WASHINGTON — Commuters can expect changes to the way they get around the region during the holidays. WTOP compiled a list of revised train, bus and parking schedules.
Parking:
D.C.:
Street parking is free on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but not on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. On Dec. 24, and Dec. 31, drivers will have to pay at street meters.
All rush hour parking restrictions will be lifted on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The Department of Public Works will not enforce parking meters, residential parking, rush-hour lane restrictions and will not tow abandoned vehicles on those days. Normal enforcement will resume at 6 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26 and at 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2.
Montgomery County
In Montgomery County, parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters is free on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Fairfax County
In Fairfax County, the county observes Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1 as holidays. Though it is not spelled out on its website, drivers would not have to pay if the meter reflects free parking on county holidays.
Arlington County
In Arlington, parking is free at meters and in parking permit zones on Dec. 24, 25 and 31.
Alexandria
In Alexandria, enforcement will be suspended for parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits on Dec. 24 and 25. This suspension of enforcement applies only to the restrictions at legal parking spaces, and does not permit parking in any location normally prohibited (for example, no parking zones, loading zones, or spaces for persons with disabilities).
Highways:
95 Express Lanes:
The lane reversal schedule will be adjusted on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Otherwise, the lanes will be reversed follow the regular schedule found at the bottom of the ExpressLanes.com/On-The-Road page.
Thursday, Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve
- Reversal starts one hour earlier — Lanes open northbound until around 10 a.m., lanes close for about two hours for reversal, southbound lanes open around noon
Friday, Dec. 25 — Christmas Day
- Lanes open southbound all day
Thursday, Dec. 31 — New Year’s Eve
- Reversal starts one hour earlier — Lanes open northbound until around 10 a.m., lanes close for about two hours for reversal, southbound lanes open around noon
Friday, Jan. 1 — New Year’s Day
- Lanes open southbound all day
Rail:
Metro:
Metrorail will remain open until 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve (technically early New Year’s Day) for the benefit of holiday revelers with free rides on Metro from midnight until system closing courtesy of Miller Lite.
On Dec. 24:
- Regular weekday service. No track work.
- Metrorail system open 5 a.m. until midnight. Regular fares and parking rates in effect
- MetroAccess subscription trips canceled
On Christmas Day:
- Metrorail and Metrobus operate on Sunday schedules. No track work.
- Metrorail system open 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. Off-peak fares in effect all day. Parking is free.
- MetroAccess subscription trips canceled.
On New Year’s Eve:
- Regular weekday service. No track work. Regular fares and parking rates in effect until midnight.
- Metrorail system will remain open three hours later than normal (3 a.m.). Last train times vary by station; add three hours to weekday last train times. To check last train times for any station, visit WMATA.com/stations.
- Free rail and bus service from midnight until end of service, sponsored by Miller Lite.
- MetroAccess subscription trips canceled.
On New Year’s Day:
- Metrorail and Metrobus operate on Sunday schedule.
- Metrorail system open 7 a.m. until 3 a.m.
- Off-peak fares in effect all day. Parking is free.
- MetroAccess subscription trips canceled.
- Customer service will be closed.
On the weekend of January 1-3, 2016, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Red Line trains will operate every 12-24 minutes.
MARC/VRE:
There will be no MARC train service on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.
The Brunswick Line will operate on an “S” weekday schedule on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Please refer to the “S” schedule which is on the right side of the printed and PDF copies of the Brunswick Line timetable.
The Camden Line will operate on an “S” weekday schedule on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Only trains with an “S” under the train number in the printed timetable will operate.
The Penn Line will operate on an “S” weekday schedule on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Only trains with an “S” under the train number in the printed timetable will operate.
MARC is aware that most federal government employees will be dismissed early and will work a half-day schedule on Dec. 24. As a result, EPTA will have connecting buses to West Virginia to meet Train 871 (1:30 p.m. departure from Union Station) at Brunswick on Dec. 24 only. Capacity on these buses is limited.
In Virginia, VRE will run the following holiday schedule:
Dec. 24 — “S” Schedule
Dec. 25 — No VRE service in observance of Christmas
Dec. 28-31 — “S” Schedule
Jan. 1, 2016 — No VRE ervice in observance of New Year’s Day
Bus:
DC Circulator:
There will be no DC Circulator service on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, the DC Circulator will offer special service on the following three routes:
- All buses on the Dupont Circle-Georgetown-Rosslyn route will run extended service until 2 a.m.
- Buses on the Georgetown-Union Station route will run extended service between Georgetown and McPherson Square until 2 a.m.
- The Adams Morgan route, Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square, will run extended service until 3:30 a.m.
Regular service on the DC Circulator resumes on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2016.
The Loudoun County Commuter Bus:
Services will operate on special schedules on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 24, as well as the week of Dec. 28 — Dec. 31. There will be no change to morning service Thursday, Dec. 24. There are changes to the Early Out schedule from D.C. and Arlington. Riders should check the updated schedule on the commuter bus website.
DASH and King Street Trolley:
Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus service will operate on a weekday schedule until 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. DASH bus service will not operate on Dec. 25.
The free King Street Trolley will run during its regular operating hours, every 10 to 15 minutes, between the King Street Metro Station to the Waterfront from 10 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., on Dec. 24 and 25.
OmniRide Commuter Bus and Metro Direct:
Neither service will operate on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.
On Thursday, Dec. 24, riders can expect a modified holiday schedule with limited service. PRTC will provide a few extra midday and early afternoon OmniRide buses to handle anticipated overflow. To avoid possible overcrowding riders should consider taking Metrorail or other regional bus and transfer to a Metro Direct bus to complete your commute. OmniLink Local Bus and Cross County Connecter will operate on regular service.
Ride On:
Ride On will follow a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. There will be limited weekday service until 10 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Fairfax Connector:
- Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 — Regular weekday schedule
- Christmas Day, Dec. 25 — Sunday schedule
- New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 — Regular weekday schedule
- New Year’s Day, Jan. 1 — Sunday schedule
Routes that operate on Sundays are: 101,109, 151, 152, 161, 162, 171, 310, 321, 322, 371, 401, 402, 423, 463, 505, 551, 558, 559, 574, 605, 721, 937, 950, 981, 983, RIBS 1, RIBS 2, RIBS 3, RIBS 4, and RIBS 5.
If your route is not listed above, it does not operate Sunday service.
Prince George’s County TheBus:
TheBus, a public transit service operated by the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, will not operate on Friday, Dec. 25. Regular operations of TheBus will resume on Monday, Dec. 28. In addition, the County’s Para-Transit and Call-A-Bus service will not operate on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. Normal operations of the Para-Transit services and Call-A-Bus will resume on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.
