Metro ready to move crowds for cherry blossom season, will celebrate with train, bus wraps and special edition SmarTrip card

Metro is gearing up for cherry blossom season when more than 1.5 million people visit the region each year. 

Metro is joining in on the festivities with the return of the cherry blossom-wrapped train and buses, a new commemorative SmarTrip card, and five consecutive weeks of no major track work. 

To accommodate the crowds, Metro will have additional trains strategically placed throughout the system to add capacity, and additional buses on key routes to provide additional service if needed. We’ll also have extra staff at key stations to help customers.

Metro will be chasing a major ridership milestone during the cherry blossom season: the first combined 1 million-trip day since March 2020.

"Cherry blossom season kicks off one of the busiest times of year for Metro," said Metro Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Brian Dwyer. "We are proud to get visitors from the airports to hotels and down to the Tidal Basin to be a part of the festivities. Locals already know Metro is the best way to get around, so we look forward to getting them to the celebration, too." 

Wrapped train and bus 

For the third year in a row, we’re wrapping a train, and three buses in a special cherry blossom theme to celebrate the season.

This year’s design features a bright blue background and pink blooms. Metro’s “Your Metro” slogan is on the side of the vehicles in both English and Japanese.

The vehicles are expected to make their debut on March 21. You can track the vehicles’ live locations by visiting wmata.com/live and clicking on the “Special Edition” tab.

Special edition SmarTrip card

Metro is also partnering with the National Cherry Blossom Festival for our annual keepsake SmarTrip card. 

The artwork is by artist Anna August and is titled “Bloom.” It features cherry blossoms and the Jefferson and Washington monuments – two prominent landmarks near the Tidal Basin. 

Twenty thousand of these limited-edition cards will go on sale March 15 at select stations – Metro Center, Navy Yard, L’Enfant Plaza, and Smithsonian – and will be available while supplies last. Look for specially marked fare vending machines around March 15, before the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Travel tips 

Cherry blossom season is traditionally a busy time for Metro as millions of visitors pour into the region to see the beauty of peak bloom. 

To get crowds around smoothly, Metro will not have any major trackwork during the days or weekends from Monday, March 10 to Friday, April 18. 

Metro will perform very limited late-night track work with single tracking after 10 p.m. on a few select nights on parts of the Red and Blue/Orange/Silver lines. 

Metro provides convenient transportation to and from the area’s airports with stops at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the Blue and Yellow lines, and Washington Dulles International Airport on the Silver Line. Metro is also accessible to Amtrak via Union Station and Rockville on the Red Line, New Carrollton on the Orange Line, and King St-Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines. 

Look for Metro at festival events, including Petalpalooza and the festival parade with one of our cherry blossom themed buses. 

Additional tips:

• On weekdays, consider traveling during non-rush hour times and on weekends during the early morning or early evening to avoid crowding. Sundays are also a good option when ridership is lower. 

• If you don't plan to purchase a commemorative card, skip the fare vending machines all together, and use Metro’s mobile pay options for Apple or Google wallets to purchase a SmarTrip card or transfer an existing card to a phone or mobile device. Use your phone to pay and instantly add funds.

• Smithsonian Station is the closest station to the Tidal Basin (about a 10-minute walk) and can become extremely busy during peak times. To avoid crowding, consider using L'Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle instead, which are about a 20-minute walk. 

• Avoid transfers. Except for the Red Line, the Tidal Basin is accessible on all lines without transfers. Take the Blue, Orange, or Silver lines to the Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, or L'Enfant Plaza stations. Take the Green or Yellow lines to L'Enfant Plaza station. 

• Each customer 5 years or older needs his or her own SmarTrip card. Be sure to load enough value on the card to pay for all trips you plan to take.

• Consider purchasing a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day passes for unlimited travel on rail or bus. 

• Metrobus is free when transferring to/from rail with the transfer discount. 

• Parking is free at all Metro owned parking garages and lots on weekends, providing an affordable way to park and ride downtown.

Customer Service Information

Metro’s customer service team can assist customers with questions, trip planning, and more via chat, email, phone or our social media channels. Visit wmata.com/contact for details.

Follow @wmata, @metrorailinfo and @metrobusinfo on X or @wmata.com, @metrorailinfo.bsky.social, and @metrobusinfo.bsky.social on Bluesky.

Customers can call 202-GO-METRO (202-466-3876). 

For service alerts via text or email, sign up for MetroAlerts or visit wmata.com/MetroPulse  for real-time service information.

Learn more about Metro and the cherry blossoms.