There is a separate thread re: the return to ATO on the Red Line, starting in test phases this Oct. and full scale early in the new year, but this nugget can be found in Metro's FY 2016 budget review presentation from this week's Board meeting: In addition to the critical continued delivery of the new 7000-series cars, Metro will be laying the groundwork for safer and smoother rail travel with the full implementation of automatic train operations (ATO) by the end of 2017."
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_ ... 141106.pdf at page 4
Later on the page is this bit of information, which seems to imply it is related to the ATO progress: Finally, the FY2016 budget will continue to allocate substantial resources to the work of maintaining our system in a state of good repair, including a major rehabilitation project planned for nearly 19 miles of rail line between National Airport and New Carrollton. This rehab will improve all systems and infrastructure along the right-of-way, similar to what is currently underway on the Red Line."
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.