15 Metro stations to reopen this weekend

WMATA starting its multiphase COVID-19 recovery plan

Published June 22, 2020 by Sydney Lake

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced Monday that 15 rail stations closed due to the agency’s COVID-19 response will reopen on Sunday, June 28. The following Monday, buses will also be added to 14 lines to increase capacity and offer more frequent service.

WMATA, which runs the transportation system, began reducing service hours and routes in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early May, it released a multiphase recovery plan to address declining ridership and revenues during the pandemic. 

“Metro acted quickly, at the earliest stages of the pandemic, to protect frontline employees, customers and the general public,” a June 22 WMATA statement reads. “Many of those protections will continue as the region reopens, including frequent cleaning of buses, trains and high-touch surfaces, rear-door boarding, supply conservation, and a requirement that all customers and employees wear face coverings or masks on all trains, buses and stations.”

The following Metro stations will reopen Sunday:

Select entrances will also reopen at Anacostia, Farragut North, Dupont Circle, Metro Center, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, U Street, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Friendship Heights and L’Enfant Plaza.

While ridership has been low, Metro has been working on track maintenance and upgraded construction projects. For any shutdown zones, buses have been available for essential travel. 

“Metro cannot guarantee that social distancing will be possible at all times, and the transit agency continues to ask customers to consider all of their transportation options, including walking, biking, or scooters whenever possible, to make space available for other riders,” WMATA reminds customers.

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