Metro Chairman: Entire Lines May Need To Shut Down

WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- A surprising announcement from top Metro officials. They say the system may have to shut down entire Metro lines for months to fix areas in desperate need of repair.

Ava-joye Burnett has more on the impact that could have on Maryland travelers.

Thousands of Marylanders depend on Metro every single day. If Metro shuts down even one line for an extended time, it could cause a commuter nightmare no one wants to think about.

Metro's problems are far from over. Top leaders there are considering shutting down individual lines for months at a time.

"In order to do repairs that are necessary, it may come to a point where we have to close the entire Blue Line for six months. People will go crazy, but those are the hard decisions that have to be made in order to get this fixed," said Jack Evans, Metro chairman.

Metro admits other lines may also need to shut down for repairs.

Crews recently found numerous ripped up cables on tracks--a fire hazard.

Last year, a Metro passenger died after smoke overwhelmed a train car.

"The system right now, in order to do the maintenance it needs to be done, cannot be done on three hours a night and on weekends. It just can't," Evans said.

This new development comes just two weeks after Metro shut down the entire system for emergency inspections.

"That would be a significant challenge to get to work each day," said Roland Blackman.

If shutting down entire Metro lines is necessary, passengers can only hope it won't be for six months.

"Maybe it would be good for them to find a way to get it all done at once instead of little by little," said Monecho McMillon. "But six months is just entirely too long."

The decision on whether Metro will need to shut down lines for months will come in four to six weeks.

Last time Metro shut down for inspections, they found 26 problem spots that needed repair.