Metro announced a plan to shut down additional stations and fully suspend Silver Line service starting May 23 through the fall.
The reason for suspending service is to take advantage of low ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on projects to rebuild four Orange Line platforms and extend Silver Line stations, Metro said in a statement Thursday. The Silver Line will be closed, and all stations west of Ballston on the Orange Line will be closed, which are East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, Vienna. Trains will begin and end service from Ballston to New Carrollton. Metro said it will announce a reopening date after construction begins.
For essential travelers, there are three shuttle bus options. For the Orange Line, there will be bus service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and Ballston stations. There will also be service between Vienna and Ballston with no stops. For the Silver Line, there will be bus service between Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Tysons Corner and Ballston.
Metro to use upcoming low-ridership summer to maximum effect, expands Orange, Silver line shutdown https://t.co/CLrA4j5iuq #wmata pic.twitter.com/it1idlXOOf
— Metro Forward (@wmata) April 23, 2020
