Metro News Release
For immediate release: February 19, 2011
Metro offers tips for getting around this weekend's Blue and Orange Line closure
Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations closed
Today, Saturday, Feb. 19, until closing Monday, Feb. 21, the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations are closed and trains are sharing one track in two locations on the Red Line while Metro conducts major rail system rehabilitation work to improve safety and reliability. Customers using 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.
Throughout the weekend, extra Metro employees will be on hand to guide customers to their connecting shuttle buses. Metro advises customers to use caution when waiting for shuttle buses due to a high wind warning throughout much of the Washington region today, Feb. 19.
Regular service will resume when the Metrorail system opens on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Throughout the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, the Blue and Orange lines are operating in two sections. The Blue Line is operating between the Franconia-Springfield and Metro Center Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations. The Orange Line is operating between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Metro Center Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations.
To alert customers about this work, Metro has posted signs in key stations, placed notices on station kiosks, taken out paid advertisements in newspapers, is sending e-Alerts, and making train and system announcements. Additional information is available on Metro’s web site, www.metroopensdoors.com.
During this weekend’s station closures, Metro is operating free shuttle bus service between the Metro Center, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations. Last night, from 10 p.m. to closing (3 a.m.), 2,136 people used the shuttle buses to complete their trips.
“There are several major events occurring this weekend at the Verizon Center and throughout the Washington area, and despite the station closures at Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Line riders still have a variety of options to get to the events, either by train or free shuttle bus,” said James Hughes, Metro’s Director of Intermodal Planning. “Planning ahead of time will make everyone’s travel commute a lot easier.”
Metro reminds customers riding or connecting to the Blue, Orange and Red lines to add at least 40 minutes into their travel time and to consider these travel options:
• Blue and Orange Line riders coming from Northern Virginia can exit at the Metro Center Metrorail station and transfer to the Red Line to connect to major attractions or special events in downtown Washington. If people are traveling to events and museums on the National Mall, they are within walking distance if they choose not to use the free shuttle bus service.
• Blue Line riders coming from Northern Virginia can transfer to a Yellow Line train between King Street and the Pentagon and ride to L’Enfant Plaza, Archives-Navy Mem’l- Penn Quarter and Gallery Pl-Chinatown to connect to major attractions or special events in downtown Washington.
• Blue and Orange Line riders coming from Prince George’s County can exit at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station and transfer to the Yellow or Green Line and ride to the Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter or Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations to connect to major attractions or special events in downtown Washington. If people are traveling to events and museums on the National Mall, they are within walking distance if they choose not to use the free shuttle bus service.
Metro reminds riders that for all trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses at Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations, the last passenger train on each rail line will depart each terminal station 20 minutes earlier than usual. Metro advises late night riders to arrive at their station 20 to 30 minutes earlier than usual to ensure catching the last train of the night.
The last trains will depart from these end-of-the-line stations at the following times:
LINE SAT SUN/MON
Red
Shady Grove 2:10 a.m. 11:10 p.m.
Glenmont 2:17 a.m. 11:17 p.m.
Blue
Franconia-Springfield 2:09 a.m. 11:09 p.m.
Largo Town Center 2:04 a.m. 11:04 p.m.
Orange
Vienna 2:05 a.m. 11:05 p.m.
New Carrollton 2:26 a.m. 11:16 p.m.
Green
Branch Ave. 2:04 a.m. 11:04 p.m.
Greenbelt 2:10 a.m. 11:10 p.m.
Yellow
Huntington 2:14 a.m. 11:14 p.m.
Fort Totten 2:22 a.m. 11:22 p.m.
In addition to the closure of the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations, from now until closing on Monday, Feb. 21, Red Line trains are sharing one track between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations as personnel repair the Rockville Metrorail station platform. Also, as part of the Red Line rehabilitation project, trains are sharing one track between the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations.
News release issued at 11:30 am, February 19, 2011.