On Jan. 5, Metro contractors will begin a major capital project to install six new escalators at Woodley Park Station. The project is part of Metro’s plan to replace more than 130 of the system’s oldest escalators to improve reliability.
With a vertical rise of 102 feet, the entrance escalators at Woodley Park are the longest in the District of Columbia and the third longest on the Metrorail system (behind Wheaton and Bethesda). The current escalators entered service when the station opened in 1981.
Woodley Park Station’s entrance is served by a total of six escalators, three short units and three long units.
During the project, Metro’s contractor, KONE, will take two escalators out of service at a time – one short and one long. Each pair of escalators will require approximately 46 weeks for preparation, demolition and removal of the existing escalators, construction work, installation of the new escalators, testing and inspections.
The remaining four escalators will remain available for customer use.
The station will remain open to customers throughout the project, which is expected to run through mid-2018. Customers travelling to the National Zoo may wish to consider using Cleveland Park Station as an alternate to Woodley Park. Cleveland Park Station is a short, downhill walk to the Zoo.
Throughout the project, Metro Transit Police, emergency management, rail supervisors and escalator technicians will be at Woodley Park Station at all times the system is open to monitor conditions and respond to any disruptions.
In the event of a service disruption that causes Woodley Park to become crowded, the station may be temporarily closed for safety reasons. Riders are encouraged to consider their alternate routes in advance. Alternates include using Cleveland Park Station, which is located 0.8 miles north on Connecticut Ave., NW, using regular Metrobus service, or taking Circulator to Columbia Heights Station.
