The Great Red Line Downtown Shutdown
This weekend, free shuttle buses replace trains between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations.
This could be the best weekend to avoid taking the Red Line downtown.
Board a Red Line train on the line's western branch, and it'll take you downtown only as far as Dupont Circle. On the eastern branch, you'll get only as far as NoMa-Gallaudet U.
"Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations to allow for installation of new fiber optic cable for improved wireless communications, as well as track maintenance and third rail upgrades," according to Metro's website.
The work will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, and continue through closing on Sunday, Sept. 9.
The following stations will be affected:
- Dupont Circle will be open for rail service to and from Shady Grove only.
- Farragut North will be closed.
- Metro Center will be open for Blue and Orange line service only, and the station entrances at 11th and G streets NW and at 13th and G streets NW will be closed. The entrances at 12th and G streets NW and at 12th and F streets NW will remain open.
- Gallery Place will be open for Green and Yellow line service only. The station entrance at 9th and G streets NW will be closed, and the entrances at 7th and H streets NW and at 7th and F streets NW will remain open.
- Judiciary Square will be closed.
- Union Station will be closed, and shuttle buses will depart from 1st Street NE, outside the Metro station entrance.
- NoMa-Gallaudet U will be open for rail service to and from Glenmont only.
Red Line trains will operate in two sections:
- Between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle stations every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
- Between Glenmont and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
"Limited-stop buses will operate between Dupont Circle, Metro Center, Gallery Place and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations only. Customers using limited stop buses should allow up to 30 minutes of additional travel time," Metro reported on its website.
"Local buses will stop at all stations. Customers using local bus service should allow up to 50 minutes of additional travel time," Metro's website added.
Last train information:
- On Friday and Saturday nights, the last Red Line train from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle will depart 30 minutes earlier than normal, at 2 a.m. The last train from Glenmont to NoMa-Gallaudet U will depart 41 minutes earlier than normal, at 1:56 a.m.
- On Sunday night, the last Red Line train from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle will depart 30 minutes earlier than normal, at 11 p.m. The last train from Glenmont to NoMa-Gallaudet U will depart 41 minutes earlier than normal, at 10:56 p.m.
Michael Shapiro
10:04 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
So the Nats are (probably) playoff bound, with three games this weekend and the only remaining way to take the Metro to the ball game is to go all the way to Fort Totten and then transfer to green line.
Once again, somebody from Metro didn't bother to think something through.
jag
11:32 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
...? FYI, transferring at Ft. Totten is already the fastest way. You're not impacted by this. In fact, trains are running at a higher frequency on this side of the Redline than usual, so the track work downtown is helping us. Those on the west side of the line are screwed though. They'll have to drive to our side or wait for the shuttles.
Greg Cohen
11:37 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Unlike with the teams out of Verizon Center, WMATA has no agreement with the Nationals about running trains. This is why in extra inning games they announce "for all Metro riders, the last train departs at X o'clock" multiple times.
Whereas, for example, after the Capitals triple overtime playoff loss to the Rangers— which ended after Metro had shut down— they ran multiple trains through Gallery Place-Chinatown to shuttle the fans out.
Marty Chase
11:34 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Are there any good places to park your car near the Green Line? Fort Totten? Catholic U? That information would be helpful for the thousands of fans who use the Red Line (with a transfer at Gallery Place) to get to the Nats' games.
Whitney Teal
12:23 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Hi Marty, Greenbelt and College Park both have parking lots and parking is free on the weekends. Hope that helps!
Kathy Jentz
5:09 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
why take metrorail at all? look at buses: #70 Georgia Ave lines and #S2/4 on 16th Street to get you to the heart of downtown or the National Mall