Planning Continues For Summer Metro Shutdown In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Transportation officials updated Alexandria City Council Tuesday on the mitigation plan for the summer 2019 shutdown of Metro stations in Alexandria. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2019, Metro will close all Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport, which includes: Braddock Road, King Street, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn Street, and Franconia-Springfield.

The city's plan is centered around finding alternatives for the commuters who use Metrorail. According to the presentation to the council, 21,000 to 30,000 Alexandria commuters use Metrorail during the peak a.m. and p.m. times. The city anticipates the roughly 30,000 Metrorail trips can be replaced through Metro-provided shuttles, enhanced Metrobus service, new DASH Bus service, telework and other alternatives.

Metro expects to have four free shuttles running around Alexandria:

1. Franconia-Springfield to Pentagon (no stops in Alexandria)
2. Franconia-Springfield to Van Dorn Street, King Street and National Airport
3. Huntington to Pentagon (no stops in Alexandria)
4. Huntington to Eisenhower Avenue, King Street, Braddock Road and Crystal City

The routes of Metro shuttles and Metrobus routes are displayed on the map below.

A survey opened to residents in late 2018 provided insight into what the preferred options are. Of approximately 2,500 respondents, Metro-provided shuttles are the preference of 28 percent, while 18 percent prefer buses, 10 percent prefer taxis or ridesharing, and 10 percent prefer driving alone. In addition, 10 percent could consider working from home.

Additional considerations will include educating the public about the transportation options they'll have. A final mitigation plan will be presented to the council in March.

During the station shutdowns, Metro will rebuild the outdoor platforms at Braddock Road, King Street and Eisenhower Avenue during the summer. Van Dorn Street Station will undergo repairs in September 2019, but Blue Line service will be available through single tracking.

To plan your commute during the shutdown, see updates on the city's Metro summer shutdown page.

Image via Emily Leayman/Patch