Metro Signs Contract To Replace 130 Escalators At 32 Stations

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has signed a contract with KONE to replace 130 escalators at 32 Metro stations, according to a release. The seven-year, $179 million contract will see the continuation of a decades-long program aimed at replacing and restoring the oldest and least reliable escalators in the transit system.

“Focused investment in safety and reliability improvements have resulted in 95 percent of Metro’s escalators being in service to customers,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld, in a release. “Replacing these escalators that average 38-years old, will ensure we maintain reliability for our customers today and into the future.”

In November 2019, Metro completed an eight-year campaign to replace 145 escalators and restore 153 others to "like new" conditions. At that time, Metro replaced all major components such as motors, steps, handrails and electrical systems.

Once the new contract is completed, 517 of the system’s 618 escalators (84 percent) will have been replaced or rehabilitated since the repair program began in 2011.

To install the new escalators, KONE will need to demolish and remove the existing escalators in a confined space. The new escalators must be manufactured to Metro specifications and are not available "off-the-shelf."

The project will include replacing escalators at three of the 10 longest station entrances in the entire Metro System: four at Rosslyn, three at Dupont Circle North, and three at Tenleytown.

Under the new campaign, which is slated to begin in May, KONE will install heavy duty, transit grade escalators at the following stations:

• Addison Road (2 escalators)
• Metro Center (9 escalators)
• Ballston (6 escalators)
• National Airport (4 escalators)
• Benning Road (5 escalators)
• New Carrollton (1 escalator)
• Brookland-CUA (3 escalators)
• Pentagon (5 escalators)
• Capitol South (3 escalators)
• Pentagon City (4 escalators)
• Crystal City (6 escalators)
• Potomac Ave. (3 escalators)
• Deanwood (2 escalators)
• Rhode Island Ave (3 escalators)
• Dunn Loring (2 escalators)
• Rockville (2 escalators)
• Dupont Circle (3 escalators)
• Rosslyn (8 escalators)
• Farragut North (6 escalators)
• Silver Spring (5 escalators)
• Federal Center SW (3 escalators)
• Takoma (3 escalators)
• Franconia-Springfield (5 escalators)
• Tenleytown (7 escalators)
• Gallery Place (6 escalator)
• Twinbrook (1 escalator)
• Grosvenor (4 escalators)
• Union Station (2 escalators)
• L’Enfant Plaza (9 escalators)
• Vienna (3 escalators)
• Medical Center (2 escalators)
• Virginia Square (3 escalators)

During the project, no more than 18 escalators will be out of service at a time.