Metro stations on Blue/Yellow lines to reopen Monday as planned

Regular rail service expected on all lines

Metro today announced that the six Blue and Yellow line stations south of Reagan National Airport—Braddock Rd, King St-Old Town, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington, Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield—will reopen as scheduled Monday, September 9, with completely rebuilt platforms and several customer improvements.

On Monday, regular rail service will resume on the Blue and Yellow lines when the system opens at 5 a.m. Residents may notice “test trains” operating in the shutdown area this weekend as Metro makes final preparations for the reopening.

With the resumption of rail service, Metro will no longer run shuttle buses from the stations; however, some shuttles will remain on standby in the event of a disruption. In addition, regular parking fees will resume Monday.

“All stations are reopening on time, and we look forward to welcoming our Northern Virginia customers back to the rails on Monday,” said General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We are incredibly thankful to our customers, residents and nearby businesses for their understanding this summer as we reconstructed six station platforms – at the same time – in the largest and most complex capital project since Metro’s original construction. When the project is complete this fall, customers will benefit not only from safer infrastructure, but a more modern and convenient station experience.”

New station improvements include slip-resistant tiles on the platforms and in the mezzanine areas, stainless-steel platform shelters with charging outlets/ports, additional Passenger Information Display (PIDS) screens, energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the station and improved speakers for clearer public announcements and emergency notifications.

By closing the stations and providing workers with around-the-clock access, Metro was able to limit the customer impact to one summer, rather than several years of single tracking and weekend shutdowns.

While all heavy construction activity has been completed, customers should be aware that work will continue for several more weeks without impacting train service:

• At Franconia-Springfield and Huntington stations, customers will board all trains from one side of the platform. In addition, non-slip tile installation is ongoing throughout the mezzanine areas in these two stations.
• At Huntington Station’s north entrance, fare vending machines will not be available for approximately three weeks. The City of Alexandria’s mobile commuter store will be located in the mezzanine weekdays from 5:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. At other times, customers can load their cards online or access machines on the south side of the station.
• At Huntington Station, the walkway between the Huntington North garage and Huntington 3 (middle) garage will remain closed.
• At Braddock Rd Station, the availability of bike racks will be limited due to ongoing construction staging.
• Some passenger information displays may not be operational in the first days of service. Customers should listen for announcements from Metro employees or visit wmata.com for next train information, service status and trip planning.

Supplemental bus trips on 8S,Z; 10A; 11Y; 21A; and enhanced weekend Metroway service ended as scheduled on Friday, September 6. However, enhanced rush hour bus service on the 11Y will continue to operate until Wednesday, September 11. Click here for more information on Metrobus service.

Kiss & Ride lots being used as construction staging areas will remain closed and bus stops will remain in temporary locations into the fall at Braddock Rd, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington North, King Street and Van Dorn St stations. For additional information, check the station vicinity maps available here.

In advance of Monday’s reopening, customers are encouraged to ensure their SmarTrip cards are loaded with sufficient fare to avoid possible lines at station vending machines. Visit wmata.com/smartrip to reload your card online.

Metro's Capital Program

Metro is investing in system safety, reliability and the region's economy through its 10-year, $15 billion capital program. For the first time in Metro's history, the capital program is bolstered by dedicated funding from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The capital program will improve the customer experience and keep the region's infrastructure in a state of good repair by investing in new railcars and buses, improving stations and platforms, upgrading fire-suppression and emergency response systems, replacing and repairing tracks, tunnels, bridges, signals, and communications systems, rebuilding decades-old bus garages and providing modern customer amenities such as passenger information systems. In spending local taxpayer dollars for capital projects, Metro is seeking to reinvest in our hometown economy, creating jobs and encouraging participation from disadvantaged, minority-owned, and small businesses in the region.