Metro Forced To Scale Back Service Schedules Due To COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the recent surge in COVID-19 variants, Metro's Pandemic Taskforce recommended scaling back service schedules and implementing new workforce actions for the health and safety of Metro's customers and employees. The changes go into effect on Monday.

“Scaling back service will ensure customers who rely on Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess for transportation have a more reliable schedule,” said CEO/GM Paul Wiedefeld, in a release on Monday “Metro employees live in some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic and are exposed to the surge in the region and throughout the nation. It’s important that the taskforce take steps to make Metro operationally sound to meet the needs of our customers.”

According to the release, Metro will operate at the following service levels:

• Metrorail will continue to operate on all lines as scheduled, with customers experiencing more frequent service at stations served by multiple lines.
• Metrobus will reduce service on weekdays to a Saturday schedule with additional trips on some routes, which is roughly 75 percent of regular Metrobus service and protects key routes that serve hospitals, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.
  • Bus operators will be permitted to bypass customers not wearing masks for their health and safety.
  • Metrobus customers are advised to consider alternative sources of transportation like Metrorail to travel throughout the region.

• MetroAccess will reduce shared rides and increase accessibility rides. For more information about MetroAccess, please visit wmata.com/metroaccess.

Metro's customer service call center will work remotely and employees will be required to comply with vaccine or testing policy to combat the spread of COVID-19 variants.

Metro employees were recently notified of the following policies that will go into effect on Jan. 10:

• Weekly testing requirements will remain in place for unvaccinated employees as more frequent testing requirement are evaluated and test availability improves.
• Beginning Sunday, Jan. 16, employees who have failed to comply with Metro’s testing and vaccination policies will be placed on unpaid suspension until compliant. Employees will have 30 days to comply or be subject to termination of employment.

Beginning Jan. 31, employees will be required to input COVID-19 booster and vaccination status into Metro's portal in order to be eligible to work.

Metrorail has been operating under reduced service since October, when a Blue Line train in Virginia derailed between the Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery stations.

After the National Transportation and Safety Board days later discovered defects in the axle assembly of Metro's 7000-series railcars, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was ordered to sideline nearly 60 percent of Metrorail's fleet.

In early December, WMATA began the process of gradually reintroducing 7000-series railcars back into service, but the commission that oversees Metrorail safety ordered WMATA to remove the trains again and come up new return to service plan.