Metro travel tips for Wreaths Across America, weekend station closures on Blue, Orange, Silver lines and Red Line construction starting Monday

Published: 12/15/2023

*UPDATED 12/28: Red Line construction is ending one day earlier than planned. Normal service resumes Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7 a.m.

Metro is gearing up to support the nation's veterans, with thousands of customers expected to take Metro this weekend to the annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon and Rosslyn stations will have normal or near normal weekend service via the Blue, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines for customers traveling to the event. However, customers are advised of weekend track work that will impact the east side of the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Eastern Market and Benning Road/Minnesota Ave with two stations – Potomac Ave and Stadium-Armory closed.

Following the weekend, customers are also reminded Metro will begin critical safety repairs on the Red Line between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place. There will be no Red Line service between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place from Monday, Dec. 18 through Friday, Dec. 29*. Farragut North will be closed with the remaining 97 of the 98 stations open. Free shuttle buses will replace trains on the Red Line during this time. Three shuttle options will be available providing frequent service to all affected stations.

Red Line trains will continue to serve Gallery Place Station to/from Glenmont. All other lines will run normal service with trains continuing to serve major downtown stations at Metro Center and Gallery Place.

From Friday, Dec. 22, through Sunday, Dec. 24, Metro will temporarily extend the work zone with no Red Line service between Dupont Circle and Union Station. In addition to Farragut North, Judiciary Square Station will be closed with free shuttle buses providing frequent service to customers.

Selected entrances at Metro Center will be closed during construction with no access to the Red Line platform, and at Gallery Place during the three-day extended work zone.

Service information:

Wreaths Across America, Saturday, Dec. 16

Metrorail Hours: 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Fares: $2 for any one-way trip. Avoid the line at fare vending machines and use SmarTrip mobile pay.
Metrobus: Detours in effect from 5:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on routes 10A, 16A, 16C, 16M (View service advisory for details)

Entry gates to the event at Arlington National Cemetery are accessible via a short walk from three Metrorail stations:

Blue Line Yellow Line Pentagon – Access to Service Complex Gate. The gate is a 15-minute walk from this Metro stop. Head west on Columbia Pike, under the Rte. 27 overpass and up to the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Joyce St and walk along North Rotary Road to reach the entrance.

Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Rosslyn – Access to Ord & Weitzel Gate. It is a 15-minute walk from this Metro stop. Head south on N. Meade St., across Arlington Blvd., and through the US Marine Corps Memorial park to reach the entrance.

Blue Line Arlington Cemetery – Access to Memorial Ave Gate. It's a five-minute walk from this Metro stop. Head westalong Memorial Ave to reach the entrance. Arlington Cemeteryis one of our smallest stations and may become extremely crowded.Customers are highly encouraged to use Rosslyn or Pentagon stations as alternatives.

*In the morning during peak crowding, escalators at Arlington Cemetery Station will be "exit only" from opening until 9 a.m. Customers entering the station at this time will be directed to station elevators. Additionally, Metro may designate an escalator as a "walker" (stairway) to manage crowd flow into and out of the station. Should the station become too crowded trains may also bypass the Arlington Cemetery Station. Customers should familiarize themselves with walking directions from Pentagon and Rosslyn.

Scheduled maintenance & track work

Saturday Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17

Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Shutdown Eastern Market – Benning Rd/Minnesota Ave

  • Buses replace trains between Eastern Market and Benning Rd/Minnesota Ave.
  • Potomac Ave and Stadium-Armory stations closed.
  • Service will run every 12 minutes (daytime) and 15 minutes (evening) on the following lines:
  • Blue Line trains operate in two segments: Franconia-Springfield to Eastern Market and Benning Rd to Downtown Largo.
  • Orange Line trains operate in two segments: Vienna to Eastern Market and Minnesota Ave to New Carrollton.
  • Silver Line trains operate between Ashburn and Federal Center SW only. Transfer to/from the Orange or Blue lines to continue trip.

Red Line Single tracking Van Ness – Friendship Heights

  • Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle
  • Additional trains will operate between Dupont Circle and Glenmont, providing service on average every 9 minutes.
  • Customers traveling to stations from Woodley Park to Shady Grove should board a Shady Grove bound train or transfer to a Shady Grove bound train at Dupont Circle.

The work will include aerial structure repairs on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines; and leak mitigation on the Red Line.View Metro's weekend service advisory for additional details.

Red Line Major Construction

Monday, Dec. 18 – Friday, Dec. 29*

  • No Red Line service between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place.
  • Free shuttle buses to provide frequent service to all affected stations.
  • Farragut North Station closed.
  • Normal service on all other lines:
    • Metro Center served by Blue, Orange and Silver lines.
    • Gallery Place served by Red, Green and Yellow lines.
  • Metro Center G Street NW at 11th and 13th streets will be closed to accommodate equipment and work crews; Use entrances on 12th Street NW to access station.
  • Friday, Dec. 22 – Sunday, Dec. 24 – Red Line service outage extended to Union Station.
    • Judiciary Square closed
    • Gallery Place will be served by Green and Yellow lines only, with no Red Line service available.
    • Gallery Place 9th & G streets NW entrance will be closed. Use 7th & H streets NW or 7th and F streets NW to access the Green and Yellow lines.
  • For detailed information on bus and rail alternatives, including free shuttle routes, visit wmata.com/majorconstruction.

Customers are encouraged to use Metro's trip planning tools or go to wmata.com/MetroPulse for real-time service information. Sign up to receive MetroAlerts text and email messages, follow us on X@metrorailinfo @metrobusinfo @wmata, or go to wmata.com/alerts for the latest service information.

Need help? Metro's customer service team is available weekdays from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Representatives respond to X, Facebook and Instagram social posts, emails and chat conversations. Customers may also call 202-637-7000 (automated information available 24/7) or visit wmata.com.

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