The reopening of Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring marks the end of Red Line rehabilitation work that was completed while the Maryland Transit Administration built part of a new Purple Line mezzanine at Silver Spring.
The reopening of Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring marks the end of Red Line rehabilitation work that was completed while the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) built part of a new Purple Line mezzanine at Silver Spring.
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MTA’s Purple Line Work Continues
Purple Line mezzanine work will continue on the platform at Silver Spring with scaffolding covering about one-third of the platform, but the WMATA station will be open for customers.
During the summer, Purple Line crews built columns that will support the walkway from the Purple Line station over the tracks to the WMATA Red Line platform.
Completed Construction Work
During the construction, WMATA crews:
Replaced 6,500 feet of rail.
Replaced 6,000 feet of grout pads, which improve ride quality.
Repaired 857 areas for leak mitigation.
Restored 1,350 square feet of concrete.
Installed 102,000 feet of fiber optic cable for communications.
Replaced 183 track signs.
Replaced 2,500 crossties that support the rails.
Replaced 1,000 fasteners that hold the rail to the grout pads.
Replaced six switch machines.
Replaced 12 train control processers.
Replaced 650 insulators that insulate electricity around the third rail.
Repaired 72,000 square feet of tile joints.
Cleaned 40,000 feet of track bed.
Cleaned 8,500 feet of drains.
Repaired sidewalks.
Replaced 354 signs on mezzanines, platforms, and entrances.
Painted 12,700 square-feet of interior and exterior surfaces.
Restriped parking and bus loop traffic directional arrows and crosswalks.
Additional work included replacing automatic train control systems, installing traction power cables, replacing drain pumping stations, replacing the tunnel standpipe, and maintaining the elevators and escalators.
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Crews replaced crossties along the Red Line during the summer construction.
Photo: WMATA
Additional Work
WMATA also rebuilt an interlocking switch area between Fort Totten and Takoma before that stretch of track reopened in late June.
Crews were able to complete the equivalent of eight months of weekend closures and disruptions into the summer construction period.
Later this year, WMATA will install new digital passenger information displays on platforms and station entrance digital screens at all five stations. Supply chain issues held up installation during the construction window.
Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
