For immediate release: November 14, 2019

Free shuttle buses will stop at Smithsonian National Zoo this weekend for Bei Bei's farewell

Metro will make it easy for riders to get to the Smithsonian National Zoo to say bye-bye to Bei Bei, the zoo’s beloved giant panda. Free shuttle buses will drop-off and pick-up customers at the zoo’s entrance while three Red Line stations (Cleveland Park, Woodley Park and Dupont Circle) are closed for major lighting system upgrades this weekend.

The lighting upgrades, scheduled long before Bei Bei’s announced departure date, will make the stations brighter and safer for customers. Because the light fixtures are located next to the third rail, trains cannot operate through the area while the installation is underway. Crews will work around the clock to remove the old fixtures and lamps, run new cable, and install new fixtures with brighter LED lamps.  

On Saturday and Sunday, Red Line trains will run normal service between Shady Grove and Van Ness and between Glenmont and Farragut North. Free shuttle buses will provide continuous service, departing every few minutes between the affected stations.

Zoo visitors can board shuttle buses at Van Ness or Farragut North – free of charge – and get dropped off in front of the zoo's main entrance. The free shuttles will make it much more convenient for customers to get to the zoo instead of the typical half-mile, 10-minute walk from Woodley Park or Cleveland Park.

Shuttle buses will stop at the zoo from opening until 7 p.m. – two hours after the zoo’s closing. After 7 p.m. shuttle buses will continue to operate between Van Ness and Farragut North, making stops at Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, and Dupont Circle.