Major construction on the Blue and Yellow lines is weeks away; Metro customers encouraged to plan now

Published: 08/23/2022

Whether you choose the free shuttle buses or an alternative rail or bus route, Metro encourages customers to begin travel planning for major construction on the Blue and Yellow lines that will result in rail service changes this fall. Starting September 10, work will begin to fix the aging Yellow Line tunnel and bridge, and advance the critical improvements necessary to open the future Potomac Yard Station later in the fall. Click here for service maps and a full list of travel alternatives.

During the first phase, between September 10 and October 22, six Blue and Yellow line stations south of Reagan National Airport Station will be closed to connect the new Potomac Yard Station to the existing tracks. The closed stations include Braddock Road, King Street, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, Eisenhower Avenue, and Huntington. Following the six-week shutdown, the six closed stations will reopen; however, the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge will remain closed for additional repairs through May 2023.

Yellow Line service will not operate for the duration of the project, and trains will be rerouted through Rosslyn instead. Metro and regional transit providers will provide free bus shuttles, free parking, and other convenient travel alternatives, including additional Blue and Green line service to keep customers moving. In addition to the free shuttle service, customers will have several other free options for getting around during the six-week shutdown. Last month, the Metro Board of Directors approved free Metroway bus service and parking at Franconia-Springfield, Huntington, and Van Dorn Street stations from Sept. 10-Oct. 22. Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will also offer free service in the affected areas during September and October. The non-rider parking fee at Franconia-Springfield will be waived from September 10, 2022 until summer 2023.

Pre-construction activities are already underway on the bridge and tunnel. In the Potomac River, heavy barges are staged, and boaters are advised that a no-wake zone has been put in place in the construction area. At the L’Enfant Plaza Station, where Metro is relining the tunnel, demolition is scheduled to reinforce and waterproof the tunnel. A new steel liner will be installed requiring hundreds of steel plates to be welded together creating a protective shield. At times, the welding work and other construction activity in the tunnel may cause a noticeable odor for customers inside the station.

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
  • Yellow Line stations north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station will be served by the Blue or Green lines
  • Additional Blue Line trains will operate every seven to nine minutes between 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 bus 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 stops at all Blue Line stations 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; No stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station, use Blue Line from Crystal City for travel to/from airport
  • Express shuttles will be available most of the day (from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on 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 hour only.
    • VA-DC Shuttle 1: Crystal City-L'Enfant: (6:20 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.) 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: (6:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.) Service between Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Archives stations every 12 minutes
    • VA-DC Shuttle 3: Mt. Vernon-Potomac Park: (former 11Y Route) (5 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 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.)

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

Free Shuttle Service:

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

  • VA-DC Shuttle 1: Crystal City-L'Enfant (6:20 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.) 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 (6:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.) Service between Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Archives stations every 12 minutes
  • VA-DC Shuttle 3: Mt. Vernon-Potomac Park (former 11Y Route) (5 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) Service between Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and Potomac Park every 20 minutes; peak direction service only

Additional Resources

Metro will keep customers and stakeholders informed at wmata.com/majorconstruction. Customers, stakeholders, and the media are encouraged to sign up on the website to receive the latest project updates.

About the Project

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 Ronald Reagan National Airport through Oct. 22. Potomac Yard Station is expected to open later this fall after additional testing and training are completed.

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.

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. Local taxpayer dollars fund these important capital projects that allow Metro to reinvest in the regional economy, creating jobs and encouraging participation from disadvantaged, minority-owned, and small businesses in the region.

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