Orange Line train

      Metro Summer Shutdown: Orange/Silver Line Travel Alternatives

      Prepare yourselves! This summer, WMATA will initiate phase two of its Platform Improvement Project by reconstructing platforms at four Orange Line stations and connecting the Silver Line to new stations in Metro's network. To finish the project on time, all stations west of Ballston will be closed starting Saturday, May 23, 2020: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church, Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Greensboro, Tysons Corner, and McLean. Ballston-MU station will remain open and serve as the western destination on the Orange Line. Silver Line service will be temporarily suspended. You should allow extra travel time and start planning alternatives if your commute will be affected.*

      *Please be sure to check the transit providers' websites for any updates or changes to schedules given the public health crisis.

      Here's what you need to know:

      • Orange Line service will run from Ballston to New Carrollton.
      • NO Silver Line service will be available.
      • FREE shuttle buses will be available. The following three shuttles will operate Monday through Friday from 5am to 9pm; and Saturday through Sunday from 8am to 9pm. All shuttles run approximately every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.
      Orange_Silver_Line_shuttles

      Travel Alternatives to and from DC:

      Bus Alternatives

      Commuters at the affected Metrorail stations will have access to FREE shuttle services that will connect riders from closed stations to open Metrorail stations (see map above). Shuttle services vary by time and request. In addition to FREE shuttles, you can use local Metrobus, Arlington Transit (ART), Fairfax Connector, and OmniRide routes to connect to nearby open Metrorail stations.

      • Metrobus
        • 5A – Service between Dulles, Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride, Rosslyn, and L’Enfant Plaza
        • 38B – Service between Ballston, Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn, and Farragut Square
      • Arlington Transit (ART)
        • ART55 – Service between East Falls Church and Rosslyn via Lee Highway
      • Fairfax Connector
        • 599 – Service between Reston North Park & Ride, Pentagon, Pentagon City, and Crystal City
        • 697 – Service between Stringfellow Road Park & Ride and L’Enfant Plaza
        • 698 – Service between Vienna and Pentagon
        • 699 – Service between Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax Corner, US Department of State, and Foggy Bottom
      • OmniRide
        • 60 – Service between Manassas and Tysons Corner
        • 61 – Service between Gainesville and Tysons Corner
        • 601/602 – Service between Manassas and Pentagon
        • 611 – Service between Gainesville, Farragut Square, and McPherson Square
        • 612 – Service between Gainesville, Pentagon, Smithsonian, and Navy Yard
        • 622 – Service between Haymarket, Ballston-MU, and Rosslyn

      Bike Alternatives

      • Capital Bikeshare: Rates start at $2 for a 30-minute trip. With 35 stations in Fairfax County, 9 stations in Falls Church City, and over 250 in the District, Capital Bikeshare is an easy and cost-effective way to navigate station closures and connect to the nearest open Metrorail stations.
        • East Falls Church Metro – Sycamore St & 19th St N
        • Dunn Loring Metro – Gallows Rd & Avenir Pl
        • Wiehle Ave Metro
          • Wiehle Ave & Reston Station Blvd
          • Campus Commons
          • Sunset Hills Rd & Isaac Newton Square
        • Spring Hill Metro – Spring Hill Metro
        • Greensboro Metro
          • Westpark Dr & Leesburg Pike
          • Greensboro & Pinnacle Drive
          • Greensboro & International Dr
        • Tysons Corner Metro
          • Tysons Corner Station
          • Tysons One Pl & Chain Bridge Rd
          • Towers Crescent Dr & Tysons One Pl
        • McLean Metro – McLean Metro
      • Scooters and Dockless Bikes: Scooters and dockless bikes can easily be located in the District and Northern Virginia and unlocked using the provider’s mobile app.
        • Northern VA – Bird, Lime, Spin (Dockless operators may vary by jurisdiction.)
        • Washington, DC – Helbiz, Jump, Lyft, Skip, Spin

      Train/Rail Alternatives

      • VRE: This train system provides service Monday-Friday on its Fredericksburg and Manassas lines from Northern Virginia suburbs to Union Station and L’Enfant Station. 

      Trail Alternatives

      • Mount Vernon Trail: Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island, connecting with regional trails.
      • Rock Creek Trail: Rock Creek Trail is an 8.5 mile asphalt/dirt multi-use trail with multiple end points in DC.

      Non-Public Travel Alternatives to and from DC:

      • Telework: Working from home 1-2 days a week will ease your commute and allow you to maintain productivity. If your employer doesn't already have a telework policy in place, we can help them get started. Contact goDCgo at 202-299-2186.
      • Alternative Work Schedule (AWS): Take a different approach to working through non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures. Options include flexible scheduling, staggered shifts, and compressed work schedules. If your employer doesn't already have an AWS policy, contact goDCgo for training and support.
      • Ridesharing
        • Commuter Connections’ Ridematching program will match you with a carpool or vanpool, providing an affordable and sustainable way to skip public transportation altogether and get you where you are going.
        • The Vanpool Alliance helps you find vanpools that start or end in Northern VA through their FREE vanpool finder service.
        • Sluglines provide another community-based ridesharing option for commuters along the I-395/I-95 and I-66 corridors. Find pick-up and drop-off locations at sluglines.com.
        • App-based ridesharing providers include: eRideShare, UberPool, Lyft Line, Via, Sameride, and Waze Carpool.*

      *Please be advised that shared rides may be temporarily paused due to the public health crisis.

      Download our WMATA Platforms Project: Toolkit for Riders for a full list of resources and information on how to get between Fairfax, Falls Church City, and Washington, DC using public transit and other alternatives. Visit our platforms page for more details and updates.

      goDCgo

      WRITTEN BY: goDCgo

      goDCgo is an initiative of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) that encourages the use of sustainable transportation. We provide complimentary transit resources and consulting services to DC organizations and commuters. Our goal serves to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality and create a better quality of life in the DC area.

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