Local Leaders Demand Details On Metro 2019 Shutdown: Report

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Leaders from Fairfax County, Alexandria and neighboring jurisdictions say they need more communications with Metro regarding the system's plans to close stations south of Reagan National Airport next summer, according to a media report. Metro announced this week a three-year plan to close 20 stations in Virginia, the District and Maryland for extended periods for platform repairs.

In the first step of the plan, Metro will shut down six stations in 2019 from Memorial Day to Labor Day: Braddock Road, King Street, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield.

Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said there was "very little communication" from Metro about the severe cutback to service, radio station WTOP reported. And Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg said the shutdown "will be extremely challenging for our city.”

More: Metro To Shut Down 6 Stations Along Blue, Yellow Lines In 2019

Bulova, Silberberg and other regional leaders spoke at a meeting Wednesday evening of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. A Metro official said the system is in the early stages of alerting commuters to the change, WTOP reported.

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Image: WMATA