WASHINGTON — With traffic gridlock expected across the District as crowds flood the city to see Pope Francis, there are options to make your commute easier.
It’s not just the pope’s visit that will clog the District; the Washington Nationals host the Baltimore Orioles at Nats Park and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performs Wednesday at Verizon Center. It also happens to be Try Transit Week.
Wednesday’s 4:15 p.m. Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception could end anytime between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., so it is not clear whether the crowd of 25,000 will be able to make the last VRE trains out of D.C.
Those trains leave Union Station at 6:50 p.m. on the Manassas Line and 6:40 p.m. on the Fredericksburg Line, so VRE will not be an option for anyone attending the nighttime events.
MARC is providing later trains, increasing the likelihood that those attending the Mass will be able to make it. The final MARC Brunswick Line train of the evening leaves Union Station at 7:25 p.m.; the final Camden Line train leaves at 7:45 p.m., and the final Penn Line train north to Baltimore leaves at 10:30 p.m. (9 p.m. is the final departure that serves Martin State Airport, Edgewood, Aberdeen and Perryville). The last departures are still too early for those attending the concerts or baseball games.
MARC is adding extra cars to some trains this week, as well as an additional train on the Brunswick Line Wednesday and Thursday afternoon that departs Union Station at 1:30 p.m. Train 871 usually only operates on Fridays.
The Mass is only open to those with tickets.
Since commuter bus schedules are also focused on regular work hours, they will also mainly be an option for those who have to go to work Wednesday or Thursday and those attending the papal events, but not for fans headed to the concerts or games.
Capital Bikeshare is also adding bike corrals near the papal events, providing an option for people who hop off Metro or buses within biking distance of downtown.
Instead of the normal corral service at 21st and I St. NW and 13th St. and New York Ave. NW, the corrals will be at 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NW Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7 a.m. to noon and at 10th St. and Monroe Ave. NE from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The 10th & Monroe corral is on the east side of the Brookland Metro Station, approximately half a mile from the Basilica.
A full list of Capital Bikeshare service changes can be found on their website.
Riding a personal bike is a good option too, if conditions and distance allow it. Bikes will have to be locked up outside of the secure perimeters of the papal events, and cyclists will have to go around many, if not all, of the road closures.
More advice for getting to and from papal events
From points in Virginia
In Fairfax County:
Those close enough to bike or walk to a Metro or VRE station will likely find that the best option. In other parts of the county, or in the City of Fairfax, Fairfax Connector, CUE or Metrobus service are also options to reach VRE stations or Metro stations on the Silver, Orange or Blue lines.
VRE will operate normal service. Some people driving to stations may have to get there early to get a parking space in one of the Metro garages depending on the size of the crowds that actually turn out.
The largest crowds are expected on Wednesday, when Pope Francis will drive a brief parade route around the Ellipse and part of the National Mall after he visits the White House. That afternoon, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Those headed to the Mass who have the option are likely best off driving to Metro rather than VRE, because it is not clear whether the Mass will end in time to catch the last train.
In some instances, going a short way away from D.C. to reach a Park and Ride lot or station may be the best option. Keep in mind that a number bus routes that often continue all the way into the District will instead start and end at Metro stations during the pope’s visit.
Drivers coming down the Dulles Toll Road might also consider parking at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride to take a bus to the Wiehle-Reston East station on the Silver Line.
Avoiding transfers between Metro lines during peak crowding will be key to making trips smoothly to and from destinations anywhere in the region, so you might want to consider slightly longer walks than usual to or from stations.
For example, taking the Yellow Line from Huntington to Archives or L’Enfant Plaza will likely be a better option to reach the parade route than transferring to the Blue Line to try to reach McPherson Square, which is nearer to the White House.
In Loudoun County:
In northwestern Loudoun County, Maryland’s MARC trains may be a good option to get downtown, using stops on the Brunswick Line in Harpers Ferry, Brunswick, or Point of Rocks, as long as the timing of the trains works out for your plans.
In other parts of the county, driving, walking or biking to commuter bus stops will likely be one of the best options.
Connecting to VRE or Metro is another option. Loudoun County Transit is running all of its commuter bus routes that normally run to Rosslyn, the Pentagon, Crystal City and Washington to the West Falls Church Metro Station instead on Wednesday and Thursday. The fare will be $1.50 with a SmarTrip, 2 with cash.
Anyone choosing to use commuter buses or commuter rail should look at return schedules as well, to make sure there’s an option to get home. If the timing does not work, driving to Metro or to a location served by more frequent, local buses could be a better choice.
In Prince William County and points south and west:
VRE will be one of the better options from many parts of Prince William County, although VRE has said the extra security and crowds could lead to some delays. PRTC’s OmniRide commuter buses are another good choice, since they will all connect to and from Metro stations Wednesday and Thursday.
OmniRide fares Wednesday and Thursday will be $3.10 with a SmarTrip, or $3.85 cash.
Farther south and west, driving or walking to commuter buses and VRE or Amtrak will likely be the best choices.
VRE’s Manassas Line runs from Broad Run, Manassas and Manassas Park through Burke Centre, Rolling Road and Backlick Road into Alexandria, Arlington, L’Enfant Plaza and Union Station.
VRE’s Fredericksburg Line runs from Fredericksburg up through Quantico, Woodbridge and Lorton to Alexandria and D.C.
Depending on crowds and timing, riders at Franconia-Springfield may want to take VRE into or out of D.C. rather than Metro, so checking schedules and approximate travel times is important.
For anyone outside of an easy trip to Metro who plans to attend the baseball game, concerts or other later activities, driving to Metro is likely the best option, since it will allow a way to get home after commuter buses end. Some local buses run later, but be sure to check the schedule for the route needed.
Metro closes at midnight, which means the last trains leaving D.C. depart earlier. For example, the final Blue Line train to Virginia from Metro Center leaves at 11:53 p.m. The final Orange Line train to Virginia departs Capitol South at 11:55 p.m.
Riders on the Fredericksburg Line who miss the final VRE trains of the evening may have the option of taking one slightly later Amtrak train that departs Union Station at 7:05 p.m., but it would be more expensive and only makes limited stops.
In Arlington, Alexandria and other close-in points:
Getting to Metro will be the key in areas such as Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church, but trains may be crowded by the time they arrive.
Several bus routes that normally cross the Potomac will instead end at the Pentagon station, so double-check that the most convenient route is running. That said, routes such as the 38B Metrobus, which serves Ballston, Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn before crossing into Georgetown, may help provide an alternate if there are any problems on the rails.
Those buses will still get stuck in traffic as they cross the Potomac and enter the District, so Metro is advising riders to transfer to rail as soon as possible. Metrobus drivers will give any riders who ask a paper slip that will allow riders a free transfer to rail. This is only being offered for Metrobus routes, not other, local bus systems.
To and from points in Maryland
Montgomery and Prince George’s counties:
If traffic backups spill outside the District, those coming from the parts of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties closest to D.C. could see some of the largest traffic impacts.
Walking, biking or taking a bus to the Metro will be among the best options where that is possible. Depending on the event, and especially for the papal Mass, getting creative — combining buses with walking or biking a bit longer than usual — could reduce the stress of getting stuck in traffic or packed in on another form of transit.
From Prince George’s County, taking the Green Line to Fort Totten, Petworth or Columbia Heights would leave about a two-mile walk to the Basilica, and avoid the need to pack into a Red Line train for one stop. Even the temporary bus route between Fort Totten, near Brookland and the Rhode Island Ave. Metro Station, will leave an approximately half-mile walk from the Brookland stop.
Cycling may also be a good option in some cases.
In areas farther out, MTA Commuter Bus, or services such as Metrobus, RideOn or TheBus, will connect to Metro stations. MARC trains are also good options in both areas, as long as you can make it back in time for the final departure from Washington.
All MTA Commuter Bus service will only run to and from Landover, Silver Spring, Greenbelt, Branch Ave. and Suitland, but Metrobus routes such as the T18, 83 and 86 could get riders from the Mount Rainier area close enough to walk to the Basilica.
Howard and Anne Arundel counties and points north and east:
The best bets will likely be MTA Commuter Bus routes, local bus services to Metro, or MARC or Amtrak. Depending on the precise location and distance to stops, driving to Metro may also be an option.
Metro may be the only real choice to avoid driving into the gridlock from this area for anyone with tickets to the Nationals-Orioles games or the concerts. Depending on your destination, drivers will likely be best off driving to the Metro line that works best to avoid a transfer.
There are parking garages on the northeast side of the system at Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring on the Red Line and at all of the Prince George’s County stations on the Green Line.
The final Red Line trains to Glenmont and Shady Grove leave Metro Center at 12:06 a.m.
The final Green Line train to Greenbelt from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Station leaves at 11:39 p.m. Anyone on that train is not able to connect to the Red Line. It means baseball fans who need to transfer need to aim to be in the Metro station by 11:15 p.m. to be safe.
The final Green Line train to Branch Ave. Station leaves Navy Yard-Ballpark at 12:17 a.m.
Frederick County and points north and west:
Those near MARC stations will likely find that the rail line is their best option for morning or daytime events. MTA Commuter Bus routes also go as far west as Hagerstown and offer a good alternative too.
If the timing or connections do not work, or for those attending the events running beyond the final scheduled commuter buses or MARC trains, driving to the Shady Grove end of the Red Line is an option too. Keep in mind that there are parking garages at all five of the stations north of Medical Center if the Shady Grove garage fills up.
Southern Maryland:
Hopping on an MTA Commuter Bus will be the best bet for many people coming from Southern Maryland. Depending on location, driving to the southern end of Metro’s Green Line may be a good option as well.
A third choice, depending on timing, exact origin or destination, and traffic issues could be to drive across the Beltway’s Wilson Bridge to connect with VRE or Metro in the Alexandria area.
Baseball fans coming from Southern Maryland will likely be best off driving to the southern end of the Green Line unless they are willing to leave lots and lots of extra time to deal with the terrible traffic on the roads before the game.
