Metro To Suspend Track Work Beginning March 24

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Metro says it is planning to suspend its aggressive schedule of track work during the cherry blossom season beginning in March.

The transit system says there will be no scheduled weekend track work on Metrorail from March 24 through April 15 because of National Cherry Blossom Festival events. On weekdays, there will be no track work during the day from March 26 through April 13. Track work will take place after 10 p.m. during the season.

Metro says it also plans to add eight-car trains during off-peak hours and on weekends to accommodate higher ridership.

The agency says its ridership increases by an average of more than 15 percent during the cherry blossom season.

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