NVTC Coordinates Local Response to WMATA’S SafeTrack Proposal

NVTC, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), has convened a working group to respond to and support WMATA’s SafeTrack plan, the general manager’s proposed, compressed maintenance schedule for the next year. NVTC’s working group is in the process of identifying potential improvements or adjustments to the SafeTrack proposal, which are due to WMATA by May 13.

SafeTrack is designed to accomplish work in one year that otherwise would take about three years to complete. Sixty percent of the 15 safety surges, long-duration outages on selected line segments, will occur in Northern Virginia. The first, which involves 15 days of single-tracking between the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations, is currently scheduled to begin June 4. While most of the NoVa safety surges allow for trains to run on a single track, three require a total shut down of the line segment.

The NVTC group is working on mitigation strategies to reduce the inconvenience of service disruptions to commuters and travelers in Northern Virginia. Comprised of representatives from WMATA, DRPT, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Railway Express, local bus service providers (ART, CUE, DASH, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, and OmniRide) and transportation demand management programs, the working group is also exploring ways to fund the additional services required to meet travelers’ needs during the safety surges.