For immediate release: March 23, 2018

Metro service information for March for Our Lives

Metro is preparing for the hundreds of thousands of participants expected tomorrow for March for Our Lives, with special rush-hour service running throughout the day and hundreds of additional Metro staff on hand to assist visitors.

All March participants are urged to buy their SmarTrip cards today to avoid long lines tomorrow. Each rider needs his or her own card to enter and exit the Metrorail system. SmarTrip cards may be purchased at any Metrorail station, or at local CVS/Pharmacy and Giant Food stores.

Starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, trains will run every 8 minutes on each of Metro's six rail lines, resulting in service every 2-4 minutes at stations in Downtown DC. Additional trains will run on the Red Line between Grosvenor and Silver Spring. March participants are encouraged to travel as early in the day as possible.

Customers are encouraged to travel to the March by picking a destination station on the same rail line as where they started their trip. There is a station near the March on each of Metro's rail lines. In addition, visitors arriving at Union Station via Amtrak, MARC or intercity bus should simply walk to the March directly without attempting to transfer to Metro.

Due to its proximity to the event, Federal Triangle Station will be closed. Customers should use Metro Center Station, which is located two blocks north of Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition, selected entrances at other stations may be designated "entry only" or "exit only" to help speed your trip.

Complete service information is available online at wmata.com/march.

On Saturday, March 24:

  • Metrorail will open at 7 a.m., with trains departing end-of-line stations every 8 minutes and additional trains on the Red Line between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring. At Downtown DC stations, trains will arrive every 2-4 minutes.
  • Rush-hour service levels will continue throughout the day until approximately 6 p.m. or as ridership levels warrant.
  • Off-peak fares will be in effect all day.
  • Regular Saturday parking rates ($2 per vehicle) will be in effect.
  • Allow additional travel time due to large crowds, long lines and full trains. Metro recommends traveling as early in the day as possible.
  • Metrobus will operate on a normal Saturday schedule, with routes near Downtown DC subject to detours and delays due to road closures for the event. View here for a list of Metrobus detours.

Travel Tips

  • Those arriving in DC via Union Station (Amtrak, MARC or intercity bus services) should simply walk to the event rather than attempting to transfer to Metro's Red Line.
  • Avoid transfers. Pick a destination station on the same line as where you started. When traveling to the March consider L'Enfant Plaza.
  • Metro Transit Police continuously patrol stations and trains, both in uniform and in plain clothes.
  • Please note that items carried onto the Metro system may be subject to random security screening by uniformed Transit Police officers.
  • Tampering with or disabling Metro equipment, such as escalators, elevators, train doors or emergency equipment, is unlawful and may result in arrest.
  • In the event of an emergency, intercoms are located on station platforms and aboard trains. Follow the direction of police officers and Metro personnel, and listen for public address announcements.