Metro, along with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is offering a range of travel options for customers affected by the summer closure Metro Red Line stations at Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring through Saturday, Aug. 31. The Takoma Park station will be closed through June 29.
The stations will be closed for work attributed to construction of the future Purple Line.
The transit assistance during this period will include free limited-stop and local shuttle buses, with express service between Silver Spring and Downtown D.C. In addition to free shuttles, more than seven miles of bus-only lanes will be added along sections of Georgia Avenue between Glenmont and Silver Spring with adjustments to signal timing to prioritize buses to reduce shuttle travel times.
Due to capacity limitations at Fort Totten and Takoma, Red Line trains will run every six minutes, including rush hours when trains normally run every five minutes. Red Line customers may notice more crowded trains at peak times. After 9:30 p.m., trains will run every 10 minutes as normally scheduled. Free shuttle buses will run every 4-8 minutes, providing frequent connections to the closed stations.
Details of the travel assistance during the Red Line station closures:
June 1-June 29
- Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten
- Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma
- Green Line service available at Fort Totten
June 30-Aug. 31
- Free shuttle buses replace trains between Glenmont and Takoma
- Stations closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring
- Green and Red Line service available at Fort Totten
- Takoma Station reopened. Customers traveling between the closed stations and Takoma should use the local shuttle bus, or limited stop shuttle bus to the Red Line via Fort Totten
Free local, limited-stop, and express shuttles available during Metrorail operating hours. Shuttles will be available at all closed stations for customers with accessibility needs. To request an accessible shuttle, ask a Metro team member onsite.
Saturday, June 1,-Saturday, Aug. 31
- Local service stopping at all stations between Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Takoma and Fort Totten
- AM/PM Peak - approximately every four minutes
- All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every eight minutes
- Estimated travel time: 61 minutes
- Limited 1: Limited-stop service between Glenmont, Wheaton, and Fort Totten
- AM/PM Peak - approximately every four minutes
- All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every eight minutes
- Estimated travel time: 37 minutes
- Limited 2: Limited-stop service between Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Fort Totten
- AM/PM Peak - approximately every four minutes
- All other times, weekends, and holidays - approximately every eight minutes
- Estimated travel time: 25 minutes
- Express: Express service between Silver Spring and Metro Center
- Weekday only – approximately eight minutes all day
- Estimated travel time: 39 minutes
Metrorail
Customers at the closed stations who use Metro’s Park & Ride facilities may wish to Park & Ride from other Red Line or Green Line stations including.
Red Line
- Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore
- Greenbelt, College Park – U of Maryland Hyattsville Crossing
MARC train Brunswick Line – Service to/from Rockville, Garret Park, Kensington, Silver Spring and Union Station. More information is available on the MARC website.
MARC train is offering promotional $3 one-way fare from Kensington and Silver Spring to Union Station on the Brunswick Line. Weekly and monthly tickets will also be discounted to $22.50 and $81, respectively.
The project does not impact the MARC Brunswick Line at Silver Spring and regular service will continue. Visit the Brunswick Line website for schedule information.
Bus Alternatives
Glenmont
- Ride On 31, 41, 51 and 53
- Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
- Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
Wheaton
- Ride On 4, 7, 8, 9, 31 and 34
- Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Rockville/Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
- Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
- Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
- Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
Forest Glen
- Ride On 7, and 8
- Metrobus Q2, Q4 between Shady Grove and Silver Spring stations
- Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
- Stops on Georgia Avenue at Forest Glen Road
- Metrobus Y2, Y7, Y8 between Medstar Montgomery Medical Center and Silver Spring Station
- Weekday service from 4:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.
- Stops on Georgia Avenue at Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring
- Ride On 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
- Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details
- Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details
- Metrobus S2 between Silver Spring Station and Federal Triangle (10th and Constitution)
- Weekday service every 15 minutes, 24/7
- Metrobus S9 between Silver Spring Station and Franklin Square
- Weekday service 5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Metrobus 70, 79 between Silver Spring, Georgia Avenue-Petworth, Shaw-Howard U, Mt Vernon Square, Gallery Place and Archives stations, extended to L’Enfant Plaza early morning and late night only
- Weekday service available 24/7
Takoma
- Ride On 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center
- Saturday service between Silver Spring Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details
- Sunday service between Takoma Station and Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center. Refer to timetable for trip details
- Metrobus 52, 54 Takoma, Columbia Heights, U Street, Metro Center, Smithsonian, McPherson Sq, L’Enfant Plaza stations
- Weekday service available 24/7
- Metrobus 59 between Takoma, Columbia Heights, McPherson Square and Federal Triangle stations
- Weekday service during AM/PM peak periods
- Metrobus 62, 63 between Takoma, Georgia Avenue – Petworth, U Street, Metro Center, and Federal Triangle
- Weekday service from 5 a.m. - midnight
MTA Commuter Bus
MTA Commuter Bus routes may be an option for some customers. Check for route and schedule information by visiting the MTA Commuter Bus website.
Prior to the closure, Metro will have in-person teams at the affected stations to provide information to and assist customers. For detailed information about the summer construction go to wmata.com/majorconstruction.
The following maps illustrate the dedicated bus lanes along the corridor that will speed bus travel.
