WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal transportation officials have ordered immediate repairs to Washington's subway system to reduce the risk of fire and smoke on the tracks.
The Federal Transit Administration directed Metro on Wednesday to make repairs on three track segments.
Last week, Metro's general manager announced plans for a yearlong maintenance surge that he said would improve safety and reliability on the nation's second-busiest transit network. That work will involve shutting down segments of track for weeks at a time.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said in a statement that Wednesday's directive will lead to changes to the maintenance plan. The transit administration has also ordered reductions in power flowing through the rail system, and in response, Stessel says Metro has ordered new speed restrictions on trains in the downtown Washington core.
