For immediate release: February 7, 2019

New lighting to be installed at 3 downtown Red Line stations this weekend; buses replace trains between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Sq

This weekend, Feb. 9-10, Metro will work around the clock to install new, brighter lighting at Farragut North and the Red Line platforms of Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. Due to the location of the lights in the middle of the tracks, trains cannot operate on either track while the work is taking place. As a result, buses will replace trains between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square throughout the weekend.

Crews will replace outmoded and inefficient fluorescent lighting with new LED lighting that will reduce average energy usage by nearly 70 percent per platform. On an annual basis, the average energy savings per station is enough to power 40 homes.

Since July, Metro has installed new track bed lighting systems at 21 of Metro's 48 underground stations, most recently at Friendship Heights, Tenleytown and Van Ness stations, providing improved visibility and enhanced safety and security.

While the stations are closed, Metro will also conduct switch replacement outside Farragut North, as well as rail, fastener and stud renewal.

Customers traveling to the Gallery Place area are encouraged to use the Green or Yellow lines instead. Customers traveling to the Gallery Place area or CapitalOne Arena from the eastern side of the Red Line should use Judiciary Square station instead.

Service information February 9-10:

  • Farragut North Station and Red Line platforms at Metro Center and Gallery Place stations closed. (Metro Center open for Blue/Orange/Silver lines. Gallery Place open for Green/Yellow lines.)
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between Dupont Circle, Farragut North, Metro Center, Gallery Place, Judiciary Square and Union Station. (View shuttle bus stop map)
  • Red Line trains will operate in two segments:
    • Every 8 minutes between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle; and
    • Every 10 minutes between Judiciary Square and Glenmont.

  • Customers traveling to Gallery Place, CapitalOne Arena or the Chinese New Year Parade are encouraged to use the Green or Yellow lines to Gallery Place. Both lines will operate regular service until 8 p.m. on Saturday and all day Sunday. Customers traveling from stations on the eastern side of the Red Line should exit at Judiciary Square, which is located a short distance from Gallery Place.
  • Customers should take note of service adjustments on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines.

For additional details and shuttle routes see the weekend service advisory at wmata.com/weekend. 

The lighting upgrades are part of a $50 million capital investment that will save money and reduce Metro's carbon footprint to provide sustainable transportation throughout the region.

Looking ahead, Metro plans to install new track bed lighting at three Green Line stations - Navy Yard, Anacostia and Congress Heights - by the end of June.