Community Corner

'Reconstructive Surgery' Planned for Metro Escalators

Metro has awarded a $151.1 million contract to upgrade or replace 128 escalators in its system.

Metro has awarded a $151.1 million contract to escalator company KONE Corp. to upgrade or replace 128 of its escalators, according to a Metro news release.

Stations on the list for escalator improvements under the contract include Friendship Heights, Metro Center, Cleveland Park, Woodley Park and Bethesda.

Escalators that break down during busy rush periods have long been a source of frustration for Metro riders.

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The two metro stations nearest to Georgetown, Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle, each had escalator improvement projects in the past two years.

According to the Metro news release, 88 escalator units will be complete by 2018, and the rest will be done in 2019 and 2020.

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the press release, Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles said, the "contract award advances our commitment to improve escalator reliability for our customers for years to come. This is about reconstructive surgery, not Band-Aid solutions."

See the full list of escalators here.


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