WASHINGTON — There were people gasping for breath - nearly suffocating - on January 12, 2015.
That's when smoke filled the station and tunnels leading into L'Enfant Plaza, killing a woman.
Friday night, the Metro shared it is now addressing that safety concern; announcing that it's installing new, more powerful fans in the tunnels between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park.
Starting July 17 through August 29, metro trains will single track between Dupont Circle and Van Ness. Also, there will be weekend shutdowns on the first and last weekends of August. Both Woodley and Cleveland stations will be closed.
WMATA also said in a statement Friday: "Weekend closures will be necessary in 2022 to complete the project, commissioning and safety testing."
Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said the 24/7 work will help the project wrap up faster.
He added that the project is in direct response to the National Transportation Safety Board ordering the Metro to upgrade tunnel ventilation after the L'Enfant disaster.
The Red Line is the oldest part of the system, with Metro reporting its fans were installed there before the current national safety standards for transit systems.
Earlier this week, WMATA also made big announcements in an effort to continue raising ridership back to pre-pandemic levels. The Board of Directors announced on Thursday that it would extend service hours and make changes to fares this summer.
Starting in July, rail service will be extended to midnight, seven days a week. Additionally, other bus and rail service improvements and fare changes will start being implemented in the fall – beginning Labor Day weekend – as many in the region prepare to go back to work and school. The Board said they hoped the improvements would support the region's recovery and encourage more customers to return to transit.
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