DC Officials Expected to Accept Reduced Metrorail Hours

Officials in Washington, D.C., are expected to go along with Metro's plan to reduce service hours for two years, multiple sources tell News4.

Earlier this month, a Metro committee voted in support of Metrorail service stopping 30 minutes earlier Monday through Thursday, 2 hours earlier Friday and Saturday and 1 hour earlier Sunday.

Under the new plan, trains would run:

  • Mondays through Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  • Fridays from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Sundays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

D.C. officials threatened to use a jurisdictional veto, because they were upset at losing late night rail service for such a long time. They are expected to endorse the plan at a board meeting Thursday.

But D.C. councilmember and Metro Board Chair Jack Evans warned News4 that officials are still discussing Metro's plan. 

"We are still discussing this," Evans told News4 on Monday. "There has not been a decision yet."

Jack Evans said at a committee meeting Dec. 1 that he opposed the proposed cuts to Metrorail hours. He said D.C. had already compromised enough on the plan to cut hours.

"We believe we have compromised enormously. So for someone to say we need to compromise more is not a realistic approach to this problem," he said.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also previously spoke against the plan to cut late-night Metro service for years.

"We can't continue to be asked to support a system that doesn't serve the needs of our region," Bowser said.

Maryland and Virginia board members have already endorsed the plan. 

The changes to rail service hours would take effect July 1.

Contact Us