personnel are expected to report to work as scheduled. Non-essential

employees will be dismissed at noon Friday. ###

Ann E. Chisholm

Government Relations Officer – District of Columbia

Office of Government Relations and Policy

Office of Chief of Staff

600 5^th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

202-962-2877

achisholm@wmata.com