Metro on Oct. 24 placed in service a pair of shiny new escalators, the 17th and 18th new units to be installed under the Metro Forward rebuilding program. The two new escalators run between the mezzanine and platform levels at Columbia Heights Station.
“We continue to make good on our commitment to improve escalator availability by replacing outdated, outmoded equipment,” said Metro Deputy General Manager Rob Troup. “I want to thank our Columbia Heights customers for their patience during this project.”
To date, new escalators have been installed at Bethesda (2), Columbia Heights (2), Foggy Bottom (3), Dupont Circle (3), Pentagon (3), Van Ness (2), Georgia Ave-Petworth (2), and Glenmont (1). And, new escalators are in the process of being installed at the following locations:
- Bethesda
- Friendship Heights
- Georgia Ave
- Glenmont
- Metro Center
In addition, work to install a third new escalator Columbia Heights started earlier in the week. In all, Metro plans to replace all seven escalators at Columbia Heights.
Metro plans to replace more than 130 of the system's 613 escalators over the next few years to improve reliability.
Metro’s escalator availability is the highest it has been in five years, as result of new escalator installations, modernization of existing escalators and improved preventive maintenance.
