Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 2, 2009
Metrobus routes to be detoured Thursday for tree lighting ceremony
2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting to impact 37 bus routes
Due to road closures and anticipated traffic tie-ups in downtown Washington to accommodate crowds attending the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse, service on 37 Metrobus routes may be affected between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, December 3. A number of Metrobus lines may be subject to detours, rerouting and terminal changes to work around the traffic and maintain service to customers throughout Washington, Virginia and Maryland.
Customers who use buses that operate in the downtown area should add additional time to their travel plans or consider taking an alternate route as bus arrival times may be affected by traffic congestion. Riders of the following Metrobus routes may be impacted: 3Y, 11Y, 13A, 13B, 16Y, 32, 36, 37, 38B, 39, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, 80, D1, D3, D5, D6, G8, H1, L1, L2, N2, N3, N4, P1, P17, P19, S1, S2, S4, S9, W13, X1 and X2.
Changes in the starting point for the following bus routes are anticipated:
• Routes H1, L1 and N3 will begin in the vicinity of Potomac Park.
• Routes P1 and X1 will start at Federal Triangle Metrorail station.
• Routes 11Y, G8, P17, P19, W13 and X2 will start at Franklin Square.
Routes 13A and 13B from the Pentagon will operate as follows:
• The 13A will operate to/from Virginia Avenue and 19th Street, NW, via Constitution Avenue, NW, and Memorial Bridge.
• The 13B will operate to/from Federal Triangle Metrorail station via Independence Avenue, NW, and the 14th Street Bridge.
As traffic warrants, Metro officials may detour the 32, 36, 37 and 39 routes via 13th Street, NW, rather than 15th Street, NW. Bus service north of K Street, NW, will be maintained, so riders are encouraged to walk past traffic to board buses at stops on routes 42, 43, L2, N2, N4, S2, S4 and S9.
Next Bus predictions for bus routes that are being detoured may not be accurate Thursday evening due to changes in travel speeds, however information about the status of detoured routes will be available.
Customers are encouraged to consider taking Metrorail through the downtown area or to walk past the traffic congestion to board a bus. Metro will have extra Metrobus personnel on hand to help direct customers.
As a reminder, customers who transfer between Metrobus and Metrorail receive a discount of 50 cents when using a SmarTrip® card. Metrobus transfers for customers using a SmarTrip® card are free and unlimited within a three-hour period.
For more information about Metrobus, please visit http://www.wmata.com/bus/.
###
Media contact for this news release: Angela Gates or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 2:02 pm, December 2, 2009.