Transportation

Safety system problem delays opening of Potomac Yard Metro station in Alexandria

Metro said the extra months will allow the agency to complete the design and implementation of the system



Construction progresses at the Potomac Yard Metro station. (City of Alexandria)

By Luz Lazo
Today at 6:12 p.m. EDT

The opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station in Alexandria, Va., is being pushed back to the fall of 2022 after a problem was identified with a critical safety system at the station, Metro said Monday.

The transit agency said the design of the automatic train control (ATC) system did not meet requirements to ensure safe train operations, adding that it needs to be redesigned. Metro said the problem was a result of “management decisions for which Metro is accountable.” ...The ATC system relies on track circuits to transmit speed commands so that trains maintain a safe distance and stop when the track ahead is occupied.

The Potomac Yard station had been scheduled to open in April 2022. Metro said the extra months will allow the agency to complete the design and implementation of the safety system.

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Metro, which is managing the project, took responsibility for the error but did not provide more information about the nature of the blunder beyond a news release. The problem appeared to stem from the agency not properly noting specifications for the ATC system in the construction contract with the builder. ... {Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson} said the city recently learned that a critical ATC component for the station was not included in the contract.

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By Luz Lazo
Luz Lazo is a transportation reporter at The Washington Post covering passenger and freight transportation, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services. She also writes about traffic, road infrastructure and air travel in the Washington region and beyond. She joined The Post in 2011. Twitter https://twitter.com/luzcita