Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing and West Hyattsville stations on Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Green Line will be closed for planned construction to improve rail network technologies starting July 22. The stations are scheduled to reopen on Sept. 5. Free shuttles will be available during the station closures.
During the first weekend of the work, July 22-23, Green Line service will also be unavailable at Fort Totten station. Red Line service will remain available for customers traveling to the station.
While the stations are closed, WMATA's contractor will install fiber-optic cables to improve radio and signal capabilities for the WMATA system. The cables are in the middle of the two tracks and can only be replaced with both tracks out of service. WMATA says work could not be done during a prior construction closure in this area because the tracks were needed to bring equipment in and out of the work zone.
The upgrade to fiber-optic cables will provide a foundation for advanced communications-based technology to improve service reliability and operate more efficiently. Communications Based Train Control systems, equipment automation, real-time communications and state-of-the art security cameras depend on fiber optic cables that can support higher capacity and bandwidth, over longer distances with less interference. Enabling these modern technologies will help reduce the need for future maintenance during Metrorail operating hours.
Work crews will also utilize the shutdown for additional rail renewal and maintenance, track bed cleaning, vegetation removal and traction power with cable replacements.
