Community Corner

Metrorail improvements planned for Presidents Day Weekend

Federal Triangle and Smithsonian closed Presidents Day Weekend; Customers advised to check metroopensdoors.com for important service changes before traveling.

Metro has released this announcement about Metro service over President's Day weekend:

"Metrorail will conduct significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations during the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, causing some temporary service changes for customers that will mean a safer, smoother ride once the work is complete. 

On the Blue and Orange Lines, there will be no train service between the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations, and the two stations between -- Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations -- will be closed during the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, to closing on Monday, Feb. 21. During that time, the agency will undertake work to replace four track switches at the Smithsonian Metrorail station, repair tunnel leaks, and make repairs to escalators and elevators. 

To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Metro Center (12th St., north of G St.), Federal Triangle (12th St. South of Pa. Ave.), Smithsonian (Independence Ave & 12th St.), and L’Enfant Plaza (Maryland Ave.) Metrorail stations. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone. Waits for shuttle buses could be long on Monday, Feb 21, due to downtown traffic patterns. 

To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, advertise in local papers and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be available on Metro=s web site at www.metroopensdoors.com. 

During the weekend, extra Metro employees will be available at the Metro Center, Federal Triangle, L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closure using the free shuttle bus service. 

Weekend Blue and Orange Line Service 

From 10 p.m., Friday, Feb 18 to closing on Monday, Feb. 21, the Blue and Orange lines will be split in two sections. The Blue Line will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and Metro Center Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations. The Orange Line will operate between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Metro Center Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations. 

All Blue and Orange Line trains will operate every 12 to 15 minutes during the daytime, and every 20 minutes at night. 

Last Blue Line Trains between Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza on Feb. 18 

The last Blue and Orange Line trains between the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations will operate through the work zone prior to 10 p.m. because personnel need time to remove power from both tracks and to assemble maintenance crews safely in the designated work zones. 

Prior to the weekend closure of the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations on Friday, Feb. 18, the last Blue Line train in the direction of the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will depart Franconia-Springfield at 9:12 p.m., Metro Center at 9:47 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:48 p.m., Smithsonian at 9:50 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:52 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 10:01 p.m., and arrive at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 10:16 p.m. The last Blue Line train in the direction of the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will depart Largo Town Center at 9:22 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:46 p.m., Smithsonian at 9:48 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:50 p.m., Metro Center at 9:51 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:58 p.m., and arrive at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 10:26 p.m. 

Last Orange Line Trains between Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza on Feb. 18 

Prior to the weekend closure, on Friday, Feb. 18, the last Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 9:12 p.m., Metro Center at 9:41 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:42 p.m., Smithsonian at 9:44 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:46 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:55 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 10:09 p.m. The last Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will depart New Carrollton at 9:18 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:41 p.m., Smithsonian at 9:43 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:45 p.m., Metro Center at 9:46 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:53 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station at 10:15 p.m. 

Last Trains to Depart 20 Minutes Earlier Than Usual Presidents Day Weekend 

For all trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses at the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations, the last passenger train on each rail line will depart each terminal station 20 minutes earlier than usual. Metro advises late night riders to arrive at their station 20 to 30 minutes earlier than usual to ensure catching the last train of the evening. 

LINE                                        FRI/SAT SUN/MON 
Red 
Shady Grove                         2:10 a.m. 11:10 p.m. 
Glenmont                              2:17 a.m. 11:17 p.m. 

Blue 
Franconia-Springfield        2:09 a.m. 11:09 p.m. 
Largo Town Center            2:04 a.m. 11:04 p.m. 

Orange 
Vienna                                 2:05 a.m. 11:05 p.m. 
New Carrollton                  2:26 a.m. 11:16 p.m. 

Green 
Branch Ave.                        2:04 a.m. 11:04 p.m. 
Greenbelt                           2:10 a.m. 11:10 p.m. 

Yellow 
Huntington                         2:14 a.m. 11:14 p.m. 
Fort Totten                          2:22 a.m. 11:22 p.m. 

Weekend Red Line Service 

During the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, Red Line trains will share one track in two locations from 10 p.m., Feb. 18 to closing on Feb. 21. Trains will share one track between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations as construction workers make repairs to the Rockville Metrorail station platform, and trains will share one track between the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood and New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U Metrorail stations as the agency makes repairs to the aerial structure near the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. 

From Feb. 19 to 21, Red Line trains will depart approximately every 15 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations. From 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line and will operate approximately every 7 to 8 minutes between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail stations. 

The Trip Planner, located on Metro's Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780. "


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