Metro and transit partners announce travel alternatives for summer Red Line closure, additional bus only lanes to prioritize shuttles

Free Limited-stop and Local shuttle buses, with Express service between Silver Spring and downtown DC

Metro, along with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Montgomery County, and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will offer a range of travel options for customers affected by this summer's closures on the Red Line starting Saturday, June 1 through Saturday, August 31. In addition to free Local, Limited, and Express shuttle buses running, Metro has put together a comprehensive plan of alternatives and mitigations. Working with MDOT State Highway Administration (SHA), additional bus only lanes will be created for the summer closure to alleviate traffic for shuttle buses. Metro is also collaborating with DDOT to provide additional remedies for Express Shuttle Bus service to/from downtown DC.

Four stations will be closed for the duration of construction - Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring - with the Takoma Station closed June 1 - June 29 only. Due to capacity limitations at Fort Totten and Takoma, Red Line trains will run every 6 minutes all day, including rush hours when trains normally run every 5 minutes. Red Line customers may notice more crowded trains at peak times. After 9:30 PM, trains will run every 10 minutes as normally scheduled. Free shuttle buses will run every 4-8 minutes, providing frequent connections to the closed stations.

In partnership with MDOT SHA, more than seven miles of bus only lanes will be created along sections of Georgia Ave between Glenmont and Silver Spring and adjustments to signal timing to prioritize buses. In the District, Metro has engaged with DDOT on signal timing and additional mitigations to provide faster, more reliable shuttle bus service, some of which may include parking restrictions to increase road capacity, and other measures to alleviate congestion.

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is offering discounted fares on MARC Train and Commuter Bus service from stops in the vicinity of the impacted stations.

The closure was planned in coordination with the MTA Purple Line project. A new mezzanine will be built to connect the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center and the future Purple Line Station to Metro's Silver Spring platform, enhancing connections for Metro, MARC Train, and bus customers. This requires the closure of the Silver Spring Station for several months.

As a result, Metro grouped together additional maintenance, repairs, and improvements on the Red Line to be completed at the same time. This allows Metro to utilize a singular outage over three months, rather than more than eight months of weekend closures and disruptions if the work were done individually in shorter segments.

Metro's work will enhance safety and reliability, modernize the system, and create a better customer experience. Among the improvements are rail renewal, tunnel leak mitigation, automatic train control system replacements, traction power cables installation, drain pumping station replacement, tunnel standpipe replacement, elevator and escalator maintenance, and new digital signage.

SERVICE INFORMATION

June 1 - June 29, 2024

• Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten
• Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Takoma
• Green Line service available at Fort Totten

June 30 - Aug. 31, 2024

• Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Takoma
• Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring
• Green and Red Line service available at Fort Totten
• Takoma Station reopened. Customers traveling between the closed stations and Takoma should use the local shuttle bus, or limited stop shuttle bus to the Red Line via Fort Totten

TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES

Free Shuttle Service
Free local, limited-stop, and express shuttles available during Metrorail operating hours. Shuttles will be available at all closed stations for customers with accessibility needs. To request an accessible shuttle, please ask a Metro team member onsite.

Saturday, June 1 to Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024

• Local: Local service stopping at all stations between Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Takoma, and Fort Totten
• • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 61 minutes
• Limited 1: Limited-stop service between Glenmont, Wheaton, and Fort Totten
• • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 37 minutes
• Limited 2: Limited-stop service between Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Fort Totten
• • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 25 minutes.
• Express: Express service between Silver Spring and Metro Center
• • Weekday only - approximately 8 minutes all day
  • Estimated travel time: 39 minutes

Rail Alternatives

Metrorail

Customers at the closed stations who use Metro's Park & Ride facilities may wish to Park & Ride from other Red Line or Green Line stations including.

Red Line Red Line

• Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, North Bethesda, and Grosvenor-Strathmore

Green Line Green Line

• Greenbelt, College Park - U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing

MARC Train

MARC train Brunswick Line - Service to/from Rockville, Garret Park, Kensington, Silver Spring and Union Station. More information is available on the MARC website.

MARC train is offering promotional $3.00 one-way fare from Kensington and Silver Spring to Union Station on the Brunswick Line. Weekly and monthly tickets will also be discounted to $22.50 and $81.00, respectively.

Please note, the project does not impact the MARC Brunswick Line at Silver Spring and regular service will continue. Visit the Brunswick Line website for schedule information.

Bus Alternatives

MTA Commuter Bus

MTA Commuter Bus routes may also be an option for some customers. Check for route and schedule information by visiting the MTA Commuter Bus website.

Glenmont

• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
• • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.

Wheaton

• Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Rockville/Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
• • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
• • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.

Forest Glen

• Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
• • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
  • Stops on Georgia Ave at Forest Glen Rd
• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
• • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
  • Stops on Georgia Ave at Forest Glen Rd

Silver Spring

• Metrobus S2 between Silver Spring Station and Federal Triangle (10^th and Constitution)
• • Weekday service every 15 minutes, 24/7
• Metrobus S9 between Silver Spring Station and Franklin Square
• • Weekday service 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Metrobus 70, 79 between Silver Spring, Georgia Ave-Petworth, Shaw-Howard U, Mt Vernon Sq, Gallery Place, and Archives stations, extended to L'Enfant Plaza early morning and late night only
• • Weekday service available 24/7
• Ride On 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
• • Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
  • Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.

Takoma

• Metrobus 52, 54 Takoma, Columbia Heights, U Street, Metro Center, Smithsonian, McPherson Sq, L'Enfant Plaza stations
• • Weekday service available 24/7
• Metrobus 59 between Takoma, Columbia Heights, McPherson Sq and Federal Triangle stations
• • Weekday service during AM/PM peak periods
• Metrobus 62, 63 between Takoma, Georgia Ave - Petworth, U Street, Metro Center, and Federal Triangle
• • Weekday service from 5 a.m. - midnight
• On 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
• • Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
  • Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.

Prior to the closure Metro will have in-person teams at the affected stations to provide information to and assist customers. For detailed information about the summer construction go to wmata.com/majorconstruction.

Customers are also encouraged to stay connected by signing up for our project newsletter to receive project updates throughout the construction period. Metro's customer service teams are also available to help weekdays from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. by calling 202-637-7000 (automated information available 24/7), via chat online at wmata.com, email, and through our social media channels. Follow us on X @wmata, @Metrorailinfo @Metrobusinfo.

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