Long Waits, Lines For Orange And Silver Line Shuttles Reported During Metro Shutdown

FALLS CHURCH, VA — While a shutdown affecting some Orange Line stations and an Orange and Silver transfer station started, commuters have shared frustrations about long waits for shuttles between closed stations. Metro is promising to address wait times with more buses and strategies to get shuttles through traffic congestion.

The Metro shutdown from June 3 to 25 has closed Metrorail service at the Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations. The shutdown means Orange Line service will only run from Ballston-MU east to New Carrollton.

Silver Line stations from McLean to Ashburn, including Dulles International Airport, will be cut off from Metrorail service to and from DC, as the connecting East Falls Church station will be shutdown. The Silver Line will run from Ashburn to McLean and Ballston-MU to Downtown Largo.

Free local and express shuttles serving the Orange and Silver Lines are replacing rail service during the shutdown. Local and express Orange and Silver Line shuttles are supposed to run every 5 minutes during rush hours and every 10 minutes outside rush hours.

But the replacements for Metrorail aren't running as smoothly as commuters would like.

Twitter user Alok Patra reported before 6 p.m. on Tuesday that hundreds of commuters were waiting an hour for an Orange Line shuttle at the Ballston-MU station. Numerous Silver Line shuttles were reportedly showing up at the station before an Orange Line shuttle arrived.

"Have been waiting for 20 mins with no shuttle and the line is now massive! Completely unacceptable," reported another Twitter user, E Sinc.

At the Vienna station, Twitter user Matthew Henry shared a photo of a long line on Wednesday morning.

"This is what failure looks like! @wmata @wmataGM when you don't realize we are all trying to save the planet and you shut down our mechanism!"

Riders on the Silver Line expressed frustrations with the Silver Line extension being cut off to and from DC after opening less than a year ago.

"The Silver Line extension was great until they close McLean to Ballston and you’re stuck taking a shuttle bus in rush hour traffic," reported Twitter user Katie Aune around 5:17 p.m. on Tuesday. "I left Dulles at 4 pm and I’m not even to Ballston yet."

On Sunday, the second day of the shutdown, Twitter user @annatea16 said the wait was 35 minutes at the Rosslyn station for a Silver Line shuttle to Dulles International Airport.

"Not prioritizing travel to the airport (arguably the most time sensitive trip people take) is bonkers," the commuter wrote. "The signage is great, but the folks working have no idea when another shuttle is coming and the wait times and lines are absurd."

Not all commuters have experienced bad luck with shuttle service.

"Metro is running what seems to be a super-prompt shuttle to Dulles (with a stop at the McLean Metro) to bypass part of the Orange Line closed for rail replacement," said Twitter user Rob Pegoraro on Thursday. "After a 3-minute wait at Rosslyn, this coach rolled up to the back of the Dulles Metro 36 minutes later."

At times, Metro said traffic on the roads was causing delays for shuttles.

But as Metro staff fielded complaints about waits for Silver and Orange Line shuttles, the transit agency said Wednesday it would make adjustments to service. That includes adding more shuttles buses throughout the day, evaluating new routes around the congested Rosslyn area, and working with DC and Arlington police to move buses more freely through traffic.

Nevertheless, Metro said commuters should plan for wait times between shuttles.

"Based on the volume of customers at these stations, we do expect wait times of up to 20 minutes during the peak rush hours, as we load and unload large groups of customers," Metro said on Twitter. "We know how important every minute of your day is and are working hard to get you those minutes back."

Following the June 3 to 25 shutdown, the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will remain closed from June 26 to July 16. West Falls Church station will be open for Metrorail service with Orange Line shuttle buses serving the closed stations. Silver Line service will be not be affected by this second shutdown, as East Falls Church station will be back open.