WASHINGTON -- In order to meet the demands of a growing region, Metro is launching a two-year study of the Blue, Orange and Silver (BOS) lines.
Metro is limited in terms of what it can do to meet ridership demands because of the BOS lines' configuration. All three lines merge onto one set of tracks at the Rosslyn tunnel, creating an hourglass design that limits the number of trains that can pass through at a given time. Any disruption in one line can create trouble for another, causing a cascade of delays and service issues across all BOS lines.
With this study, Metro hopes to:
- Improve service with more trains and less crowding
- Get you where you're going, in less time
- Reduce delays due to service issues and track and maintenance work
- Optimize ridership to provide more cost-efficient rail service
The first few steps of the study will determine why improvements to the BOS lines are necessary, while the following steps will address project development and provide recommendations for improvement. A "locally preferred alternative" is scheduled to occur by fall, 2020, in order to advance the project for federal review, design and funding.
Over the next two years, Metro is asking its riders, workers and community to get involved in the study and provide their feedback on its BOS lines.
