Politics & Government

Metrorail Improvements Planned for Memorial Day Weekend

Orange/Blue Line closed from Federal Center SW to Minnesota Ave/Benning Road

Metro has issued this release about Memorial Day Weekend service: 

"Metro will conduct significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend (May 27 through 30) resulting in service changes for customers. 

On the Blue and Orange lines, buses will replace trains between Federal Center SW and Minnesota Ave and Benning Road stations, and four stations—Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Ave and Stadium-Armory—will be closed. The work will begin at 10 p.m., Friday, May 27, and continue through closing on Monday, May 30. 

During this time, Metro will replace four track switches at Eastern Market station, replace 4,700 fasteners, make repairs to the aerial structure outside Stadium-Armory station, lay more than five miles of new communications cable to upgrade cell phone access and make repairs to 21 escalators and eight elevators at Eastern Market, Capitol South, Potomac Avenue and Stadium Armory stations. 

Through the work zone, free shuttle buses will operate on two routes: one replacing Blue Line trains and another replacing Orange Line trains. Buses will depart shortly after each train arrives. Customers are advised to allow approximately 40 minutes of addition travel time if using bus service, which may be impacted by traffic from the Stars, Stripes and Spokes motorcycle event at RFK Stadium. 

Metro employees will be available at Federal Center SW, Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Ave, Stadium-Armory, Minnesota Ave and Benning Road stations to provide customer assistance. 

Orange Line Service Overview 

From 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 through closing on Monday, May 30, the Blue and Orange lines will be split in two sections: 
• The Orange Line will operate between Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Federal Center SW stations every 15 to 20 minutes and between New Carrollton and Minnesota Ave stations (shuttle train) every 24 minutes. 
• On Friday, the last Orange Line train in the direction of Vienna-Fairfax/GMU will depart New Carrollton at 9:33 p.m., Cheverly at 9:39 p.m., Minnesota Ave at 9:43 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:54 p.m., Rosslyn at 10:08 p.m., and arrive at Vienna-Fairfax/GMU station at 10:30 p.m. 
• The last Orange Line train in the direction of New Carrollton will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 8:59 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:35 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:42 p.m., Minnesota Avenue at 9:46 p.m., Cheverly at 9:50 p.m., and arrive at New Carrollton at 9:56 p.m. 
• To allow shuttle buses to make their final connections at Federal Center SW station, the last westbound train traveling in the direction of Vienna-Fairfax/GMU will depart 30 minutes earlier than usual. The last westbound train will depart the Federal Center SW Metrorail station at 2:57 a.m. on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28, and at 11:57 p.m. on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30. 
• On Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, the last westbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart New Carrollton at 2:06 a.m. and arrive at Minnesota Avenue at 2:16 a.m. The last eastbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart Minnesota Avenue at 3:53 a.m. and arrive at New Carrollton at 4:03 a.m. On Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, the last westbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart New Carrollton at 11:06 p.m. and arrive at Minnesota Avenue at 11:16 p.m. The last eastbound Orange Line shuttle train will depart Minnesota Avenue at 12:53 a.m. and arrive at 1:03 a.m. 

Blue Line Service Overview 

• The Blue Line will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Federal Center SW stations every 15 to 20 minutes and between Largo Town Center and Benning Road stations (shuttle train) every 24 minutes. 
• On Friday, the last Blue Line train in the direction of Franconia-Springfield station will depart Largo Town Center at 9:22 p.m., Benning Road at 9:34 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:44 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:58 p.m., and arrive at Franconia-Springfield station at 10:26 p.m. 
• The last Blue Line train in the direction of Largo Town Center will depart Franconia-Springfield at 8:59 p.m., Federal Center SW at 9:41 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:48 p.m., Benning Road at 9:51 p.m., and arrive at Largo Town Center station at 10:03 p.m. 
• To allow shuttle buses to make their final connections at Federal Center SW station, the last westbound train traveling in the direction of Franconia-Springfield will depart 30 minutes earlier than usual. The last westbound train will depart the Federal Center SW Metrorail station at 2:57 a.m. on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28, and at 11:57 p.m. on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30. 
• On Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, the last westbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Largo Town Center at 1:54 a.m. and arrive at Benning Road at 2:05 a.m. The last eastbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Benning Road at 3:53 a.m. and arrive at Largo Town Center at 4:04 a.m. On Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, the last westbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Largo Town Center at 10:54 p.m. and arrive at Benning Road at 11:05 p.m. The last eastbound Blue Line shuttle train will depart Benning Road at 12:53 a.m. and arrive at Largo Town Center at 1:04 a.m. 

Shuttle Bus Boarding Locations 

• Federal Center SW: D St. S.W., between 3rd and 4th Sts., S.W. 
• Capitol South: Eastbound at Independence Avenue at 1st Street SE; westbound at 
Independence Avenue east of 1st Street SE 
• Eastern Market: Eastbound at Pennsylvania Avenue SE across from the station entrance; westbound at Pennsylvania Avenue SE at the station entrance 
• Potomac Avenue: Eastbound at Potomac Avenue S.E., and 14th St. S.E.; westbound at Potomac Avenue east of 14th St. S.E., at the top of station escalators. 
• Stadium-Armory: Eastbound on 19th St. S.E., in front of station escalators; westbound at the bus bay, south side of station escalators 
• Benning Road: On East Capitol St. just east of Benning Road. 
• Minnesota Avenue: Route U6 bus bay 

May 27-30 Weekend Red Line Service 

From 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 through closing on Monday, May 30, Red Line trains will share one track between Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations as Metro repairs tunnel leaks, and between Judiciary Square and Takoma stations as personnel make repairs to the surface beneath the rails to produce a smoother ride. 

Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will depart Shady Grove and Glenmont every 24 minutes. More frequent service will be available between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. with trains operating every 12 minutes at most Red Line stations. 

Weekend Travel Tips 

Customers traveling to the Memorial Day concert at the U.S. Capitol are encouraged to exit at Union Station, except those traveling from Northern Virginia, who may wish to exit at L’Enfant Plaza. In addition, D.C. Circulator bus service is available between Union Station and Navy Yard via Capitol Hill for those traveling to the concert or to weekend baseball games. 

Metro’s online Trip Planner will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. For additional travel information, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780."


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