For Immediate Release
March 15, 2019
#T07_19
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
- Travel alternatives and resources for impacted Fairfax County commuters, employers and visitors
- WMATA online Trip Planner covering the impacted area
- More about the Metro Platform Reconstruction Project
Blue and Yellow Line Station Closures To Impact Commutes and Travel Beginning Memorial Day
Beginning this Memorial Day, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) will be closing six (6) Metrorail Blue and Yellow line stations south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for full platform reconstruction and major station improvements. To expedite construction and minimize customer inconvenience, Braddock Road, King Street, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn Street, and Franconia-Springfield stations will be closed from Memorial Day, Saturday, May 25, 2019, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, to allow for around-the-clock work. The station closures are part of Metro's three-year Platform Improvement Project that will completely reconstruct the outdoor platforms at 20 Metrorail stations, making them safer and more accessible for customers with disabilities, while also addressing safety concerns and longstanding structural issues.
WMATA will be providing FREE shuttle bus service in the impacted area partially replacing the trains along the Blue and Yellow Lines, and Fairfax Connector will be providing enhanced service on its express routes 393 (Saratoga Park and ride – Pentagon – Mark Center) and 394 (Saratoga Park and Ride to Pentagon) to assist patrons. This enhanced weekday rush-hour service will operate every 10 minutes from 5:13 a.m. to 10:08 a.m., and 3:35 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. Patrons can also take the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines from Fairfax County to access Crystal City, L’Enfant Plaza and Union Station.
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Maps and Schedules - View Key Shuttle, Metrobus, Fairfax Connector Route 393/394 Service and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Information**
Be sure to check your local and regional connections in the City of Alexandria (DASH), Arlington County (ART), and Prince William County (Omni Ride). For those traveling to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, visit www.flyreagan.com for any travel impacts.
Commuters, Employers and Visitors - 3 Things to Do to Prepare and Avoid Gridlock
Fairfax County commuters and travelers are urged to plan now and know the various travel options available to them to avoid adding to the gridlock by driving alone. Commuters are urged to consider other alternatives such as ridesharing and telework, whenever possible, as the free shuttles and enhanced transit service will only partially replace the lost train capacity.
1. Check fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/travel-alerts/metro-platforms frequently for the most up-to-date information on Fairfax County travel alternatives
- Use online tools to plan your travel via transit, ridesharing, and more.
- Use WMATA Trip Planner **customized for impacted area**
- Download the Carpool Now App or sign-up for the Commuter Connections ridematching database online.
- Search available vanpools near your home and work by Zip Code.
- Try CarFree A to Z Trip Planner.
- Use Google Maps for transit, biking and walking connections.
- For emergencies, consider signing-up for the Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program.
2. Check out park-and-ride facilities in the impacted area with available parking for catching an express bus, a VRE train, a carpool/vanpool, or to form a slug line.
- Franconia-Springfield Metro Station (Paid parking)
- Saratoga Park & Ride (FREE parking)
- Huntington Metrorail Station (Paid parking)
- Burke Centre Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Station and Park & Ride (FREE parking)
- Rolling Valley Park & Ride (FREE parking)
3. Fairfax County leaders are urging employers to consider the below options to avoid gridlock on Fairfax County roads during the Metrorail Platforms Reconstruction project-related Metrorail station shutdowns. For assistance, employers should contact Fairfax County Commuter Services (FCCS) Employer Outreach Team at 703-877-5641, TTY 711, or email commuterservices@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- Allow or expand telework arrangements and/or flexible work schedules.
- Technical assistance, incentives and tax credits are available for employers. Free telework support via TeleworkVA! is available at 866-469-1010, TTY 711.
- Utilize available assistance for establishing ridesharing arrangements.
- Assistance with carpooling/ridematching services and incentives for vanpooling is available.
- Educate your employees on available resources for travel alternatives and trip planning.
- Incentives are available for establishing SmartBenefits programs for employees to try transit.
Stay Informed
For day-to-day information and assistance with your Fairfax County commute and travel during Metro's ongoing platform reconstruction efforts, utilize the following:
- Commuter and Employer Alerts: Sign-up for Fairfax County text/email alerts – select “Commuter Alerts” under “Department of Transportation”.
- Ridesharing Assistance and Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program Sign-ups: Contact Fairfax County Commuter Services (FCCS) at 703-877-5600, TTY 711, or email commuterservices@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- Metrorail and Metrobus Passenger Information: Subscribe to MetroAlerts and visit www.wmata.com/platforms.
- Fairfax Connector Passenger Information: Subscribe to BusTracker alerts; visit www.fairfaxconnector.com; Call 703-339-7200, TTY 711, 5 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sat-Sun; or email fairfaxconnector@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- Visit any of the six (6) convenient Connector Tansit Store locations for travel information. *Please note that the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station location will be closed for the duration of the station shutdown.