Metro reminds customers of major track work this weekend in Downtown DC

Metro is reminding weekend riders of a major track work project that will affect service on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines this weekend. Free shuttle buses will replace all trains between Foggy Bottom and Eastern Market stations on Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, February 5. As a result, six stations will be closed: Farragut West, McPherson Square, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian, Federal Center SW and Capitol South.

In addition, the lower level platforms will be closed at Metro Center and L'Enfant Plaza. (Metro Center will be open for Red Line service only; L’Enfant Plaza will be open for Yellow and Green line service only.)

Multiple Metro crews will perform work in the zone, including installation of cell phone and radio infrastructure to support improved communication in tunnels, fixing displaced ceiling tiles, and conventional track improvements to rails, fasteners, insulators and other components.

Orange Line trains will run in two sections: between Vienna and Foggy Bottom, and between New Carrollton and Eastern Market. Blue Line trains will run in two sections: between Franconia-Springfield and Foggy Bottom and between Largo and Eastern Market. Silver Line trains will run between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston only. At Ballston, Silver Line customers can transfer to/from Orange Line trains for continuing service.

Customers traveling between Virginia and DC are encouraged to use the Yellow Line, if possible, and transfer at Gallery Place for Red Line service to reach other parts of downtown. Inbound travelers on the Orange and Silver lines can avoid shuttle buses by transferring at Rosslyn to a Blue Line train on the lower level, and then transferring to the Yellow Line on the upper level at Pentagon Station.

Customers using shuttle buses to travel through the work zone should allow up to 45 minutes of additional travel time.

Yellow and Green line service will operate at regular weekend intervals with no schedule track work. Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont, with additional trains between Farragut North and Silver Spring between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., resulting in service about every 9 minutes between these stations.

The weekend of Super Bowl Sunday is typically one of the lowest ridership days of the season. Over the past four years, Super Bowl Sunday ridership was about 3 percent lower than other Sundays.