Travel Alternatives Announced For Metro Shutdowns In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Wednesday, Metro announced plans for travel alternative during two Metro shutdowns in Alexandria and southeastern Fairfax County this fall.

The shutdowns are planned in two phases: the first for the new Potomac Yard Metro cutover and the second for Yellow Line bridge and tunnel work. The Potomac Yard cutover to existing train tracks will prompt Metro to shut down all Blue and Yellow rail service south of Ronald Reagan National Airport station from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22. That includes the Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations.

In the second phase from Oct. 23 to May 2023, stations reopen, but Yellow Line service will not run in the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations. Instead, the Blue and Green Line will serve Yellow Line stations, although service levels will be dependent on Metro's return of the 7000-series railcars.

"The project teams understand that station closures and service changes can be very disruptive to our customers, and we are working hard to use the closure time efficiently," said Andrew Off, Metro's interim general manager and CEO. "These projects are carefully coordinated with the local jurisdictions to ensure convenient, reliable service is available across the region while we complete this critical work to maintain and improve our system."

The six-week closure for the Potomac Yard Metro cutover will mean no rail service south of Reagan National Airport. The Blue or Green Lines will serve Yellow Line stations north of the Reagan National Airport station. Metro will plan additional Blue Line service with trains every seven to nine minutes between Reagan National Airport and New Carrollton. Train frequency will change to every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Green Line trains will run every eight minutes and change to every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Frequency will rely on Metro's 7000 series being back in late summer.

Various shuttle options are planned for this first phase of shutdowns. Local shuttles running during Metrorail hours will be the Blue Line Local with service between Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn Street, King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations every 10 to 20 minutes, as well as Yellow Line Local with service between Huntington, Eisenhower Avenue, King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road and Crystal City stations every 10 to 15 minutes. Yellow Line shuttles will not stop at Reagan National Airport station.

Express shuttles are expected to be available from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 am to 9 p.m on weekends. These routes include Franconia-Pentagon Express service between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon stations every six minutes and Yellow Line Express between Huntington and Pentagon stations every six minutes.

Lastly, limited shuttles will be available during weekday rush hours. These include VA-DC Shuttle 1 between Crystal City, Pentagon City, Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza stations every 12 minutes; VA-DC Shuttle 2 between Pentagon, Smithsonian and Archives stations every 12 minutes; and VA-DC Shuttle 3 (11Y route) between Mount Vernon, Alexandria and Potomac Park every 20 minutes in the peak direction only.

After the cutover is complete, Metro expects the Potomac Yard station to open later in the fall after additional testing and training.

As stations reopen on Oct. 23, Yellow Line stations will continue to be served by the Blue and Green Lines. Blue Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield stations and every 12 minutes between Huntington and New Carrollton stations with frequency every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Green Line trains will operate every eight minutes with frequency every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Service levels will be dependent on 7000-series trains returning.

Limited shuttles will continue to run during weekday rush hours only. These are the same as the first phase: VA-DC Shuttle 1 between Crystal City, Pentagon City, Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza stations every 12 minutes; VA-DC Shuttle 2 between Pentagon, Smithsonian and Archives stations every 12 minutes; and VA-DC Shuttle 3 (11Y route) between Mount Vernon, Alexandria and Potomac Park every 20 minutes in the peak direction only.

Other travel alternatives suggested by Metro include the 16Y Columbia Pike-Farragut Square Line, which will have increased frequency; Metroway between the Braddock Road and Pentagon City stations; and Virginia Railway Express serving Franconia-Springfield, King Street-Old Town, Crystal City and L’Enfant Plaza stations.

The major renovation work on the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge will start during the Potomac Yard station cutover (Sept. 10) and continue for eight months (until May 2023). Metro said repairs are needed to stop water intrusion and bolster the tunnel lining. Metro will also replace communications cables and repair the Yellow Line bridge.

For continued updates from Metro on the shutdowns, visit wmata.com/majorconstruction.