Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 9, 2010
Metro details shuttle bus service plans for this weekend's Blue and Orange Line station closures
Free shuttles to run between Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West, Farragut North, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Gallery Place and Federal Triangle stations
From now until closing on Monday, Oct. 11, the Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations are closed and there is no Blue or Orange Line service at the Metro Center Metrorail station while maintenance crews replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several additional projects in the area of the closed stations. There will be no Blue or Orange Line trains between those stations. Customers using this portion of the Blue and Orange lines should add 40 minutes to their travel plans to transfer to free shuttle buses to get past the affected work area. Customers should avoid that area of the rail system, if possible.
This weekend, extra Metro employees are on hand to guide customers to their connecting shuttle buses, which will replace Blue and Orange line service in that area. Regular service will resume when the Metrorail system opens at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
This weekend, Metro is operating two separate free shuttle bus routes that will service the Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West, Farragut North, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Gallery Place and Federal Triangle stations. During the first night of shuttle operations, Oct. 8, Metrobuses transported 5,615 riders around the Blue and Orange line work area.
Riders will be able to choose between two free shuttle bus routes depending on where they want to go. By offering these services, Metro is aiming to minimize inconvenience and maximize customer demand although the trips are expected to take 40 minutes longer than usual. Free shuttle bus service will get riders where they want to go. It will just take a significantly longer.
Shuttle bus lines and waits for buses are expected to be long due to downtown traffic patterns. Riders should be aware that buses will serve riders along the streets as there are no bus bays at the affected stations. The weekend’s free shuttle buses will operate to meet each train, approximately every 12 to 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.
The designated free shuttle buses for this weekend’s closures are operating between these locations:
Shuttle Bus Route 1: Traveling Clockwise
• Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 23rd St. northbound, south of I St., N.W.
• Farragut West Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 18th and K St., N.W.
• Farragut North Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 17th and K St., N.W.
• McPherson Square Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 14th and K St., N.W.
• Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 9th and G St., N.W.
• Metro Center Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 11th St., N.W. southbound between F and G St.
• Federal Triangle Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at Pennsylvania Ave., between 12th and 13th St., N.W. westbound.
Shuttle Bus Route 2: Traveling Counterclockwise
• Federal Triangle Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at Pennsylvania Ave., between 12th and 13th St., N.W. eastbound.
• Metro Center Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 11th St., N.W., northbound between F and G St.
• McPherson Square Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at I St., between 13th and 14th St., N.W. and 15th and I St., N.W.
• Farragut North Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at I St., and Connecticut Ave., N.W.
• Farragut West Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 18th I St., N.W.
• Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station: Shuttle bus location will be at 23rd and I St., N.W., southbound.
Last Blue Line Train Departures from Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center
In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Blue Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Blue Line train will depart the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at approximately 1:59 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night), and 10:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Blue Line train will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 1:54 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night) and approximately 10:54 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, and Monday, Oct. 11.
Last Orange Line Train Departures from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and New Carrollton
In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Orange Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Orange Line train will depart the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at approximately 1:55 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night), and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night); and 10:55 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Orange Line train will depart the New Carrollton Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 2:06 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night), and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night); and approximately 11:06 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, and Monday, Oct. 11.
This weekend, Metro is replacing four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station which was a National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendation. Metro is also installing 215 new track fasteners; replacing old track, installing new tunnel safety lights, testing emergency call-box phones, replacing blue emergency call box lights and repairing water leaks in the tunnels.
News release issued at 10:19 am, October 9, 2010.