PHOTOS: Metrorail commuters crowd streets, cabs and buses amid shutdown

A normal commute -- putting on makeup on Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A normal commute — putting on makeup on Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Ken Carkin says it's good to have Metro open again. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Ken Carkin says it’s good to have Metro open again. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Slugline riders in Woodbridge say that their commute Thursday, March 17, has been normal, though many say that most of their co-workers telecommuted. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Slugline riders in Woodbridge say that their commute on Thursday, March 17, has been normal, though many say that most of their colleagues telecommuted. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
metrorail sign
After a shutdown that lasted a day, Metrorail is up and running on March 17, 2016. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Morning traffic builds up on 14th street NW in downtown Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The Metro subway system that serves the nation’s capital and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs shut down for a full-day for an emergency safety inspection of its third-rail power cables. Making for unusual commute, as the lack of service is forcing some people on the roads, while others are staying home or teleworking. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Metro bus makes it way down 16th street in in downtown Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
A sign alerting commuters that Washington's Metro subway system will be shutdown for a full day. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A sign is posted at a Metrorail station, alerting commuters that Washington’s Metro subway system will be shutdown for a full day. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Metro employee shuts down escalators to the McPherson Square Station in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
A man walks past a closed McPherson Square Station in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gates are closed at the McPherson Square Metrorail Station in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
The White House is visible as morning traffic builds along 16th Street Northwest, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
A bicyclist moves past cars stuck in traffic along Florida Avenue in the Shaw neighborhood, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Commuters take advantage of bike paths in the city amid the Metorail shutdown. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Commuters take advantage of bike paths around the District amid Metrorail’s shutdown. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Commuters who normally ride Metrorail wait in line to board a bus at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride lot in Virginia Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Commuters who normally ride Metrorail wait in line to board a bus at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride lot in Virginia Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Buses were filling up quickly at the Silver Spring transit center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Buses were filling up quickly at the Silver Spring transit center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16:  People stand at a bus stop on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. Metrorail has shut down service entirely today for emergency inspections of the system's third-rail power cables after a tunnel fire earlier in the week.   (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
People stand at a bus stop on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Two people ride bicycles as others get on a Metrobus, on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Two people ride bicycles as others get on a Metrobus, on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
A man sits alone inside a Metrobus in downtown Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Cars sit in traffic along Florida Avenue in the Shaw neighborhood, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Morning traffic builds on Massachusetts Avenue, in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
A man walks by the entrance for the Federal Triangle Metrorail station on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
A lock is seen outside of a closed Metrorail station. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A lock is seen outside of a closed Metrorail station. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WASHINGTON, DC - March 16: The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. Metro's General manager Paul Wiedefeld made the decision to close for 29 hours for a safety inspection after a recent fire. Metro makes approximately 725,000 trips per day in the D.C. Metro area. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
metro shutdown
With the D.C. Metro closed, the normally crowded escalators were empty at the entrance to the Metro Center station during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Around 30 Metro buses were delayed on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from D.C. traffic congestion. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Around 30 Metro buses were delayed on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from D.C. traffic congestion. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A lonely bike at a Capital Bikeshare station on the day that the Metro subway system shut down for a full day. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
A lonely bike at a Capital Bikeshare station on the day that the Metro subway system shut down for a full day. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Metrorail's shutdown on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, is also impacting air travelers trying to get to and from Reagan National Airport. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Metrorail’s shutdown on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, is also impacting air travelers trying to get to and from Reagan National Airport. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
It’s a busy day for cab drivers at Union Station as usual Metrorail commuters find alternatives to get around D.C. (WTOP/John Domen)
(WTOP/John Domen)
A cyclist commutes to work on 15th Street NW as traffic backs up from Capitol Hill to Fort Totten during Metro's shutdown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP’s Dave Dildine describes a “honk fest” from Capitol Hill to Fort Totten during the afternoon rush in D.C. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A DDOT employee directs a "tidal wave of traffic" at the intersection of 17th Street and Farragut West. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A DDOT employee directs a “tidal wave of traffic” at the intersection of 17th Street and Farragut West during the afternoon rush in D.C. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
(1/32)
A normal commute -- putting on makeup on Metro. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Ken Carkin says it's good to have Metro open again. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Slugline riders in Woodbridge say that their commute Thursday, March 17, has been normal, though many say that most of their co-workers telecommuted. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
metrorail sign
A sign alerting commuters that Washington's Metro subway system will be shutdown for a full day. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Commuters take advantage of bike paths in the city amid the Metorail shutdown. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Commuters who normally ride Metrorail wait in line to board a bus at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride lot in Virginia Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Buses were filling up quickly at the Silver Spring transit center on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16:  People stand at a bus stop on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. Metrorail has shut down service entirely today for emergency inspections of the system's third-rail power cables after a tunnel fire earlier in the week.   (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Two people ride bicycles as others get on a Metrobus, on Pennsylvania Ave., March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
A lock is seen outside of a closed Metrorail station. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WASHINGTON, DC - March 16: The entrance to the Metro Center station is gated closed during the morning rush hours on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. Metro's General manager Paul Wiedefeld made the decision to close for 29 hours for a safety inspection after a recent fire. Metro makes approximately 725,000 trips per day in the D.C. Metro area. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
metro shutdown
Around 30 Metro buses were delayed on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from D.C. traffic congestion. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A lonely bike at a Capital Bikeshare station on the day that the Metro subway system shut down for a full day. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Metrorail's shutdown on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, is also impacting air travelers trying to get to and from Reagan National Airport. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A cyclist commutes to work on 15th Street NW as traffic backs up from Capitol Hill to Fort Totten during Metro's shutdown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A DDOT employee directs a "tidal wave of traffic" at the intersection of 17th Street and Farragut West. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

WASHINGTON — With the closing of the D.C. Metro, commuters had to adapt during the morning rush hours on Wednesday in and around the District.

Metro’s General Manager Paul Wiedefeld made the decision to close for 29 hours for a safety inspection after a recent fire.

Metro makes approximately 725,000 trips per day in the D.C. Metro area.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up