SILVER SPRING, Md. — Red Line Metro riders faced the first weekday commute of the Summer shutdown that is expected to impact more than 12,000 people.
On Saturday, the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, and Takoma stations closed temporarily. Metro officials said the Takoma stop will reopen on June 30, but the other four stations will remain closed through the end of August.
During the partial shutdown, Metro rolled out a plan that includes providing free shuttle buses. On Monday morning commuters took to social media to express their frustration with the new system. One user posting on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, "What a mess. Got on the Local shuttle just fine at the Sarbanes Transit Center. Driver got confused, spent 20+ minutes outside one of the local Silver Spring parks, leading us into lots of traffic. Just short of an hour, Silver Spring to Fort Totten.
Another X user wrote in part, "There was a bus traffic jam inside the Silver Spring Metro station. It took our charter bus probably about 20 minutes to get through."
On average riders told WUSA9 that the modified route added between 15-20 minutes to their commute to and from work.
Metro crews are located at the impacted stations to help guide riders to the appropriate shuttles.
At the Fort Totten station, which is a major transit hub during the closure, riders told WUSA9 that the shuttle ride was pleasant.
"We thought we were waiting for a long-time, but it was fast and it was clean. It was nice and comfortable," a rider said.
Metro's partial shutdown prompted concern from local officials about potential congestion and the impact on commuters. In response, Maryland transportation officials launched seven miles of bus only lanes along Georgia Avenue between Glenmont and Silver Spring. State officials say signal timing will also be adjusted to prioritize shuttles.
Some users posted on social media that bus-only lane enforcement would help during rush hour commutes.
Maryland transportation officials said the closure is necessary to connect the Purple Line Project to metro, and to also make much needed maintenance repairs.
For more information about the Red Line partial shutdown visit wmata.com
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