For immediate release: January 5, 2024

Metro announces travel alternatives during four-day Blue, Orange, and Silver line construction over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend

Metro today announced travel alternatives to help customers plan for track work and maintenance over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend that will close a portion of the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines on Friday, Jan. 12 through Monday, Jan. 15.

During the four-day closure, buses will replace trains with no rail service between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line; and between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Clarendon on the Orange and Silver lines. The Rosslyn and Court House stations will be closed. Customers traveling through the work zone should expect significant delays and allow at least 30 minutes of additional travel time to account for shuttle buses.

Work crews will replace rail, rebuild concrete grout pads that support the rail, run fiber-optic cables, install platform edge lighting, and other maintenance activity. Without the closure, the work would have caused major disruptions over multiple weekends, as trains would single track every 26 minutes or with truncated service.

Metro will continue to run normal service on the Yellow and Green lines, and supplement Blue Line service between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Downtown Largo and on the Silver Line between Ashburn and Clarendon.

During the winter months, Arlington Cemetery Station typically closes at 7 p.m. to align with Arlington National Cemetery’s hours. However, Metro will keep the station open through closing during the four-day construction project to accommodate shuttle bus customers.

Shuttle buses will be available for connections to the last trains on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. Last train times may be adjusted with some inbound trains departing the end of the line earlier than normal, and the last outbound trains may arrive later than normal. 

In addition, due to construction for the MDOT MTA Purple Line Project on Saturday, Jan. 13 and Sunday, Jan. 14, Red Line service will be impacted with no train service between Takoma and Forest Glen. While the MDOT MTA work is unrelated to Metro, the closure will give Metro the opportunity to perform leak mitigation, replace rail ties, and perform switch maintenance.

SERVICE IMPACTS AND TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES

Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Construction between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Arlington Cemetery/Clarendon
Friday, Jan 12 – Monday, Jan. 15

  • Buses replace trains between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Arlington Cemetery/Clarendon
  • Rosslyn and Court House stations closed

Blue Line Blue Line trains operate in two segments: between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cemetery every 12 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening); and between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Downtown Largo every 10 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening).

Orange Line Orange Line trains operate in two segments: between Vienna and Clarendon every 10 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening); and between Foggy Bottom-GWU and New Carrollton every 10 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening).

Silver Line Silver Line trains operate between Ashburn and Clarendon only, every 10 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening).

Shuttle Map Foggy Bottom - Clarendon-Arlington Cemetery

BUS ALTERNATIVES

Free Express & Local Shuttle Buses

Orange Line Silver Line Orange/Silver Line Express Shuttle

  • Express service between Ballston and Foggy Bottom-GWU.
  • Customers traveling into DC should exit at Ballston-MU for Express Shuttle Bus to Foggy Bottom-GWU. Do not stay on the train to Clarendon. Only local shuttle buses, stopping at all affected stations, will be available from Clarendon.

Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Blue/Orange/Silver Line Express Shuttle

  • Express service between Arlington Cemetery and Clarendon.
  • Customers traveling to/from stations south of Arlington Cemetery and west of Clarendon on the Orange and Silver lines should use the Express Shuttle Bus between Arlington Cemetery and Clarendon to transfer between the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.

Orange Line Silver Line Orange/Silver Line Local Shuttle

  • Serves Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn, and Foggy Bottom-GWU.

Blue Line Blue Line Local Shuttle

  • Serves Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn, and Foggy Bottom-GWU.

Customers should allow at least 30 minutes of additional travel time for shuttle buses, subject to road and traffic conditions.

Metrobus

38B Ballston – Rosslyn – Farragut North & West stations

4B Seven Corners – Court House – Rosslyn

RAIL ALTERNATIVES

  • Blue Line customers traveling to/from Virginia and the District should consider using the Yellow Line instead. Customers may transfer back to the Blue Line at L’Enfant Plaza.

Yellow Line trains will operate every 6 minutes during peak periods on Friday, and every 8 minutes all other times including the federal holiday.

ADDITIONAL BUS AND RAIL OPTIONS

*All routes may not operate seven days a week or on the holiday. Check with the transit providers for schedule information.

AIRPORT TRAVELERS

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

From Maryland and DC

  • Use the Yellow Line via Gallery Place or L'Enfant Plaza.

From Virginia

  • Normal Blue and Yellow line service to the airport will be available for customers traveling south of Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Take the VRE Manassas Line to Alexandria. Transfer to Yellow or Blue lines at King St – Old Town.
  • Orange and Silver line customers should use the express shuttle bus between Clarendon and Arlington Cemetery. Transfer to the Blue Line at Arlington Cemetery.

Washington Dulles International Airport

From Maryland and DC

  • Use Express Shuttle Bus between Foggy Bottom-GWU and Ballston to transfer to/from the Silver Line. Allow at least 30 minutes of additional travel time due to shuttle bus.

From Virginia

  • Normal Orange and Silver line service will operate to all stations west of Clarendon. Transfer to the Silver Line at East Falls Church.
  • Customers traveling to/from areas south of Arlington Cemetery should use the Express Shuttle Bus between Arlington Cemetery and Clarendon to transfer to/from the Silver Line. Allow at least 30 minutes of additional travel time to account for shuttle buses.
  • Customers may also consider using the park & ride from Wiehle-Reston East on the Silver Line. Multi-day parking is available.

Red Line Red Line closure between Takoma and Forest Glen for MDOT MTA Purple Line construction
Saturday, Jan. 13 and Sunday, Jan. 14

  • Buses replace trains with no rail service between Takoma and Forest Glen.
  • Silver Spring Station closed.
Red Line Red Line trains will operate in two segments: between Shady Grove and Takoma every 6 minutes (daytime) and 10 minutes (evening); and between Forest Glen and Glenmont every 10 minutes.


FREE SHUTTLE BUS

  • Free local and express shuttle buses will provide service between Takoma, Silver Spring, and Forest Glen.

Metrobus

  • 70, 79 Silver Spring to Archives Station
  • Q2, Q4 Silver Spring to Wheaton Station
  • S2 and S9 Silver Spring to Federal Triangle/Franklin Square
  • Y2, Y7, Y8 Silver Spring to Wheaton

*Metrobus fare is free when transferring to/from rail with transfer discount.

Ride On Montgomery County

  • 12 Silver Spring to Takoma via Wayne Ave
  • 16 Silver Spring to Takoma via New Hampshire Ave

Customers are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts text or email messages for the latest service information or follow us on X @wmata @metrorailinfo @metrobusinfo. Metro's customer service team is also available to respond to social media, email, chat, or by phone at 202-637-7000 (automated information available 24/7) weekdays from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.