Metro Shutdown Causes Complications For Commuters

ALEXANDRIA, VA—After the shutdown of six Metro stations began on Memorial Day weekend, Tuesday was the first work day for commuters to navigate the change. As some social media reports indicated, the transition didn't go smoothly for some.

For these commuters, it will be a summer-long adjustment. Metro has shut down the Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations from May 25 to Sept. 8 for platform rehabilitation and other station work.

Free shuttle buses serving the closed Yellow and Blue Line stations were among the transportation alternatives. Metro said riders should plan for an extra half hour of travel time during the shutdown. But numerous riders reported significantly longer commute times on social media.

One person tweeted that it took an hour to commute from Del Ray to Crystal City, two neighborhoods that are near each other.

A rider at Huntington said he waited for three buses before being able to board.

One driver reportedly asked for directions to the Pentagon. That bus ended up at the Anacostia Metro station instead.

Other riders reported being stuck in I-395 traffic on express shuttles.

The reports weren't all bad. A WAMU reporter had a different experience taking the express shuttle from Franconia-Springfield to the Pentagon.

So began week one of a long summer for these commuters.