An aggressive effort to overhaul the aging Metro system in Washington, D.C., is producing results as it nears the one-year mark, with more than 28,000 cross-ties and nearly two miles of grout pads now replaced.
The 117-mile system has undergone a series of power-system fires, derailments and other disruptions. The causes range from a lack of a dedicated funding source to a philosophy among former Washington Metropolitan Transportation Agency (WMATA) administrators to prioritize operations over upkeep.