Beyond MoCo

Metro Reminds Customers of Construction This Summer

By MCS Staff
Courtesy WMATA

Work begins on the Blue Line July 5 and on the Green Line Aug. 2. This year, Metro’s summer construction is shorter than prior years with two months of construction in two different parts of the region.

Per WMATA: From July 5-26, track work will be done on the southern end of the Blue Line. From Aug. 2-31, work moves to the southern end of the Green Line. Metro will still get customers to their destinations with free local and express shuttles that will replace trains during construction.

Metro’s annual summer and winter construction work keeps the Metrorail system in a state of good repair, preventing problems before they disrupt service. “Safety and reliability are key tenets of Metro’s Strategic Transformation Plan,” said Metro’s Chief Infrastructure Officer Andy Off. “These summer construction projects allow us extended time to renew our rail system, making it safer and more reliable for our customers.”

One construction period allows crews to get more work done at a time instead of months of weekend closures. The work is also being completed during months when ridership is typically lower. Metro previously announced this construction work and three years’ worth of construction work in Feb. 2024.

Blue Line Construction

Blue Line shuttle mapDuration: July 5 – July 26 (three weeks)

Closed stations: Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield (parking garages/lots remain open)

Shuttle alternatives:

  • Local shuttle: Service between Franconia-Springfield to Van Dorn St. to Eisenhower Ave. to King St.-Old Town every 8-10 minutes.
  • Express shuttle: Service between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon every 8-10 minutes.

Work to be completed:

  • Upgrading the train control system and replacing an obsolete signal system to serve as a bridge to the next generation signaling system.
  • Rail renewal, fastener and tie replacement, ballast tamping, and grout pad replacement for a smoother, safer ride.
  • Repairing lighting to improve visibility.

For two weekends (July 12-13 and 19-20), the construction area will extend with single tracking on the Yellow Line from Huntington to Braddock Road. Crews will replace ties and fix ballast that supports the tracks and creates a smoother ride.

Green Line Construction 

Map of shuttle buses on the Green LineDuration: Aug. 2 to Aug. 31 (four weeks)

Closed stations: Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Ave (parking garages/lots remain open)

Shuttle alternatives

  • Local shuttle: Service between Branch Ave., Suitland, Naylor Road, and Southern Ave. every 8-10 minutes.
  • Express shuttle: Service between Branch Ave. and Southern Ave. every 8-10 minutes.

Work to be completed:

  • Installing 102,000 linear feet of radio and ancillary fiber optic cable for communication and train control systems.
  • Rail renewal, fastener and tie replacement, ballast tamping, and grout pad replacement for smoother rides.
  • Adding new platform edge lighting to alert customers of approaching trains.
  • Repairing lighting to improve visibility.
  • Updating station signage. 
  • Repairing elevated tracks and bridge.

For two weekends, (Aug 9-10 and Aug. 16-17), the construction area will extend to Anacostia with Congress Heights, Southern Ave., Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Ave. stations closed. Express shuttles will run from Anacostia to Branch Ave. in addition to a local shuttle.

Shuttle map for expanded construction on the Green Line

Learn more at wmata.com/majorconstruction.