WASHINGTON — Metro has significant construction plans for the summer, which will impact its schedule.
The four-part construction effort begins on May 12, and Metro says it will focus on system maintenance and modernization – including rail replacement, fiber optic cable installation, and improved station facilities.
The construction projects will impact service to the Orange, Silver and Green lines, though Metro said free shuttle buses will be in place during all station closures.
"Continued maintenance work is essential to safe and reliable rail service," said Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off. "We are working strategically to target maintenance locations and minimize the impacts on customers as we conduct this critical work to upgrade systems, improve reliability, and modernize station facilities."
Metro said that customers can expect to have normal or near normal service outside of the work zones, with frequent service on the busiest parts of the system in the downtown core area with stations served by multiple lines.
Between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory and between L’Enfant Plaza and Mt. Vernon Square, trains will arrive at stations every four to six minutes all day.
May 12-21: Cheverly to Minnesota Avenue
Metro will complete structural work and waterproofing on the canopies at the Minnesota Avenue, Deanwood, and Cheverly stations. To avoid station closures, trains will operate on a single track during the work.
Station Closures: None.
Free Shuttle Service: No shuttles provided when all stations remain open for customers.
Rail Service:
- Weekday rush hour (6-9 a.m., 3-6 p.m.)
- Trains will operate on a single track between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly
- Orange Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Vienna and Stadium-Armory.
- Orange Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton.
- Orange Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Stadium-Armory and Downtown Largo.
- All other times of the day and weekends:
- Orange Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton.
- In the downtown core area, customers will continue to find frequent service at stations served by multiple lines.
- Trains will arrive at stations every 4 minutes between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory during rush hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.), 5-6 minutes at all other times
- Trains will arrive every 4 minutes between L’Enfant Plaza and Mt. Vernon Square during rush hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.) and every 5-6 minutes at all other times.
- Between Stadium-Armory and Largo, served by the Blue, Silver and Orange (rush hours only) lines, trains will arrive at stations during rush hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.) every 5-6 minutes, every 7-8 minutes all all other times.
June 3-25: Vienna to Ballston-MU
Metro will replace the original 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna stations. Replacing the track in this section is a top priority to ensure safety and increase reliability. Crews will also install fiber-optic cables during this shutdown.
Station Closures: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church.
Free Shuttle Service: Free local, express, and limited-stop shuttles will be available.
- Orange Line Shuttle: Local service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church, and Ballston-MU stations.
- Local service between McLean, East Falls, Church, and Ballston-MU stations.
- Every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6- 9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
- Orange Line Express: Express service between Vienna and Rosslyn stations.
- Service every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6-9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
- Service every 10 minutes during non-rush hours. (9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
- Silver Line Limited: Limited-stop service between Washington Dulles International Airport, McLean, and Rosslyn.
- Service every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6-9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
- Service every 10 minutes during non-rush hours. (9 a.m.-3: p.m., 7 p.m.-9 p.m.)
Rail Service:
- Weekday rush hour (6-9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
- Orange and Silver line trains every 12 minutes each between Ballston-MU and New Carrollton/Downtown Largo.
- Trains will operate every 6 minutes where the Orange and Silver Lines overlap from Ballston to Stadium-Armory.
- Silver Line trains every 8 minutes between Ashburn and McLean.
- All other times of the day and weekends
- Orange Line trains every 15 minutes between Ballston-MU and New Carrollton.
- Silver Line trains every 15 minutes between Ballston-MU and Downtown Largo.
- Silver Line trains every 8 minutes between Ashburn and McLean. (Every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m.)
- In the downtown core area, customers will continue to find frequent service at stations served by multiple lines.
- Trains will arrive every 4-5 minutes between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory.
- Trains will arrive every 4 minutes between L'Enfant Plaza and Mt. Vernon Sq.
- Between Ballston and Rosslyn trains will arrive every 6-7.5 minutes.
June 26 to July 16: Vienna to West Falls Church
Crews will continue rail replacement and fiber-optic installation between Vienna and West Falls Church only.
Station Closures: Vienna, Dunn Loring.
Free Shuttle Service:
- Orange Line Shuttle: Local service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, and West Falls Church during Metrorail operating hours.
- Service every 5-10 minutes on weekdays.
- Service every 10 minutes on weekends.
Rail Service:
- Daytime and weekends: Orange Line trains every 12 minutes between West Falls Church and New Carrollton.
- Late night (after 9:30 p.m.): Orange Line trains every 15 minutes between West Falls Church and New Carrollton.
- In the downtown core area, customers will continue to find frequent service at stations served by multiple lines.
- Trains will arrive at stations every 4 minutes between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory.
- Trains will arrive every 4 minutes between L'Enfant Plaza and Mt. Vernon Square.
- Between East Falls Church and Rosslyn, trains will arrive every 6 minutes.
July 22-23: Greenbelt to Georgia Ave-Petworth
- Extended shutdown area during the first weekend of the Green Line closure
Station Closures: Fort Totten (no Green Line service), West Hyattsville, Hyattsville Crossing, College Park-U of Md, Greenbelt.
Free Shuttle Service: Free local and limited-stop shuttles available during Metrorail operating hours.
- Green Line Shuttle: Local service every 10 minutes between Greenbelt, College Park, Hyattsville Crossing, West Hyattsville, and Fort Totten.
- Greenbelt-Georgia Ave Limited: Limited-stop service every 8 minutes between Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Fort Totten, and Georgia Ave-Petworth.
- Hyattsville Crossing-Georgia Ave Limited: Limited-stop service every 8 minutes between Hyattsville Crossing, West Hyattsville, Fort Totten, and Georgia Ave-Petworth.
Rail Service:
- Red Line service, which connects to the Yellow and Green lines at Gallery Place, will remain open at Fort Totten.
July 24 to Sept. 4: Greenbelt to Fort Totten
This shutdown will focus on installing fiber-optic cables to improve rail network technologies. Once installed, the fiber-optic cables will allow Metro to get more updates done during non-customer hours, which means less downtime in the future.
While Green Line customers in this location experienced a recent summer shutdown for station improvements, the installation of fiberoptics was unable to be addressed at that time due to the use of the tracks to move equipment.
Station Closures: West Hyattsville, Hyattsville Crossing, College Park-U of Md, Greenbelt.
Free Shuttle Service:
Free local and limited-stop shuttles available during Metrorail operating hours.
- Green Line Shuttle: Local service every 8-10 minutes between Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing, and West Hyattsville.
- Greenbelt-Fort Totten Limited: Limited-stop service every 5-10 minutes between Greenbelt, College Park-U of Md, and Fort Totten.
- Hyattsville Crossing-Fort Totten Limited: Limited-stop service every 5-10 minutes between Hyattsville Crossing, West Hyattsville, and Fort Totten.
Rail Service:
- Daytime and weekends: Green Line trains every 8 minutes between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue.
- Late night (after 9:30 p.m.): Green Line trains every 8 minutes between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue.