Travel Alternatives for Summer Metro Red Line Closure Starting June 1 Through August 31

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Metro, along with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will offer a range of travel options for customers affected by this summer's Metro Red Line closures starting Saturday, June 1 through Saturday, August 31.

There will be free limited-stop and local shuttle buses, with express service between Silver Spring and downtown DC. In addition to free shuttles, more than seven miles of bus only lanes will be added along sections of Georgia Avenue between Glenmont and Silver Spring with adjustments to signal timing to prioritize buses to reduce shuttle travel times.

Four stations will be closed for the duration of construction – Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring – with the Takoma Station closed June 1 – June 29 only. Due to capacity limitations at Fort Totten and Takoma, Red Line trains will run every 6 minutes all day, including rush hours when trains normally run every 5 minutes. Red Line customers may notice more crowded trains at peak times. After 9:30 p.m., trains will run every 10 minutes as normally scheduled. Free shuttle buses will run every 4-8 minutes, providing frequent connections to the closed stations.

SERVICE INFORMATION

June 1 – June 29, 2024

• Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten
• Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Takoma
• Green Line service available at Fort Totten

June 30 – Aug. 31, 2024

• Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Takoma
• Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, and Silver Spring
• Green and Red Line service available at Fort Totten
• Takoma Station reopened. Customers traveling between the closed stations and Takoma should use the local shuttle bus, or limited stop shuttle bus to the Red Line via Fort Totten

TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES

Free Shuttle Service

Free local, limited-stop, and express shuttles available during Metrorail operating hours. Shuttles will be available at all closed stations for customers with accessibility needs. To request an accessible shuttle, please ask a Metro team member onsite.

Saturday, June 1 to Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024

• Local: Local service stopping at all stations between Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, Takoma, and Fort Totten
  • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 61 minutes
• Limited 1: Limited-stop service between Glenmont, Wheaton, and Fort Totten
  • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 37 minutes
• Limited 2: Limited-stop service between Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Fort Totten
  • AM/PM Peak - approximately every 4 minutes
  • All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every 8 minutes
  • Estimated travel time: 25 minutes
• Express: Express service between Silver Spring and Metro Center
  • Weekday only – approximately 8 minutes all day
  • Estimated travel time: 39 minutes

Rail Alternatives

Metrorail

Customers at the closed stations who use Metro’s Park & Ride facilities may wish to Park & Ride from other Red Line or Green Line stations including.

Red Line 

• Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, North Bethesda, and Grosvenor-Strathmore

Green Line 

• Greenbelt, College Park – U of Md, Hyattsville Crossing

MARC Train

MARC train Brunswick Line – Service to/from Rockville, Garret Park, Kensington, Silver Spring and Union Station. More information is available on the MARC website.

MARC train is offering promotional $3.00 one-way fare from Kensington and Silver Spring to Union Station on the Brunswick Line. Weekly and monthly tickets will also be discounted to $22.50 and $81.00, respectively.

Please note, the project does not impact the MARC Brunswick Line at Silver Spring and regular service will continue. Visit the Brunswick Line website for schedule information.

Bus Alternatives

Glenmont

• Ride On 31, 41, 51, and 53
• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
  • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.

Wheaton

• Ride On 4, 7, 8, 9, 31, and 34
• Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Rockville/Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
  • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
  • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.

Forest Glen

• Ride On 7, and 8
• Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
  • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
  • Stops on Georgia Avenue at Forest Glen Road
• Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
  • Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
  • Stops on Georgia Avenue at Forest Glen Road

Silver Spring

• Ride On 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
  • Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
  • Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
• Metrobus S2 between Silver Spring Station and Federal Triangle (10^th and Constitution)
  • Weekday service every 15 minutes, 24/7
• Metrobus S9 between Silver Spring Station and Franklin Square
  • Weekday service 5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Metrobus 70, 79 between Silver Spring, Georgia Avenue-Petworth, Shaw-Howard U, Mt Vernon Square, Gallery Place, and Archives stations, extended to L’Enfant Plaza early morning and late night only
  • Weekday service available 24/7

Takoma

• Ride On 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
  • Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
  • Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details.
• Metrobus 52, 54 Takoma, Columbia Heights, U Street, Metro Center, Smithsonian, McPherson Sq, L’Enfant Plaza stations
  • Weekday service available 24/7
• Metrobus 59 between Takoma, Columbia Heights, McPherson Square and Federal Triangle stations
  • Weekday service during AM/PM peak periods
• Metrobus 62, 63 between Takoma, Georgia Avenue – Petworth, U Street, Metro Center, and Federal Triangle  
  • Weekday service from 5 a.m. - midnight

MTA Commuter Bus

MTA Commuter Bus routes may also be an option for some customers. Check for route and schedule information by visiting the MTA Commuter Bus website.

Prior to the closure Metro will have in-person teams at the affected stations to provide information to and assist customers. For detailed information about the summer construction go to wmata.com/majorconstruction.

The following maps illustrate the dedicated bus lanes along the corridor that will speed bus travel.

   

Capital Bikeshare 

Beginning June 1, MCDOT will offer a minimum of 100 free subscriptions for a free 30-day membership to Capital Bikeshare for users along the Georgia Avenue corridor. While supplies last, users who live or work within a three-mile radius of the closed metro stations are eligible. Community members can apply online and once the address is verified, a code and instructions will be emailed.  

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Release ID: 24-063
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282