Metro to offer free shuttles during Yellow and Blue line station closures

Metro has announced its plan for commuters during its major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall.

For Fairfax County, the project will primarily affect residents in the south, with the Franconia and Huntington stations among those scheduled to close for a month. Free shuttle buses will be available to and from the affected stations, Metro said in a press release.

Unfolding in two phases over eight months starting Sept. 10, the construction includes connecting the future Potomac Yard station to the main rail system and rehabilitating a Yellow Line tunnel and bridge between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations.

Fairfax County leaders previously urged the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency to accelerate the project timeline and provide more alternatives to limit the impact of the closure.

Phase one

Seven free shuttles will be offered between Sept. 10 and Oct. 22. Virginia will have local and express shuttles as well as three limited-stop shuttles crossing the Potomac River, according to Metro.

During that time there will be no Yellow Line rail service, and no rail service at all south of Reagan National Airport station.

• Local shuttles will be available during all Metrorail operating hours.
  • Blue Line Local: Between Franconia, Van Dorn Street, King Street, Braddock Road, and Reagan National Airport stations every 10-20 minutes
  • Yellow Line Local: Between Huntington, Eisenhower Avenue, King Street, Braddock Road, and Crystal City stations every 10-15 minutes

• Express shuttles will be available from 4:30 a.m.-9 p.m. during the week and 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m on weekends.
  • Blue Line Express: Franconia-Pentagon Express service between Franconia and Pentagon stations every six minutes
  • Yellow Line Express: Huntington-Pentagon Express service between Huntington and Pentagon stations every six minutes

• Limited shuttles will be available during weekday rush hours only.
  • 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
  • VA-DC Shuttle 3: Between Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and Potomac Park stations every 20 minutes. Peak direction service only.

Metro will also beef up Blue Line service between Reagan National Airport and New Carrollton, with trains departing every seven to nine minutes. That will change to every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

But Blue Line customers traveling between Pentagon and L’Enfant stations should plan on about 15 minutes of extra travel time, the release said.

Green Line trains will operate every eight minutes, switching to every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Phase two

Between Oct. 23 and May 2023, all stations will reopen and service will resume south of the National Airport station, as work continues on a portion of the Yellow Line north of the station.

During that time, Blue Line trains will operate every 12 minutes between Largo Town Center and Franconia and every 12 minutes between Huntington and New Carrollton, shifting to every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Green Line trains will operate every eight minutes, but every 10 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Three limited-stop shuttles crossing the Potomac River will continue during weekday rush hours only, the release said.

• VA-DC Shuttle 1: Crystal City-L’Enfant: Service between Crystal City, Pentagon City, Smithsonian, and L’Enfant Plaza stations every 12 minutes. Shuttle does not stop at Pentagon Station

• VA-DC Shuttle 2: Pentagon-Archives: Service between Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Archives stations every 12 minutes

• VA-DC Shuttle 3: Mt. Vernon-Potomac Park (11Y Route): Service between Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and Potomac Park every 20 minutes. Peak direction service only

Photo via WMATA/Twitter