Escalator - will another one ever be installed at Vienna?
Vienna currently has three escalators. Does anyone know whether Metro has plans to install either a fourth escalator OR a set of stairs? If there are plans, should we expect to see a new escalator anytime soon - or in about 10 years?
Update - I finally found what I thought I had seen some time ago - some information suggesting plans for Vienna-GMU station: "Additional stair and elevator to improve vertical circulation . . ."
The source documents that the planned improvements "Will be built as part of Metro West." Lord knows when that (Metro West) will ever be built.
( http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Final%20Report_Station%20 Access%20&%20Capacity%20Study%202008%20Apr.pdf)
Well another way to ease stair/escalator congestion at Vienna is to extend the orange line westward.
It may seem far-fetched to mention this now, but shortly after 9/11, when people thought a lot more about city-wide evacuations than they do now, it occurred me that full and frequent train loads of passengers at terminal stations would offload more passengers to the platform than the stairs/escalators could handle. I hope it never happens. But "never" is a long time.
Well in any case, I would welcome a new stairway at Vienna.
I read on Twitter that Fairfax County is paying Metro $2 million to install a STAIRCASE (hooray!) at Vienna. "BOS approves construction of new staircase at Vienna Metro station platform to ease congestion; $$ from approved 2007 bond referendum." I have no idea where or when, but keep your fingers crossed....
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I finally received a response from Metro regarding a question about when I could expect to see a new stairs at Vienna. The reply said construction was "tentatively" scheduled to begin in January/February of 2011. Pardon my cynicism, but to me that translates that they might begin building the stairs by July 2011. We "Vienna" customers will have to endure lines on the platform until September 2011 (probably will take at least two months to build).
Interesting that it takes this long for something that's been planned / talked about for a number of years.
Peruser