Several major events this weekend plus track work means a crowded commute on metro. News4’s Erika Gonzalez explains exactly what you’ll be dealing with if you plan to ride this weekend.
If your Mother’s Day weekend plans include the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure or National Police Week 5K Saturday morning, the Washington Nationals’ three-game series against the nationally popular Chicago Cubs, Taylor Swift’s concerts at the Verizon Center Saturday or Sunday night, or the Washington Capitals’ playoff game against the New York Rangers Friday night (we know your mom loves to Rock the Red), then head out early if you’re taking Metro.
Major repair work begins at 10 p.m. along the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines and continues through closing Sunday.
Four Orange Line stations will be closed between Vienna and East Falls Church. Shuttle buses will run instead.
On the other lines, trains will be single-tracking through the work zones:
Red Line - 10 p.m. Fri., May 10 through closing Sun., May 12
- Red Line trains will single track through two work zones -- between Grosvenor and Twinbrook, and between Rhode Island Avenue and Takoma -- to allow for platform reconstruction at several stations.
- Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate every 28 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
- Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.
- Additional trains will operate between Grosvenor and NoMa-Gallaudet, providing service about every 10 minutes between these stations during daytime hours.
Orange Line - 10 p.m. Fri., May 10 through closing Sun., May 12
- Free shuttle buses will replace Orange Line trains between Vienna and Ballston to allow for switch and signal testing associated with the Silver Line, as well as rail infrastructure improvements.
- Four stations will be closed: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church.
- Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will operate between Ballston and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals.
- Shuttle buses will operate between Vienna and Ballston on two routes: Express buses will operate non-stop between Vienna and Ballston stations. Customers using express buses should add about 25 minutes to their travel time. Local buses will operate between Vienna and Ballston, with intermediate stops at Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations. Customers using local buses should add up to 40 minutes to their travel time.
Blue & Yellow lines - 10 p.m. Fri., May 10 through closing Sun., May 12
- Blue and Yellow line trains will single track between Braddock Road and Pentagon City to allow for rail infrastructure improvements, including tie and insulator renewal and structural work.
- Throughout the weekend, both Blue and Yellow Line trains will operate every 30 minutes. During daytime hours, additional Yellow Line trips will operate between Pentagon City and Mt. Vernon Square stations, resulting in service every 15 to 20 minutes between those stations.
- Customers will experience this longer travel time on the platform. Once the train departs, it is not expected to experience additional delays en route.
- Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt Vernon Square only; customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt Vernon Square should use Green Line service to complete their trip.
Only the Green Line will operate normally this weekend.
Metro will open early at 5 a.m. Saturday for the Race for the Cure. Use the Metro Center Station on the Red, Blue and Orange lines or the Federal Triangle or Smithsonian stations on the Blue and Orange lines.
Metro offered these travel tips:
- To avoid lines, be sure to load enough fare value on your SmarTrip or paper farecard for your entire roundtrip (both directions).
- If using a paper farecard, remember to add $1 for each trip. To avoid this surcharge, use a SmarTrip card. You can purchase a SmarTrip at any Metrorail station.
- If using a paper farecard, protect it from moisture during the race.
- The following streets will be closed for the Race for the Cure:
Starting at 2 a.m.:
- 15th Street between Constitution and Independence avenues
- Between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m.:
- 15th St NW between Independence and Ohio Dr. SW
- Madison Drive SW between 14th and 15th streets
- Jefferson (between 14th and 15th streets
- Independence Avenue from west of 14th Street NW to the Lincoln Memorial
- Westbound traffic on Interstate 395 will be directed to exit at 12th Street until 11 a.m.
- Rock Creek Parkway exit eastbound from Memorial Bridge to 23rd Street SW
And these streets will be closed between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. for the Police Week 5K:
- South on Third Street from between F and G streets NW
- West on C Street SW
- North on Fourth Street SW
- East on Independence SW
- North on Third Street SW
- West on Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- U-turn on Pennsylvania Avenue at Seventh Street NW heading east
- North on Third Street NW
- West on E Street NW
- North on 5th Street NW
- East on G Street NW
- Finish: G Street between Fourth and Fifth streets NW
