Free Shuttles Planned Amid Metro Summer Shutdown Affecting NoVA Stations

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Planned shutdowns on Metrorail this summer will affect Orange and Silver Line service in Northern Virginia, prompting Metro to offer free shuttle bus service.

The first shutdown will be between the Vienna and Ballston-MU stations from June 3 to 25 on the Orange and Silver Lines. The Vienna, Dunn Loring/Merrifield, West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations will be closed. As East Falls Church serves the Orange and Silver Lines, the Silver Line from Ashburn to McLean will be cut off from rail service continuing into Arlington and DC.

According to Metro, crew will be replacing the 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna stations to improve safety and reliability. Fiber-optic cable installation will coincide with the other work during this shutdown.

The next shutdown from June 26 to July 16 will only affect several Orange Line stations — Vienna and Dunn Loring/Merrifield stations will be closed. East Falls Church station will be open, which means the Silver Line will not be impacted by this shutdown. Orange Line service will also run from West Falls Church. Crews will be continuing the rail replacement and riber-optic cable installation between Vienna and West Falls Church only.

Rail service and shuttle buses during shutdowns

During the shutdown between Vienna and Ballston-MU from June 3 to 25, free local, express and limited-stop shuttles will be offered by Metro.

The Orange Line Shuttle will provide local service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church and Ballston-MU stations during Metrorail hours.

The Silver Line Shuttle will run between McLean, East Falls Church and Ballston-MU stations during Metrorail hours.

Both local shuttles will run every 5 minutes during rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and every 10 minutes all other times.

The Orange Line Express will provide express service between the Vienna and Rosslyn stations.

The Silver Line Limited will provide limited-stop service between Washington Dulles International Airport, McLean and Rosslyn.

The express and limited-stop shuttles will run every 5 minutes during rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

During the shutdown, Orange and Silver Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Ballston-MU and New Carrollton/Downtown Largo during weekday rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On weekends and non-rush-hour weekday times, Orange and Silver Line trains will run every 15 minutes.

The shutdown closing the Vienna and Dunn Loring/Merrifield stations from June 26 to July 16 will prompt an Orange Line Shuttle with local service between Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations during Metrorail hours. Shuttles will run every 5 to 10 minutes on weekdays and every 10 minutes on weekends.

Orange Line train service will run every 12 minutes from West Falls Church to New Carrollton during the daytime and weekends and every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Metro also announced shuttle alternatives for other summer shutdowns. From May 12 to 21, there will be single tracking between Cheverly and Minnesota Avenue stations on the Orange Line in DC and Maryland.

On the weekend of July 22 and 23, the West Hyattsville, Hyattsville Crossing, College Park-University of Maryland and Greenbelt stations will be closed, and Fort Totten will have Red Line service but no Green Line service. Then from July 24 to Sept. 4, the West Hyattsville, Hyattsville Crossing, College Park-University of Maryland and Greenbelt stations will remain closed. Fort Totten will be open for Red and Green Line service.

Riders can stay up to date with the summer shutdowns on Metro's 2023 construction web page.