Metro service in Alexandria is set for significant changes this summer, with Blue Line closures and bus route updates scheduled to begin in July.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is closing parts of the Blue Line from July 5 to July 26, 2025, for essential construction and rehabilitation work.
Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield stations will be out of service during this time. WMATA is offering free shuttle buses to replace train service at these stations, along with free parking.
Blue Line trains will only run as far as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, impacting riders who usually travel beyond this point.
Yellow Line service continues as usual at Potomac Yard, Braddock Road, and King Street-Old Town stations. However, weekend travelers should expect possible delays on July 12-13 and July 19-20 due to single-tracking between Huntington and Braddock Road.
Blue Line Closures
- Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield stations will be closed during this period. Free shuttle buses will replace train service at closed stations.
- Free parking will be available at Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield during the closure.
- Blue Line trains will end service at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Yellow Line Service
- The Yellow Line stations at Potomac Yard, Braddock Road, and King Street-Old Town will remain open and operating as usual.
- On the weekends of July 12-13 and July 19-20, Yellow Line trains will operate on a single track between Huntington and Braddock Road, which may cause some delays.
In addition to these rail changes, WMATA is launching a system-wide bus route renaming and update initiative starting June 29, 2025. As part of the Better Bus Network program, routes starting in Alexandria and Arlington will now begin with the letter “A”.
Metro is also introducing the Tap. Ride. Go. Program to streamline payments. Riders can now tap contactless credit/debit cards, phones, or smartwatches at rail station faregates to pay their fares.
While this new payment system is great for visitors and occasional riders, regular users and those with discounts or SmartBenefits should stick with their SmarTrip cards.
For more details on the summer construction plans, bus route changes, and the new payment system, commuters can check Metro’s website.
