WASHINGTON — Metro will shut down service on part of its Red Line over the next three weekends, and the transit agency is working with the Smithsonian to ensure people can still get to a popular attraction along the impacted route.
Beginning this weekend and continuing May 19-20 and May 26-27, Red Line maintenance will halt train service between Dupont Circle and Van Ness stations. Metro said it will run shuttle buses in place of train service.
The buses will stop right at the Smithsonian National Zoo’s front entrance on Connecticut Avenue. The shuttles will make intermediate stops at the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park rail stations.
The shuttle buses are free and will depart every few minutes throughout the day.
Outside of the work area, Red Line trains will operate frequently — every 10 minutes — between Shady Grove and Van Ness stations and between Glenmont and Dupont Circle stations.
“Our message to the region is, don’t let a little track work discourage you from taking a trip to the National Zoo during this great time of year to visit,” Lynn Bowersox, with Metro, said in a news release.
Shuttle buses will run from the zoo entrance back to the Red Line.
Metro has other shutdowns planned for the Red Line this summer.
From Saturday, July 21, through Labor Day, Sept. 3, there will be no trains for 45 days at Rhode Island Avenue or Brookland-CUA. Metro plans to run shuttle buses between Fort Totten, Brookland, Rhode Island Avenue and NoMa-Gallaudet, but will recommend riders use the Green Line, MARC trains or regular bus routes instead.
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report.
