WASHINGTON - Metrorail's shorter operating hours could be around for at least another year, according to new documents prepared for WMATA's board of directors.
Since last June, trains have stopped running at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and 11 p.m. on Sunday nights. Metro leadership, as part of a new safety culture, said its track work crews needed more time to do preventative maintenance overnight.
On Thursday, Metro leadership will ask the board to extend shorter operating hours into July 2019.
New board documents contend that "WMATA has concentrated on productively using the extended non-passenger hours." Metro Chief of Maintenance of Way Engineering Laura Mason will tell Metro's board that scaled-back hours have allowed crews to meet or exceed almost all of the agency's track work goals.
The time that trains stop running has been the subject of much conversation and consternation lately. Sponsors paid to keep trains running after normal operating hours for two late Capitals hockey home games in as many weeks.
