New tiles, display boards, USB ports among improvements coming to Huntington Metro

July 23, 2019 Transportation

Metro announced Tuesday that Huntington and the five other stations currently closed as part of this summer’s platform reconstruction project will be getting a number of additional improvements, including slip-resistant tiles, USB charging ports, LED lighting and more big-screen displays on platforms.

The six Blue Line and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport have been closed since May 25 as workers rebuild their outdoor platforms. In its announcement touting the new station features, WMATA said it’s taking advantage of the shutdown to make other changes that will improve customer safety and convenience.

“When critical repair projects disrupt customers, we want to use the shutdown time to accomplish as much work as possible,” Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said in a press release. “This summer we are fixing structural and safety issues, getting out on the tracks to renew our infrastructure, and renovating the stations with new customer experience improvements.”

The new slip-resistant tiles, which WMATA had previously said were coming, will have a textured surface and be similar in color to the old tiles. Tiles will be replaced throughout the stations, not just on the platforms, WMATA said.

New stainless steel shelters with granite benches are being installed on the platforms. The shelters will feature USB charging ports and have large digital displays attached to them.

“Each shelter will have 55-inch digital displays and new windscreens to provide protection from the elements,” Metro’s announcement said. “The digital displays will replace static maps and have the capability to display dynamic content such as service alerts, important messages and emergency information, if needed.”

LED-illuminated handrails will replace all existing handrails, and LED fixtures will replace all of the old lighting inside the stations. Bigger and more numerous passenger information display boards, which tell customers when the next train is coming, will be added as well.

“There will also be twice as many screens on each platform, making them more visible from more areas on the platform,” Metro said. “Additionally, the information on the screens will be split, so that you can always view the train arrival times, while service alerts and other important messages will scroll along the bottom.”

WMATA’s complete list of upgrades in all six stations:

  • Slip-resistant tiles
  • New stainless-steel platform shelters with digital displays and USB charging ports
  • Upgraded Passenger Information Displays (PIDS) with digital screens
  • Improved platform speakers and PA system equipment
  • New canopy roofing/skylights
  • Refinished and new ceiling panels
  • New platform surveillance system (CCTV) to enhance customer safety
  • Brighter, energy-efficient LED lighting and lighted handrails
  • New passenger call button to directly contact station managers and operation control center
  • Fire Life Safety enhancements
  • Station cleaning and painting
  • Renovated bathrooms
  • Concrete repairs
  • New bus shelters

Huntington will also be getting unspecified “escalator upgrades,” WMATA said in the release. An email seeking more information about the escalator work was not immediately returned.

Additionally, work is being done at Huntington to prepare for the eventual construction of a new station entrance from the middle garage.

The six stations for the Summer 2019 Platform Improvement Project are scheduled to reopen on September 8, although some work is expected to continue after that date.