WMATA has provided updated information about its ongoing Red Line construction project, which has suspended train service between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights through Sunday, Sept. 6.
According to Metro’s Aug. 18 update, free shuttle buses will continue replacing trains at North Bethesda, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, Bethesda and Friendship Heights. The buses operate every five to eight minutes during Metrorail operating hours and are ADA accessible.
Local shuttles stop at all five affected stations, with an average travel time of approximately 10 minutes between stops. Express shuttles travel directly between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights, with an estimated travel time of 26 minutes.
During the closure, Red Line trains are operating in two separate segments: between Shady Grove and North Bethesda and between Friendship Heights and Glenmont. Trains are scheduled to arrive every six minutes during daytime service and every 10 minutes during late-night service.
Metro has established approximately 7.5 lane miles of dedicated bus lanes along Rockville Pike/MD 355 to help move shuttle buses through the affected area.
Shuttle boarding locations include Bus Bay C at North Bethesda and Bay K on Wisconsin Ave at Friendship Heights. Local shuttle passengers can also board at Bus Bay L northbound and Bus Bay F southbound at Grosvenor-Strathmore.
At Medical Center, northbound shuttles stop at northbound Rockville Pike and Wood Rd, while southbound service boards at southbound Rockville Pike and South Dr. Bethesda shuttle stops are located on northbound Wisconsin Ave at East-West Hwy and southbound Wisconsin Ave at Montgomery Ave.
Free parking remains available at the North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations. Metro is also offering free customer parking on a first-come, first-served basis at the former Lord & Taylor parking lot at 5255 Western Ave NW through Sept. 6. Drivers must enter and exit through the Jenifer St NW entrance. The temporary lot is open from 5am-midnight Monday through Thursday, 5am-2am Friday, 6am-2am Saturday and 6am-midnight Sunday.
Additional transportation options include half-price MARC fares from the Rockville and Garrett Park stations to Union Station and Silver Spring through Sept. 4. The discounted service is available during morning and evening operating periods.
Montgomery County Ride On is operating a temporary Glenmont Express Shuttle from the Milestone Park & Ride Lot in Germantown to Shady Grove and Glenmont through Sept. 6. Riders can also use Ride On Routes 40 and 37 or Metrobus routes connecting North Bethesda, Glenmont, Wheaton, Bethesda and Silver Spring. Capital Bikeshare is also offering Montgomery County residents a free 30-day membership during the project.
The construction includes creating a second mezzanine at Bethesda station to connect with the future Purple Line, rehabilitating the Grosvenor-Strathmore platform and performing maintenance on the elevated railway above Rockville Pike between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center.
