Metro riders intending to ride the Orange or Blue lines during Presidents Day weekend should plan ahead as the transit agency plans to close two downtown stations to do major maintenance projects. The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations will be closed from 10 p.m. Feb. 18 until closing on Feb. 21. A free shuttle will run among the Metro Center, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza stations, said Jim Hughes, director of intermodal planning. The shuttle will come to each station every 10 to 15 minutes, and the trip should take about 10 minutes, he said. Transferring to other lines is another option depending on where riders are going.
Despite the shuttles, Metro encouraged riders to plan for an extra 20 to 40 minutes if they need to pass through the work zone. Waits for shuttle buses on Monday in particular could be long, the agency said.
Workers will be replacing track switches, fixing elevators and escalators and making lighting improvements.
In addition, Red Line trains will share one track in two locations, which will delay riders. Trains will be single-tracked between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook stations, as well as between the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood and New York Avenue-Florida Avenue stations.
Metro advised customers to check metroopensdoors.com before traveling.
