With the implementation of SafeTrack on the Metro not expected to be completed until March 2017, the shut downs and delays are creating issues for D.C. and metro area commuters.
SafeTrack’s goal is to complete three years of construction in under a year to update the safety of the 40-year-old Metro system, the nation’s third largest. But that doesn’t mean the work isn’t causing headaches for commuters.
Jill Konek, a Graduate Program Specialist at the School of Communication at American University, has had a difficult experience with Metro complications this summer.
“Unfortunately, between SafeTrack shutdowns and the fact that some parts of the metro are just broken, my commute has doubled in time and I have had to switch my work schedule around the shutdowns,” Konek said.
Some Metro lines will be closed for periods of time and buses will replace trains. In addition, Metro rails will close at midnight on Friday and Saturday and construction is running during mid-day and after rush hour.
Joseph Lockett, 42, is facing similar inconveniences.
“The Metro is always breaking down. It is always slowing down. It has become a huge inconvenience for me and my ability to get to work,” said Lockett, a frequent Metro user.
Stephen Pienciak, a information staffer at American University, found the most challenging part about the Metro shutdowns is having to find another mode of transportation.
“I typically just ride the Red Line which won’t be a problem until August, but the toughest part is that because the Metro closes at midnight on the weekends I will have to find another way home,” Pienciak said noting an increased cost.
Metro rides cost anywhere from $2 to $6 but a taxi or Uber from American University to the National Mall ranges from $12 to $50 depending on traffic and type of car. For some, the burden is financial.
Hannah Curtis, 16, a Northern Virginia resident, frequently uses the Metro to visit the district for leisure.
“It is a lot easier and cheaper to take the Metro than have the stress of driving into the city and trying to find parking, but with all of the new construction on the Metro, I never know which line is closed or if I can even use it to get into D.C.,” Curtis said.
Although Curtis had her share of disappointment, she understood the need for improved safety measures.
“Despite the negative consequences of the Metro shutdowns, I think it is definitely important to put safety first and convenience second,” Curtis said.