Enjoy the respite: The nation’s subway system plans to suspend all track work on the Fourth of July.
That’s means no trains sharing a single tracking to get around work crews. No station shutdowns. Well, none for planned maintenance work, that is. Metro is shutting down the Smithsonian station for most of the day, until after the fireworks finish for crowd control.
Metro outlined its plans on Tuesday for the holiday, notably saying it will offer extra trains to accomodate the rush of crowds headed to see the fireworkds. The agency will charge non-peak fares all day and parking will be free.
The transit system is opening two hours late for a Monday, with train service starting at 7 a.m. But it plans to bulk up service from 6 p.m. to midnight with near rush-hour frequency. The fireworks are slated to begin on the National Mall at 9:10 p.m.
The agency advises riders heading to the fireworks show to avoid using Federal Triangle station to get to the Mall and to avoid transferring between lines. Other options include: Farragut North, Federal Center SW, Capitol South, L’Enfant Plaza, Archives Navy Memorial, Union Station and Judiciary Square stations.
Officials also recommend that riders load enough money on their farecards to cover the return trip, too. A one-day rail pass costs $9, which covers unlimited train trips on one day, and may be a good deal for those who are traveling long distances on the system or planning to take multiple trips.
