WASHINGTON — Fairfax County is asking commuters to begin making alternative plans now to prepare for Metrorail’s SafeTrack maintenance push, which starts June 4.
Extended periods of single tracking and station closures that will affect portions of different rail lines over the next year begin with disruptions to the Orange and Silver lines.
To help people cope, Fairfax County is expanding bus service along affected routes. The first new supplemental shuttle service will run from Reston and Vienna to the Pentagon. All Fairfax Connector SafeTrack–related supplemental and shuttle service fares are $4.
In a letter to county employers, County Board chair Sharon Bulova warns that even commuters who don’t use Metrorail could still be affected by changes in traffic patterns.
She appeals to employers to encourage workers to consider options such as:
- Biking
- Telework
- Metrobus
- Fairfax Connector Bus
- Flexible work schedules
- Virginia Railway Express
- Ride-sharing and car-sharing
People might have more options than they realize, Bulova said: “We have commuter lots where people can stage, where people will be able to form carpools, where people will be able to get bus service.”
Coping with what’s to come won’t be easy or convenient, Bulova warns, but she’s sure prior planning and working together will help.
“The people who live in our region are resilient and they’ll find a way and we’ll get through this,” Bulova said.
Fairfax County’s transportation director says the county will make adjustments as necessary to respond to challenges the Metrorail disruptions might present, and will continue to update plans and advice on the county’s website.
In a related development, the Maryland Transit Administration said in a statement said that on days where track work affects Maryland and Marylanders who commute to D.C., they would consider adding cars to Camden and Brunswick Line trains. They will not add Commuter Bus service.
