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March 6, 2019

Are You Ready for Summer Platform Closures?

by Korrea Johnston

Are you a Metrorail rider in Alexandria or southern Fairfax County? Beginning on Saturday, May 25 through Sunday, September 8, 2019, the Yellow and Blue Lines will be shut down south of Ronald Reagan National Airport for full platform reconstruction and major station improvements. Customers should allow extra travel time and identify alternatives to using the affected Metrorail stations.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • No Blue or Yellow Line rail service south of National Airport from Saturday, May 25 to Sunday, September 8, 2019.
    • Affected Yellow Line stations: Braddock Road, King St-Old Town, Eisenhower Ave, and Huntington
    • Affected Blue Line stations: Braddock Road, King St-Old Town, Van-Dorn St, Franconia-Springfield
  • Free shuttle buses will be available at all times Metrorail is open between stations.

All Free Shuttles

  • Parking will be open to the public at Franconia-Springfield and Huntington, including the Park & Ride lot and the Kiss & Ride. We advise you to confirm before you go that parking is open at remaining affected stations with parking facilities.

Transit Alternatives for Commutes to and from DC:

  • Bus to/from Metro: Commuters at the affected Metrorail stations will have access to four FREE shuttles that will connect riders from closed stations to open Metrorail stations (see map above). In addition to FREE shuttles, riders can use local Metrobus, DASH, and Fairfax Connector routes to connect to nearby open Metrorail stations:
    • 8Z – Quaker Lane to Pentagon Station
    • 10A – Huntington Station North to Pentagon Station
    • 10E – Hunting Point to Pentagon Station
    • 21A – Landmark to Pentagon Station
    • Metroway – Braddock Road Station to Crystal City & Pentagon City Stations
    • DASH AT3 – Hunting Point to Parkfairfax and Pentagon Metro
    • DASH AT4 – Parkfairfax and Pentagon Metro via Slaters Lane
    • Fairfax Connector 393/394/395 – Springfield to Pentagon Station
  • Metrobus to/from DC: Starting at just $2, customers traveling to/from downtown may also consider Metrobus routes:
    • 11Y – Mt Vernon to Potomac Park (19th St NW & Virginia Ave) [Express bus pricing]
    • 7Y – Southern Towers to Farragut West (H & 17th St NW)
  • VRE or AMTRAK: Customers who normally use Franconia-Springfield or King St-Old Town Metrorail stations on Mondays, Fridays, or during off-peak hours should consider using VRE to Union Station, Crystal City, or L’Enfant Plaza and then transfer to continue their trip. VRE will not be adding extra capacity during the project period; please be aware that current peak period service is at or near capacity. King St-Old Town Metrorail station riders also have the option to ride Amtrak to Union Station. 
  • Water Taxi: The Potomac Riverboat Company’s fleet of seven water taxis have routes connecting Old Town Alexandria to The Wharf and Georgetown, and to the Navy Yard on Nationals and DC United game days. Additionally, the City of Alexandria is working with the Potomac Riverboat Company to provide service in the early morning hours. You can choose from one-day, two-day, and single-ride ticket options. From the Water Taxi docks, you can connect to nearby local transit options:
    • The Wharf
      • Waterfront Metrorail station
      • SW Neighborhood Shuttle to L’Enfant Plaza (FREE)
      • Metrobus 74 – Convention Center
      • Metrobus 52 – Takoma Station (14th St Line)
      • DC Circulator â€“ Eastern Market to L’Enfant Plaza
    • Georgetown
      • DC Circulator â€“ Georgetown to Union Station
      • Metrobus 30 â€“ Friendship Heights to Southeast
      • Metrobus 31/33 â€“ Wisconsin Ave
      • Metrobus 38B â€“ Ballston to Farragut Square
      • Metrobus D5 â€“ MacArthur Blvd to Georgetown
    • Old Town Alexandria
      • King St Trolley (FREE)
      • DASH AT2 â€“ Lincolnia to Braddock Metro
      • DASH AT3 â€“ Hunting Point to Parkfairfax and Pentagon Metro
      • DASH AT3/4 â€“ Old Town Alexandria via Parkfairfax
      • DASH AT4 â€“ Parkfairfax and Pentagon Metro via Slaters Lane
      • DASH AT8 â€“ Van Dorn Metro

*The City of Alexandria will be adding frequency to select DASH bus routes during the project period.

  • Capital Bikeshare: With just $2 for a trip and 31 stations in Alexandria, Capital Bikeshare is an easy and cost-effective way to get around town â€“ just connect to the nearest open Metrorail station (Crystal City and Pentagon City stations have Capital Bikeshare Stations out front). Not to mention you’ll get some fresh air and exercise! Avid cyclists should consider using the Mt Vernon Trail, which includes 18 miles of paved trail into Downtown, DC. Download the Capital Bikeshare app to find bikes and docks and even purchase passes.

Non-Public Transit Alternatives

  • Telework and Flexible Schedule: Consider asking your employer if you can work from home 1-2 days a week to ease your commute. If you work in DC and need help getting started with telework, contact goDCgo at 202-299-2186. If you work in Virginia, please contact Telework!VA at 1-866-469-1010.
  • RidesharingCommuter Connections’ Ridematching program will match you with a carpool or vanpool, providing an affordable and sustainable way to skip public transportation altogether and get you where you are going. The Vanpool Alliance helps riders find vanpools that start or terminate in Northern VA through their free Vanpool Finder service. Sluglines provide another community-based ridesharing option for commuters along the I-395/I-95 corridor. Additional app-based ridesharing providers include eRideShare, uberPool, Lyft Line, Via, Split, and Waze Carpool.

Download our full WMATA Platforms Project Rider Guide for a comprehensive list of resources and information on how to get between DC, the City of Alexandria, and southern Fairfax County using public transit and other alternatives. Visit WMATA’s Platforms page for more details and updates.



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