Planned Metrorail Track Work

Capital Projects

There are four capital improvement projects in the second half of the year that will impact service for some customers. The projects, which are necessary to ensure continued safe and reliable operations, are being scheduled during times of the year when ridership is lighter to minimize customer inconvenience. Due to the "heavy construction" nature of capital work, these projects will, in many cases, impact service levels at all times of the day.

Red Line Saturday, July 21 - Labor Day, Monday, September 3

Immediately following All-Star Week, Metro will return to Rhode Island Avenue Station to complete necessary structural repair work that begun during SafeTrack. Rhode Island Avenue Station was closed on an emergency basis in 2016 when concrete fell from the aerial structure. Metro engineers stabilized the structure and advanced as much remediation work as possible during a SafeTrack surge in 2016. This 45-day project will allow crews to complete structural repairs at Metro's oldest outdoor station, including addressing deteriorating platform conditions that affect the ADA-accessibility of the station.

• Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland stations will be closed for 45 days, from July 21 through September 3.
• During the weekend of July 28-29, Fort Totten (Red Line) and Takoma will also be closed.
  
• There will be no Red Line service between Fort Totten and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations. Red Line customers should transfer to Green or Yellow line trains between Fort Totten and Gallery Place to avoid the work zone. Metro will add capacity to the Green/Yellow lines to accommodate Red Line riders, including running some Yellow Line trains to/from Greenbelt. During rush hours, Red Line trains will operate every 6 minutes between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet, and every 10 minutes between Glenmont and Fort Totten.
• For customers traveling to/from Brookland or Rhode Island Ave stations, free shuttle buses will provide alternate service between Fort Totten, Brookland, Rhode Island Ave, and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations. In addition, Metro will operate express shuttles between Brookland and Rhode Island Ave and the areas of Metro Center, Gallery Place and Union Station.
• MetroExtra G9 will operate at all hours the rail system is open, seven days per week, connecting Rhode Island Ave with Downtown DC and other rail and bus lines.
  
• To reduce travel times, Metro has received approval from the District Department of Transportation to use a new dedicated bus lane along Rhode Island Ave. NE for MetroExtra G9 from North Capitol St. to 12th St. NE. The lane will operate Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Rush Hour Promise will not be in effect for trips to or from stations between Glenmont and NoMa-Gallaudet U. The program will remain in effect for Red Line travel between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet U.
  

Blue Line Orange Line  Silver Line Saturday August 11 - Sunday, August 26 

For 16 consecutive days (including 10 commuting days) when ridership is lightest in August, Metro will address the tightest curve in the entire Metrorail system between McPherson Square and Smithsonian Stations. Working around the clock, crews will rebuild the track infrastructure, including installation of new rail, new fasteners, and repairs to the concrete pads that support the rails. Crews will work on each track for approximately one week at a time so that single-track service can be maintained. 24/7 work zone with single tracking between McPherson Square and Smithsonian.

• For 10 commuting days, all Orange, Silver and Blue line customers are encouraged to use alternate transportation, as rail service will be significantly reduced.
  
• Orange and Silver line trains will single track between McPherson Square and Smithsonian, with trains running only every 20 minutes at all times of the day.
• During rush hours, additional Yellow Line trains will operate every 16 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Greenbelt, in addition to Blue Line trains running every 16 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cemetery.
• On the weekends of August 11-12 and 25-26, Farragut West, McPherson Square, and Metro Center (Orange/Silver/Blue lines) will be closed.
  
• Rush Hour Promise will not be in effect for trips on the Blue, Orange or Silver lines.
  

Yellow Line Monday, November 26 - Sunday, December 9

Immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Metro will begin a continuous 14-day capital project on the Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River. The project will include structural repairs, and rail infrastructure improvements, such as grout pad reconstruction and fastener replacement along the entire bridge.

• No Yellow Line Service between Virginia and DC; use Blue Line as alternate.
• Yellow Line service will run between Huntington and Reagan National Airport only.
• Rush Hour Promise will not be in effect for trips on the Yellow and Blue lines during this time, but will remain in effect for customers on other lines. Additional details and service information will be announced in Fall 2018.