Management

Metro board chairman: Entire lines may need to shut down

The board chairman of Washington's Metro subway system says it may be necessary to shut down entire rail lines for months at a time for maintenance work.

The Associated Press

March 31, 2016 6:03 am

< a min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — The board chairman of Washington’s Metro subway system says it may be necessary to shut down entire rail lines for months at a time for maintenance work.

Metro chairman Jack Evans made those comments Wednesday at a discussion among regional leaders about how to fix Metro’s problems. Two weeks ago, the entire system shut down for a day for emergency inspection and repair of damaged power cables.

The decision on whether to close an entire subway line would be up to Metro’s general manager, Paul Wiedefeld, who said he’s considering that possibility but hasn’t made a decision yet.

Evans, who’s also a D.C. Council member, says Metro’s maintenance needs are so extensive that closing lines or portions of them on nights and weekends won’t be sufficient.