The City of Alexandria understands the need for investment in the Metrorail system to get it back to a state of good repair. We also recognize that the three-month closure of stations in Alexandria and Fairfax County will be challenging for riders. Using lessons learned during SafeTrack, the City of Alexandria is working to mitigate the impact on Alexandria riders and provide transportation alternatives.

Residents seeking trip planning assistance should visit the City of Alexandria's trip planning web page. 

Updates

• Watch Metro's May 22 press conference on the Platform Improvement Project
• Read the City of Alexandria's mitigation plan for the Platform Improvement Project
• Read the City's April 17 update on its preparations for the Platform Improvement Project
• Watch the March 26 Platform Improvement Project update to Alexandria City Council
• Read the March 26 Platform Improvement Project presentation to Alexandria City Council
• Visit WMATA's newly launched project web page, wmata.com/platforms, for addititonal information
• Read WMATA's March 5 press release on travel options during the project

What is the Platform Improvement Project?

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which operates the Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess system in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, is closing all Metrorail stations south of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station from May 25 through September 9. This will allow WMATA to address reconstruction of three outdoor station platforms. In addition to the platform work, there will be repairs to the Van Dorn Metro platform in September 2019. This work will involve significant single-tracking on the Blue Line.

• Read WMATA’s initial press release on the Platform Improvement Project
• Visit WMATA's Platform Improvement Plan Project web page. 

The work was scheduled for the summer months, when ridership is at its lowest.

Performing continuous work by closing stations for three-month periods over the next three years actually lessens the long-term impact to riders. Conducting this work on weekends and during overnight hours would take approximately 30 years to complete what is planned. If work continues 24/7, it should bring these stations back to a state of good repair.

Read more about WMATA’s efforts to reduce platform work impacts.

What is the City of Alexandria doing to help?

While WMATA was solely responsible for the platform repair plan, the City of Alexandria and other localities in the region are working together to provide resources to mitigate impacts. Read more about mitigation efforts and resources for riders on the City's trip planning web page. 

OTHER RESOURCES

• View WMATA's full Platform Repair Plan and the schedule overview of the platform reconstruction project. 
• Read the City Manager's update to City Council from December 13, 2018 
• Read the City Manager's Letter to WMATA from December 14, 2018
•  Sign up for WMATA MetroAlerts and Alexandria eNews to get email or text alerts 
• Check local traffic updates during the platform repair project to stay abreast of regional impacts, using the news media and the City's traffic information page. 
• Determine alternatives for your commutes during the platform repair project, using the City's trip tools page, which includes information from WMATA, DASH, and other area transit providers. 

For questions and additional information, contact GO Alex staff at goalex@alexandriava.gov.