Metro will close some parts of its rail system in June and July in order to conduct 24/7 track work, while ridership has been low due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Green and Yellow lines are included in the track work plan which started on June 8. Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River will be closed for three weeks. Yellow Line trains will operate only between Huntington and Reagan National Airport until June 27.
During the closure, commuters will need to use Blue Line trains between DC and Virginia, while those in DC and Maryland will be able to opt for the Green Line instead.
There will be additional closures along the Green Line from June 14, as part of the plan.
Free shuttle buses will replace trains between some of the closed stations.
“Metro will actively monitor ridership – which is currently extremely light – to ensure that the work does not cause unintended impacts as the region begins the initial stages of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,” the agency said in a statement.
Metro’s ridership levels are down around 90-95 percent as an impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence this time is being used for track work in selected areas.
“Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time if traveling through one of the work areas below,” according to the statement. The schedule of the closures is as follows:
Week 1: June 8-13, 2020
Work zone: Yellow Line L’Enfant Plaza to Pentagon
End Date: June 27
Stations closed: None this week
Customer impact:
Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Reagan National Airport ONLY. There will be no Yellow Line service in DC or Maryland. (Use Green Line instead.) Customers traveling between DC and Virginia should use the Blue Line and transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza, if necessary.
Week 2: June 14-20, 2020
Work zone #1: Green Line Anacostia to L’Enfant Plaza
End Date: June 20
Stations closed: Waterfront and Navy Yard-Ballpark
Customer impact:
Free shuttle buses replace trains between Anacostia and L’Enfant Plaza making stops at Navy Yard-Ballpark and Waterfront stations.
Work zone #2: Yellow Line L’Enfant Plaza to Pentagon
End Date: June 27
Stations closed: None in this work zone
Customer impact:
Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Reagan National Airport ONLY. There will be no Yellow Line service in DC or Maryland. (Use Green Line instead.) Customers traveling between DC and Virginia should use the Blue Line and transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza, if necessary.
Week 3: June 21-27, 2020
Work zone #1: Yellow Line Green Line L’Enfant Plaza to Shaw-Howard U
End Date: June 27
Stations closed: Mt Vernon Square, Gallery Place (lower level) and Archives
Customer impact:
Free shuttle buses replace trains between L’Enfant Plaza and Shaw-Howard U stations. Shuttle buses will make an intermediate stop at Gallery Place ONLY. No bus service at Archives or Mt Vernon Square, because these stations are already closed as part of Metro’s Covid-19 response.
L’Enfant Plaza remains open for Green Line service toward Branch Ave only. No Green Line service toward Greenbelt, and no Yellow Line service. Trains on the lower level (Blue Line and Orange Line lines) will operate normally. Shaw-Howard U Station remains open for Green Line service toward Greenbelt only. No Yellow Line service.
Work zone #2: Yellow Line L’Enfant Plaza to Pentagon
End Date: June 27
Stations closed: None in this work zone
Customer impact:
Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and National Airport ONLY. There will be no Yellow Line service in DC or Maryland. (Use Green Line instead.) Customers traveling between DC and Virginia should use the Blue Line and transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza, if necessary.