Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall

Published: 06/15/2022

Metro today announced travel alternatives to help customers prepare for major Blue and Yellow line construction this fall . Starting Saturday, Sept. 10, Metro will begin work to connect the future Potomac Yard Station with the mainline rail system and to rehabilitate the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations. The projects will impact Blue and Yellow line service in two phases over eight months, and free shuttle bus service will be available for customers throughout the duration.

“This fall, Metro will advance several major construction projects funded in our 10-year, $15 billion capital program. The project teams understand that station closures and service changes can be very disruptive to our customers, and we are working hard to use the closure time efficiently,” said Metro Interim General Manager and CEO Andrew Off. “These projects are carefully coordinated with the local jurisdictions to ensure convenient, reliable service is available across the region while we complete this critical work to maintain and improve our system.”

Potomac Yard Prep Work

Metro will connect new tracks to “tie in” the new Potomac Yard Station to the Metrorail system and ensure proper signal integration. This six-week project will require the closure of six Blue and Yellow line stations south of Reagan National Airport through Oct. 22. Once additional testing and training are completed, Potomac Yard Station is expected to open later this fall.

Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge Rehab

A major rehab of the Yellow Line tunnel near L’Enfant Plaza Station and the bridge across the Potomac River will begin at the same time as the Potomac Yard Station tie in and continue for eight months. Metro’s chief engineer has identified the steel-lined tunnel near L’Enfant Plaza as the agency’s top structural priority, with repairs needed to stop water intrusion and strengthen the tunnel lining. Metro will also remove and replace miles of critical communications cables used by multiple jurisdictions and repair the Yellow Line bridge during the closure.

“Our investments in capital improvements are a critical part of our commitment to safety,” said Metro Board Chairman Paul Smedberg. “Year-over-year the Board has made capital funding a priority and continues to support projects like these that strengthen our overall infrastructure throughout the region.”

Service Impacts and Travel Alternatives

PHASE ONE: Sept. 10 – Oct. 22, 2022

Rail Service:

No rail service south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station
No Yellow Line service, but Yellow Line stations north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station will be served by the Blue or Green lines
Additional Blue Line service, with trains departing every seven to nine minutes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and New Carrollton stations (every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m.)
Blue Line customers traveling between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations should plan on approximately 15 minutes of extra travel time
Green Line trains will operate every eight minutes (every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m.)

Note:

If 7000-series trains remain out of service, trains will operate less frequently

Free Shuttle Service:

Seven free shuttles will be offered during Phase One, including local and express shuttles in Virginia and three limited-stop shuttles crossing the Potomac River.

Local shuttles will be available during all Metrorail operating hours.
- Blue Line Local: Local service between Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn St, King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations every 10-20 minutes
- Yellow Line Local: Local service between Huntington, Eisenhower Ave, King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, and Crystal City stations every 10-15 minutes. Yellow Line shuttles do not stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station
Express shuttles will be available most of the day (from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 6:30 am to 9:00 p.m weekends).
- Blue Line Express: Franconia-Pentagon Express service between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon stations every 6 minutes
- Yellow Line Express: Huntington-Pentagon Express service between Huntington and Pentagon stations every 6 minutes
Limited shuttles will be available during weekday rush hours only.
- VA-DC Shuttle 1: Crystal City-L'Enfant Service between Crystal City, Pentagon City, Smithsonian, and L’Enfant Plaza stations every 12 minutes. Shuttle does not stop at Pentagon Station
- VA-DC Shuttle 2: Pentagon-Archives Service between Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Archives stations every 12 minutes
- VA-DC Shuttle 3: Mt. Vernon-Potomac Park (11Y Route) Service between Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and Potomac Park every 20 minutes. Peak direction service only

PHASE TWO: Oct. 23, 2022 – May 2023

Rail Service

All stations will reopen, and service will resume south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station
All Yellow Line stations will be served by the Blue or Green lines
Blue Line trains will operate every 12 minutes between Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield stations and every 12 minutes between Huntington and New Carrollton stations (every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m.)
Green Line trains will operate every eight minutes (every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m.)

Metro will continue to provide three limited-stop shuttles crossing the Potomac River during weekday rush hours only.

VA-DC Shuttle 1: Crystal City-L'Enfant: Service between Crystal City, Pentagon City, Smithsonian, and L’Enfant Plaza stations every 12 minutes. Shuttle does not stop at Pentagon Station
VA-DC Shuttle 2: Pentagon-Archives: Service between Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Archives stations every 12 minutes
VA-DC Shuttle 3: Mt. Vernon-Potomac Park (11Y Route): Service between Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and Potomac Park every 20 minutes. Peak direction service only

Other Convenient Travel Options

In addition to free shuttle service, other travel options are available.

16Y Columbia Pike-Farragut Square Line (between Barcroft and McPherson Square with frequency enhancements)
Metroway
Virginia Railway Express: Service is available at Franconia-Springfield, King St-Old Town (VRE Station Alexandria), Crystal City, and L’Enfant Plaza stations

Additional Resources

Metro will keep customers and stakeholders informed at wmata.com/majorconstruction.

Metro’s Capital Improvement Program

Metro is investing in system safety, reliability and the region's economy through its 10-year, $15 billion capital program. For the first time in Metro's history, the capital program is bolstered by dedicated funding from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The capital program will improve the customer experience and keep the region's infrastructure in a state of good repair by investing in new railcars and buses, improving stations and platforms, upgrading fire-suppression and emergency response systems, replacing and repairing tracks, tunnels, bridges, signals, and communications systems, rebuilding decades-old bus garages, and providing modern customer amenities such as passenger information systems. By spending local taxpayer dollars for capital projects, Metro is seeking to reinvest in our hometown economy, creating jobs and encouraging participation from disadvantaged, minority-owned, and small businesses in the region.