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Part of Red Line to shut down for all of August; more new Metro shutdowns announced

WASHINGTON — Metro’s Red Line will be shut down through two stations for the entire month of August, as well as part of July and September, the transit agency said Tuesday.

From Saturday, July 21, through Labor Day, Sept. 3, there will be no trains for 45 days at Rhode Island Avenue or Brookland-CUA.

The shutdown is required because of major structural problems at the Rhode Island Avenue Station for the platform and the bridge structure, Metro said. Metro did emergency repairs there in September 2016.

Metro plans to run shuttle buses between Fort Totten, Brookland, Rhode Island Avenue and NoMa-Gallaudet, but will recommend riders use the Green Line, MARC trains or regular bus routes instead.

Other shutdowns

Metro also announced additional single-tracking and shutdowns of the Yellow, Blue, Orange and Silver lines coming later this year.

From Aug. 11 through Aug. 26, the Blue, Orange and Silver lines will single-track for 16 days through the heart of downtown.

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The work in a curve between the McPherson Square and Smithsonian stations will significantly cut service for the entire Orange, Blue and Silver lines. Some trains will be redirected.

During that work, no riders on the Blue, Orange or Silver lines will qualify for rush-hour refunds from Metro due to the delays.

From Friday, Nov. 2, through Monday, Nov. 5, Metro will shut down the Reagan National Airport and Crystal City stations for switch and concrete repairs.

Metro has previously conducted 24/7 shutdowns in the area.

During the work, shuttle buses will run between Braddock Road and Pentagon City. Yellow and Blue Line riders will not qualify for automatic refunds due to delays.

Metro will also shut down the Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River for the 14 days following Thanksgiving weekend — from Monday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Dec. 9.

During the work, there will essentially be no Yellow Line service. Shuttle trains will run between Huntington and Reagan National Airport.

Yellow and Blue line riders will not qualify for automatic refunds due to delays during the work.

Previously announced shutdown canceled

Metro had already announced a planned closure of the Huntington and Eisenhower Avenue stations from May 12-27 of this year, but said Tuesday that work zone is canceled.

The work will instead be scheduled in 2019 “to better coordinate with other capital work in the area.”

No track work for tourists

There is no weekend daytime track work scheduled during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon March 10 or during the National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 24 through April 15.

On July 4, Metro will not do any track work in the evening as crowds go to see fireworks.

Metro also plans to suspend all track work during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities from July 13-17.

US strikes Iran and Tehran fires back as hostilities flare again

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military hit targets in Iran on Tuesday and Tehran fired missiles and drones in response as hostilities flare once again in an intermittent war that has lasted more than six months. The U.S. strikes followed others on Sunday that abruptly ended a month without military action and threatened to fully reignite a conflict that has spiked global oil prices and posed political problems for Republicans in November's midterm congressional elections. The renewed fighting comes after President Donald Trump had appeared to pivot toward trying to bend Iran to his will through economic sanctions. “If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings,” Trump warned on social media. U.S. Central Command said the latest strikes were in response to Tehran trying to attack commercial ships and American forces in the Middle East. Trump offered an additional explanation, telling Fox News in a phone call that U.S. forces struck Iran's radars.
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