D.C. Metro unveils new public address systems

Thirty-eight Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) underground Metrorail stations unveiled new public address systems, this week, as part of a $7.5 million initiative.

As part of the new public address system, Metro installed public address speakers on most of the station platform pylons, enhancing the sound quality inside underground stations.

Additionally, Metro replaced the communications radio system inside its Rail Operations Control Center. The original equipment dated back to the beginning of the Metrorail system in 1976 and the sound system declined in performance and reliability over the course of the past 32 years.

Metrorail customers will also notice that the new public address system plays two chimes prior to the start of a station announcement to get people’s attention.