First work week of Metro's SafeTrack maintenance plan continues

On the first work week of SafeTrack, Metro leaders felt confident about the way the first day progressed.

Despite the issues of a switch problem and a train with a malfunctioning door, Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans says the first weekday of SafeTrack went well.

"I want to urge everyone, whatever you did today, do tomorrow, do Wednesday do for the duration of this surge," said Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans. "Because it worked OK today."

Metro's general manager, Paul Wiedefeld, said riders will only have to deal with major SafeTrack maintenance during the time allotted for work, and nothing more.

Metro riders also reacted to Monday's commute, saying they welcome the overdue repair work but that Metro needs to get more of their staffers out onto the single track platforms to help riders get on the right trains.

"You're not sure what platform you're supposed to be on, you're not sure when the next train is coming if it says no passengers. Do I get on? Or do I not get on? It's confusing," Metro rider, Caitlyn Burlavinetz explained.

Metro says they plan to adjust their efforts as SafeTrack moves forward.

HERE'S WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SURGE #1 OF SAFETRACK:

- Orange Line trains between Vienna and New Carrollton will operate every 18 minutes

- Additional Orange Line trains will operate between Ballston and New Carrollton only every 6 minutes during the AM & PM rush, and every 10 minutes during midday and evening hours

- Silver Line trains will operate every 18 minutes

- At 10:00 p.m. all trains will operate every 20 minutes

As part of SafeTrack, Metro has eliminated overnight trains and now closes all stations at midnight.

Get real-time updates for all Metrorail lines on WMATA's website by clicking here.

Orange and Silver line trains may be very crowded, especially during rush hour due to severe service reductions.

Expect significantly longer wait times at the following stations:

Fairfax County SafeTrack Page (FairfaxCounty.gov/SafeTrack) - Resources for commuters in Fairfax County during Metro's continuing track work
Arlington County SafeTrack Page - Know your options for Metro's SafeTrack plan in Arlington County

BUS
(View map of bus alternatives)

Customers should also consider Metrobus, Arlington Transit (ART) and Fairfax Connector alternate routes.

Metrobus -

At East Falls Church -

2A - Dunn Loring to East Falls Church, Ballston (enhanced weekday rush schedule | regular timetable)
3A - East Falls Church to Annandale
3T - East Falls Church to McLean
3Y - East Falls Church to Rosslyn, Farragut West, Farragut North, McPherson Square
(enhanced weekday rush schedule | regular timetable)
15K, 15L - East Falls Church to Rosslyn
26A - East Falls Church to NoVA Annandale

At Ballston -

1A - Vienna to Ballston
1B - Dunn Loring to Ballston (AM/PM rush only)
1E - Seven Corners to Ballston
10B - Hunting Point to Ballston
22A, 22C - Ballston to Pentagon
23B - Crystal City to Ballston (AM/PM rush only)
23T - Shirlington to Tysons Corner Center (AM/PM rush only)
25B - Ballston to Van Dorn St
38B - Ballston to Farragut Square (enhanced weekday rush schedule - coming soon! | regular timetable)

West of Vienna -

5A - Dulles to Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride Lot, Rosslyn, L'Enfant Plaza. Supplemental service Herndon to Rosslyn only.
(enhanced weekday rush schedule | regular timetable)

Arlington Transit (ART) -

ART 52 - Ballston - Virginia Hospital Center - East Falls Church
ART 53 - Ballston - Old Glebe - East Falls Church
ART 55 - East Falls Church - Lee Highway - Rosslyn
ART 62 - Courthouse - Lorcom Lane - Ballston

Fairfax Connector -

Supplemental Express Service to Pentagon from:
Vienna Metrorail Station
Reston North Park & Ride

Existing Express Service to Pentagon from:
Backlick North Park & Ride
Gambrill Road Park & Ride
Reston North Park & Ride
Saratoga Park & Ride

Loudoun County Transit -
Routes serving West Falls Church will be relocated to Ballston

COMMUTER RAIL

For customers driving on I-66 from west of Vienna, consider taking the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Manassas Line (via Burke Centre) to Crystal City, L'Enfant Plaza or Union Station

BIKING

Capital Bikeshare - A bike transit service of the departments of transportation in the District of Columbia,Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and Montgomery County.

Washington Area Bicyclist Association - Information on bike options in SafeTrack Surge zones

Bike Arlington - Information to make it easy for cyclists in Arlington to get where they need to go, including more than one hundred miles of multi-use trails, on-street bike lanes, and designated bike routes.

Washington & Old Dominion Trail - scenic bike route from Herndon, Vienna, Dunn Loring, Falls Church.

PARKING

Orange and Silver Line customers using the Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church and Wiehle-Reston East Metro Park & Ride facilities should consider other park and ride options, including Park & Ride facilities on the Blue or Yellow lines.

CARPOOLS, VANPOOLS & OTHER RESOURCES

Commuter Connections - Provides commute options to get to work and get you home in an unexpected emergency. Among many services, it offers ridematching for carpools and vanpools and administers the Guaranteed Ride Home program.

Fairfax County Ride Sources - The RideSources program provides commuters with free ridesharing information, including ridematching assistance to form or join carpools or vanpools.

Commuter Page - Arlington County website with helpful links and information regarding local commute options.

Loudoun County Commuter Services - Links to commute options for carpools. vanpools, biking, transit and more.

goDCgo - Resource for transportation information and options for getting into and around the District.

RideSmart Solutions - Guide to alternative transportation options in Prince George's County.

Vanpool Alliance - A public-private partnership to support vanpool riders and providers in Northern Virginia.