Metro plans a slow recovery

Metro plans to gradually ramp up service as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, with full service not totally restored until a treatment or vaccine is available. 

Metro’s Board of Directors plans to discuss the system’s recovery strategy on May 14.

The plan includes these steps:

Stabilization – As stay-at-home orders are expected to be lifted this summer, Metro will continue to ask customers to use the system only for essential trips and to protect themselves and others through hand washing and wearing face coverings. 

Managed re-entry – As regional businesses and governments scale back teleworking and schools reopen this fall, Metro will aim to ramp up service ahead of demand to allow for proper social distancing for those who need to travel. 

During this phase, all Metrorail stations currently closed as part of the COVID-19 response will reopen. All Metrobus routes will operate, with some service limitations such as reduced intervals between bus departures. 

Recovery – When a treatment or vaccine for COVID is widely available, Metro will continue to ramp up service to meet ridership demand as economic activity increases. The system will return to post-pandemic hours of service.

Resilience – After the pandemic, Metro will analyze the response to the pandemic to make the system safer and more resilient to future pandemics.  

Metro’s plan is closely aligned with steps planned by local governments and employers, including the federal government. Its success depends on a sustained downward trajectory in infections and a gradual ramp-up in service and ridership. 

Metro’s priority continues to be protecting the health and safety of its customers and employees while providing transportation for essential trips throughout the region. 

During the stabilization period this summer, Metro will take advantage of low ridership to reduce impacts to customers from critical repair projects. All Silver Line and Orange Line stations will be closed all summer for platform work. 

There will also be week-long shutdowns of three to five stations at a time for track maintenance and upgrades. The shutdowns are targeted for June 7-13 at the L’Enfant Plaza, Waterfront, and Navy Yard stations.