Due to the upcoming construction, Metro will be exempting charges on a nearby bus route and parking costs at various stations beginning next month. (Updated at 10:45 a.M. On 11/3/2022)
The closure of the Metro DCA station is expected to last until the sixth week of October. During this time, the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge will undergo repairs, and the new Potomac Yard Station will be completed. As a result, all south stations on the Yellow and Blue Lines will be closed from September 10 onwards for these two major projects.
The complimentary transportation service being provided enables passengers to utilize it. The Metro Board of Directors made a decision at the end of last week to exempt all charges for the duration of six weeks at the three stations with designated parking areas – Van Dorn Street, Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield.
This is to encourage the use of available alternative transit options, such as the Express Railway Virginia or Metrobus, at Franconia-Springfield. Non-riders will have their parking fees waived at the Franconia station until the completion of the rehabilitation of the Yellow Line bridge, which is expected to finish in early summer 2023.
(Correction: This article previously stated that parking fees would be waived at all three stations during the construction period.)
The committee also eliminated charges on the bus rapid transit Metroway-Potomac Yard Line until October 22nd.
The Metro report mentions that all of this was done at the recommendation of the staff from Fairfax County.
The report will state that the Metro cost will result in a loss of approximately $611,000. However, riders will save money as the bus fare and parking fee of $4.95 will be waived.
The new tracks, which are expected to be constructed in September, will connect the main station to the testing safety and performance tracks. Both the Yellow and Blue lines will serve the Metro Yard Potomac station in Alexandria, with plans to open to riders in late fall.
The Yellow Line will not be in operation in Virginia until at least May 2023. The anticipated duration of the project is eight months, thus the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge rehabilitation initiative will result in an extended closure of the line.
During the initial six weeks, Metro unveiled various alternative approaches to transport commuters to their desired destinations, such as complimentary shuttle assistance and augmented Blue Line operations.
Subsequently, starting from October 22nd, all the stops along the Blue Line will recommence functioning, and the service will be prolonged until May 2023, reaching Huntington.