Metro Opens Above Ground Track
Travel at airports is limited too
The snowstorm that's caused a blizzard and winter storm warning from the National Weather Service also affected air, bus and rail service in the DC Metro area.
Metro has reopened the Yellow Line Bridge over the Potomac River as of 4 p.m. Sunday. Officials say they hope to open the rest of their above ground stations by 5 a.m. Monday but have struggled to remove the blanket of snow and ice from 57 miles of exposed track throughout the system, according to the Washington Post.
Underground service is currently available on the:
- Red Line between Medical Center and Union Station only
- Orange and Blue lines between Ballston and Stadium-Armory only
- Green Line between Fort Totten and Congress Heights only
- Yellow Line from Pentagon to Crystal City only
Metro closed its above ground stations Saturday afternoon after heavy snow covered the electrified third rail, creating a dangerous situation.
It remains unknown if trains will be running to Monday night's Redskins game at FedEx Field.
Metrobus ran again Sunday, albeit on limited service. Service was stopped at 7 p.m. as roads began to get icy again. The transit agency will re-evaluate in the morning.
Twenty-three routes did operate for most of the day in the District, Maryland and Virginia, though. Intervals between buses were expected to be longer than usual, Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel told News4.
The bus routes that resumed are:
- in D.C. -- the 70 line, the 90 line, the S line, the L line, the V8, the 30 line, the X2, the 80 line, the U8, the 50 line, the A2, A6, W2, W6 and W8;
- In Virginia -- the 16 line in Arlington and Fairfax counties is operating;
- In Montgomery County -- the K6, Q2, 45, 46 and 48 are operating;
- In Prince George’s County -- the C29 and B30 are running. The B30 runs from BWI/Thurgood Marshall Airport to the Greenbelt Metrorail station. Customers who are returning from the airport to the station and need to get downtown will be transported to the nearest open Metrorail station via a free shuttle bus.
All Metrobus and MetroAccess service was stopped at 1 p.m. Saturday, due to the situation on the roads. Metro Access service is still suspended for the entire day.
Because MetroAccess provides door-to-door service, it requires those vehicles to travel into neighborhoods on secondary roads, most of which are expected to remain impassable for the majority of the day. Additionally, MetroAccess officials do not want to risk accidents or risk having vehicles get stuck due to heavy snow and icy conditions, so service will be suspended the entire day on Sunday.
In Montgomery County, Ride On bus service has resumed.
Amtrak trains to New York were delayed about 15 minutes Saturday.
Planes at Dulles and Reagan National were taking off on a limited basis Saturday. Later, both National and Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport closed for the day. Dulles kept one runway open, primarily for international flights.
Before you head to the airport, check with your airline to find out if your flight has been cancelled or delayed.
Posted Saturday, Dec 19, 2009 - 11:06 AM EST
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