Metro set to resume weekday bus and rail service as storm recovery continues

After several days of systemwide snow and ice response, Metro plans to return to weekday service on bus and rail starting Thursday, January 29.

Since Saturday, Metro crews have deployed 2.9 million pounds of bulk salt – roughly 145 dump trucks full - to help keep the system moving. That is enough salt to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools. Additionally, crews placed 250 tons of bagged salt by hand to maintain safe access for customers and employees.

On Thursday, January 29, service is planned as follows:

Rail service 
Metro Rail will begin service at 5:00 a.m. and operate on a weekday schedule, with trains running approximately every 6 to 12 minutes.

Bus service 
At 5:00 a.m., buses will run mostly normal service with a few select snow detours. Bus service will continue to expand routes and work to eliminate detours throughout the day as road conditions improve.

Customers should check wmata.com/snow before traveling for route-specific service information. Metro also encourages customers to check the MetroPulse app for real-time bus arrival information.

Metro Access service 
Metro Access will provide all scheduled trips. If door-to-door service is not available due to conditions, curbside service will be completed to avoid untreated areas. Since Saturday, Metro Access has completed more than 7,000 trips, including 1,500 life-sustaining trips. 

Parking

Parking fees will be collected at Metro-owned parking facilities on Thursday, January 29.

About Metro

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider, serving a population of approximately four million people across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia within a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction. With a network of six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and a door-to-door paratransit service, Metro is the second busiest transit system in the United States serving 268.9 million trips in 2025 with a $5 billion operating and capital budget. Since 2022, Metro has completed multiple transit-oriented development projects that have brought $15 million in tax revenue to the region from housing, office, and retail space in our community.  Safety and security are core values at Metro. Over 30,000 cameras monitor the system, and Metro currently has the lowest crime rate in history with fare evasion on rail and bus declining. In 2025, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named Metro the Transit Agency of the Year in recognition of industry-leading ridership growth, record high customer satisfaction, a newly redesigned Bus network, expanded rail service, and improved customer experience.